Jul 22, 2010 - Basin, MT and fishing the Boulder River

We camped here over three years ago when we stopped for an over-nighter. Through the rain and cold we could tell this was a special little river and we had to come back. We are glad we did, the fly fishing was terrific. The area is beautiful and the weather was perfect. Dave made those bamboo fly rods a couple months ago just for this stop. We weren't disappointed with their performance. Both of us got a workout catching the brown trout, rainbow trout and brook trout in this river. We ended up keeping 6 total for dinners but safely...

Oct 27, 2009 - Treatments finished at Merry Widow Mine

We woke this morning to a light covering of snow on the ground and light snow falling. The temperature was only -2 degrees Celcius but with a wind blowing it felt much colder. It has been snowing lightly all day but not much accumulation on the ground. Last night we were the only RV in the campground but another unit pulled in this evening so we won't be lonely tonight! We finished our treatments here and plan on heading out to Canada tomorrow, hoping to get to Amanda's place in Langdon - depending on the roads etc. Gary is already feeling...

Oct 25, 2009 - Sunday in Basin, Montana

We are very thankful the weather remains dry. It is cool, dipping below zero and highs around 3-5 degrees but for the most part has been sunny. Yesterday there was a cool wind blowing as we took a drive to Helena in between mine visits. Helena is the capital of Montana and is known as the gateway to the mountains. On our way home we saw a large herd of Elk near Boulder. Today the hunting season opens so there is lots of talk about hunting. We saw lots of truck and trailer units heading out. We also see a lot of Snowbird RV's heading south...

Oct 22, 2009 - Half Way

Today is day 5 here at the Merry Widow Mine so that means we have completed half of the recommended treatments. The weather has been cool, 0 degrees yesterday morning, but we are thankful the only precipitation has been in the form of rain. It has actually been sunny most of the time. Mine visits are going well - we have met some very interesting people so the time goes very quickly. We have found yet again it is a very small world!!! On Monday we took a trip to Helena between treatments to do some shopping etc. Yesterday was a gorgeous,...

Oct 18, 2009 - Merry Widow Mine

October 18 – Sunday Another warm, sunny day as we started our treatments here at the Merry Widow Mine. Gary made a visit to the mine at 0800, then after breakfast we took a short drive (14 kilometers) to Boulder, to attend church at the First Baptist Church. Second visit to the mine was as soon as we got back from church and another late afternoon starts our 10 days of treatments. The Merry Widow Mine, nestled in the mountains of Basin, Montana first started as a gold and silver mine in about 1860, all ore was shipped to Wales, England...

Oct 17, 2009 - Basin, Montana

October 17 – Saturday Once again we were blessed with a gorgeous, sunny day today as we drove 421 kilometers. Leaving Billings, Montana it was more awesome scenery with the Crazy Mountain Range and Rocky Mountain Ranges in the distance and the plains in between. There were crops of corn, potatoes, sugar beets, grains and alfalfa under irrigation in the valleys between the mountain ranges. Warm chinook winds were blowing as we passed Livingstone at the head of Paradise Valley, through which flows the Yellowstone River and around which rise...

Jun 5, 2007 - Past up Missoula, get on down the road - Basin, MT

The drive from Orofino, ID to Missoula, MT was so short we decided to "driveon"! We went right thru Butte and found this little campground along the highway at Basin, Montana. A beautiful little campground along the Boulder River. Though the river is high it looks very fishable. Too bad, we had to leave in the morning to make it to Malmstrom AFB and Great Falls, Montana.