Saturday Morning Celebration!

Huzzah! Captain Lewis will be here soon!!
Forgive me for the delay in posting this week.  The wi-fi that we have had access to has not been fast enough to work with, but this campground has great service. We do appreciate your prayers and encouragement.  Not quite as homesick, but still miss all of you! So hang on tight while I give you a brief overview of the week---

Wednesday
There is a wonderful dinosaur museum in Glendive, Montana.  Everything is given from a Christian perspective, and it is done with excellence! For anyone who has seen the Creation Museum, it is very similar, but on a much smaller scale.  The children loved the museum and the volunteers were so kind and loved teaching about each exhibit.  We had lunch at Taco John's, which usually is a step up from Taco Bell.  The kids and I decided this one had once been a gas station and had not made the transition well!

From there, we traveled to see Pompey's Pillar. Many sites along the way are named for members of the Corps, and  Pompey was the nickname given to Sacajawea's son Jean-Baptiste.  Clark named the place "Pompey's Tower", but during the editing of the journals, it was renamed "Pompey's Pillar" which has a certain ring to it.  Clark took great care of Pompey, and later adopted him and sent him to school in the East.  We didn't climb the rock because it was getting late and we still had miles to go, but it was well worth the time we spent there.

We camped in Billings, MT at the first KOA in the country.  It is a very nice campground, with lots of activities for the children(swimming at 9:00pm)  and one of the first sites we have camped where there was a complete package of water/electric/sewer.  Seems a small luxury, but it makes for easier camping! This was also the first time I had used the cooktop in the camper.  Max requested tomato soup, and it was a success!

Thursday

After breakfast at Pistol Pete's, we journeyed on to Livingston.  The items on our list to see were the Fly Fishing Discovery Center, and the Sacajawea Statue.  Seems easy enough right?  Well, we drive to an older part of Livingston close to downtown like the GPS directs us to go.  We arrive at the address, but keep going because nothing looks like a fly fishing museum. I turn around and go back to the "destination on right." There is a community garden in front of an old high school, hovel of what's left of a high school.  Both Max and Mia suggest that maybe we shouldn't go in here.  I assure them it is safe, and we find an unlocked door... yes that should be a clue (if this were a movie the music would be playing and you would be screaming at the dumb blonde girl to turn around!). But we continue on... I look at the directory, and see a listing for the Museum on the second floor.  So glad it wasn't in the basement.... We bravely go up the stairs, open the door--- no lights, no people, nothing--- but we were determined to see this museum.  We pass a few empty offices, when I notice one office with 3 people and a dog.  No fly fishing... The kind woman asks if she can help us, after she gets over the shock that we have stumbled on this place.  I explain what we are looking for, and she explains (without saying what an idiot!) that the museum moved, umm, TWO YEARS ago.....

After some less than stellar directions, we decide to pass on the museum and find the Statue of Sacajawea.  Well that wasn't easy either, but I'll spare you that story.  We found it, took the picture and head out of town.  The children are disappointed, because they really want to see the fly fishing museum.  I try to politely explain that it probably won't be that good, from what the lady said about it.  No, they really want to see it!  The directions she gave us were take a right and left, and look for the grocery, and then it is in the shopping center with the "western" facade.... No really, in Montana, a Western facade! well that narrows it down.... After the 4th old-west shopping center, we agree to head out of town, when wonder of wonders-- I find it! Up the stairs we go, into a room with some really cool fishing things, and 2 older ladies in cubicles who don't come out to answer questions.... We take a picture, call it a success, and leave!  However, there was a fantastic fabric store down the way.....

On to Bozeman.... I'll be back to cover Thursday night and Friday soon.  Off to the airport to pick up the Captain!