August 27th, 2017

The fishing here has been better! JP has been able to do some catching and that always makes for a good day! He’s caught trout and some really good sized white fish. Its fly fishing water so I’m not fishing but I’m happy to go for the scenery and to watch him fly fish. He has seen lots of signs of bear though!

This afternoon we drove into Joseph about 20 miles away. We ate at a little place called Old Town Café. Each table had a small  menu with a pair of reading glasses hung on it. The cutest idea ever!  The soda shop and ice cream parlor was picture perfect!

Its a small town but its brick sidewalks led to a variety of fun shops and restaurants and a lot of sculptures!

August 26th

We headed south to Wallowa and found a nice RV campground that butts right up to the Wallowa River. It seems there might be trout fishing here so JP is stoked. We did some scouting this afternoon and then went and visited the little town of Wallowa. There wasn’t a lot to see but we did spy some places on the river that JP wants to try. The view from Lucky’s back window.

Note: We passed a small town on the way to Wallowa. We know it was small by the welcome sign!

August 25th, 2017

Shilo Troy Resort – Restaurant / Inn / Lounge

We got an early start so we could be settled in Troy before dark. The road wasn’t very wide and really twisty but we made it into Troy no problem. It is a LONG way from anything! JP had already done some checking and the fishing wasn’t expected to be good. He had been here about 10 years ago though and wanted to give it a look – see. The lodge there is a Shilo Inn but you wouldn’t think that to be the case. There is a small restaurant (that is closed this year) some cabins and about 20 RV spots. The fella that runs the place says this has been a BAD year for rattlesnakes. Says he killed one as big as his forarm. Yeah – I was thrilled to hear that!

We picked a spot right on the river with some shade and headed out to investigate. Its really pretty in its own way. We saw deer and big horn but no fish.

August 24th, 2017

We decided to make the trip back to Oregon with a short stay back in Cataldo ID at the Kahnderosa. We drove a good part of the day and settled at the campgrounds in time for the evening fish. JP and I carried his pontoon to the little pond fed by the Coeur d Alene River. He caught a 4 pound bass, more bass and a feisty pike. Both he and the Beaver that bumped his leg had a scare, but neither was worse for the wear!

August 23rd, 2017

Though the fishing was not terrific JP did get to spend a lot of time on the water. He talked to lots of people (guides, fellow campers, fisherman) and everyone was hoping for better fishing. Below is a sculpture of a fly fisherman at the center of town and the Three Dollar Bridge near where JP liked to fish.

It was a good trip to Ennis and we thinking of going another round maybe In June of 2018. Hopefully, when the fish are in and the smoke was not part of every landscape. All in all though, a good stay in a nice park and a cool little town.

August 22nd, 2017

Virginia City was only 14 miles away and is certainly a tourist town. It has a train, stage coach, and a 4 WD transport truck for the gold mine tours. We spent the afternoon cruising the wood walked streets of the city. It was really well laid out. Rather than having the current retail stores and restaurants scattered with remnants of the past, they have kept the shops in town (with all their contents) in their original spaces.  Each space has an old fence entry that allows you to step inside a few feet to investigate and take photos. Really well done and the contents were amazing! These are just a few of dozens of photos we took.

Some of the buildings had been repaired but you could easily see how the old town must have looked. JP is entering what is left of an old phone company building. The brick building was the newspaper and the other was once a home.

The town museum was eclectic and authentic. It was so cool to see that many of the items had hand written descriptions on slips of paper pinned to them. Many were donated by locals that were willing to share the memories of their families. The museum had a little something for everyone, from a full collection of taxidermied animals (including some oddities) to books, letters, medical supplies – you name it! If it was part of life in Virginia City back in the day- it was included. I was mostly intrigued by the dresses. A good many of them were evidently stored in a trunk for 70+ years before finding a home in the museum. They were from the late 1800’s and were in perfect condition. I was most enamored by the wedding dresses. Some had the wedding photo to match. Amazing! The late 1800’s were a wild and interesting time and the fact that we have seen so much of it in all our adventures has been a little like time travel!

EXTRA FUN! We finished our day at the Brewery Follies. Its held in the old Gilbert Brewery and started back in 1984. The 4 performers were also the ticket sales, bartender, waitress and MC. It was truly off color, politically incorrect, silly and only for those with a particularly warped sense of humor! We loved it! It was 2 hours long with a short intermission for refreshment. The best way ever to end the day!

August 21st, 2017

JP fished in the AM and spent some time at the Fly Shop. It was my day to play so we went into Ennis and had a hearty breakfast at the Pharmacy also known as Yesterdays Soda Shoppe and Restaurant. We spent awhile browsing the shops and looking at the local art. Its a small town and very Montana – all about outdoors, cowboys, hunting and fly fishing!

August 17th thru August 20th, 2017 

I’ve cut JP loose to go forth and fly fish while we are here in Ennis. So he takes off in the AM and tries different spots and sees different areas. I am happy to have some down time since I was without Wifi for quite awhile and wanted to get some biz done and the blog posts caught up. Plus since we were dry camped before this there are the usual chores to take care of. It’s nice to have a laundry right here at camp. 

8 Mile Ford on the Madison River and the tiny little flies he has been tying for fishing.

We did go searching for a lake that wasn’t on the map. It was a lot of gravel roads and several sets of directions we gleaned from other folks on the road. But alas we didn’t find it. It was a lovely late afternoon drive back though. The lake North Meadow and  JP is not one to miss out on a hidden lake! He went searching again the next day with some fellas he met at camp and had a great day!

View coming back from North Meadow*

August 16th, 2017
After our free hotel breakfast and a late check out we did a little shopping (cuz if you find a Macy’s and a Ross together you have no other choice) and headed to Butte. We had our new tire mounted there and made a stop at Wally’s for supplies. On our way out of town we passed the Our Lady of the Rockies Statue on the outskirts of Butte.

We pulled into our camp spot at Ennis RV Village and we made a quick trip into town so JP could hit the fly shops for info. Then off to drive the area and scout out where he’ll be fishing. The fields are full of deer and antelope (not just mamas and babies either)! We saw a fox scurrying up a hill too. Lots of places for JP to fly fish and I’m glad we’ll be here awhile so he can try different waters.

August 15th

First things first! So after a very unsuccessful tire experience at Les Schwab we found an IHOP for breakfast (think WiFi) and searched for the elusive truck tire. It turns out that we can go through Butte tomorrow on our way to Ennis and remedy the situation so …

Since we had been dry camping for awhile so we decided to park Lucky at the Jorgenson’s Inn & Suites in Helena and enjoy a big bed, a shower, TV, a pool and hot tub! It was just what the doctor ordered!