Montana State Hospital at the end of the "loop" in Warm Springs was originally a health resort built in the 1870s. The state purchased the resort in 1912 and at one time had a population of about 2000. The current population is around 200. 

Newest building 

5:55 PM Saturday June 11, 2005

Pintler Scenic Loop

One afternoon while staying in Garrison, Phil and I took a drive around this 100-mile circle on Montana highway 1. We started the loop on the north end at Drummond and our first stop came when we saw a homemade sign saying “museum”. An arrow pointed to a driveway where a life-size steel sculpture of a massive pachyderm was tethered by a chain beside the porch of a modest and rustic looking building. We were met by the artist, a softspoken, modest retired rancher named Bill Ohrmann. He walked over from his small house when we got out of the car and unlocked the front door for us as we delighted in the many life-size sculptures around the yard including a water buffalo, a moose, a huge turtle, a bear and of course, my favorite, the elephant. Frozen in steel, one huge foot is pressing down on the tail of a tiny mouse straining to get away from this behemoth to no avail. The artistry of this man is beautiful beyond description and continues to make an impact when you go inside Bill’s Museum and Gallery which is full of his woodcarvings, bronzes and porcelain sculptures as well as his newest endeavor … oil painting where he strongly expresses his opinions about life in our modern world. For a look at his complete catalog click on the link below or if the link doesn’t work, type or copy and paste the URL into your address line:

http://www.ohrmannmuseum.com/

Next, we went through Hall and a tiny community just off the road called Maxville. Phil, who is a Life Member of the VFW, stopped to use the rest room and he talked to the bartender at the first VFW post we’ve ever seen that’s open to the public. He learned that special dispensation was given because the population in the area is so sparse they couldn’t support a member’s only club. Thinking the road would take us back to the highway we followed it back into the canyon until it turned into an unpaved forest service road where we turned around. All along the road, we were amazed at the beautiful, large homes that were newly built or under construction. It appears that many people with lots of money have discovered this little piece of wilderness in Montana and made the move to a more uncomplicated way of life. With the advent of the Internet, more and more folks are earning a good living working from home and it really doesn’t matter where “home” is. Many of our fellow fulltimers are doing the same thing from their RVs as they criss-cross our beautiful country enjoying the best of these two worlds … self-employment and travel.

More about our trip around the Pintler Scenic Loop in my next post…..

Bill Ohrmann, the artist.  

Water buffalo and Moose. 

Our mascot ... the slow moving turtle. 

Poor little mouse ... 

Beautiful steel elephant. 

11:15 AM Friday June 10, 2005

This morning the view out our picture window (the windshield) is getting better by the minute. Our own private (or so it seems) herd of 17 horses (including three new colts) is grazing peacefully in the pasture across the road and the local “Bed & Breakfast” sits grandly in our line of sight towards the mountains, preparing to welcome new guests. We are in the Conestoga RV Park in White Sulphur Springs, Montana and woke up to low, dense gray clouds; so thick they were blocking our Internet satellite reception (which has now cleared up). Reception to and from this new (to us) satellite is much more sensitive to the environment than our former satellite but we will just have to get used to it.

We’ve been here for four days and Phil and Les have gone fishing twice. The second time out to a small lake named Newland Creek Reservoir (yesterday) they were happy to report they had a great day … as both of them were catching trout right and left. However, all the while the wind was blowing briskly and they ran the battery dead (for Lester’s little electric motor; they chose not to use the gasoline motor) trying to make headway back to the boat launch area. At that point, there was nothing left to do but get out (once the wind blew them into shore) and walk along the shoreline pulling the boat along beside them back to where they parked. They said they felt like the Lewis and Clark expedition, dragging the heavy Perogues upstream back in 1805.

Gloria and I spent the day visiting via e-mail (it was too chilly to run back and forth between coaches), reading and writing. I enjoyed my satellite TV and surfed the travel, food and the history channels. G & L are unable to get TV reception from their antenna so if they want to watch anything in particular they use the option of going to the clubhouse. We went to dinner in town at a newly opened restaurant named “The Pepper Patch” and were the only customers in the entire place. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, we did find a large concentration of White Sulphur Spring’s population at the little league games going on down the road and it was a bit early for any sort of dinner crowd. Unfortunately, the food was, shall I say, uninspired. I wish them luck but we probably won’t go back.

Following L & G in the lead from Garrison to White Sulphur Springs Montana.  

Gloria and Lester's coach and toad at our Wal*Mart stop in Butte MT. 

Our first sighting of Montana moose near our RV park in Garrison MT. 

9:39 PM Wednesday June 8, 2005

HINDSIGHT ~~~~

From the east side of Post Falls Idaho, state highway 41 heads northwest through a little tiny wide spot in the road named Spirit Lake on the way to Newport WA. We took this short side trip on our way to explore Sandpoint on Lake Coeur d' Alene. When we passed this restaurant it was late morning (almost lunch time) so we couldn't resist the temptation to investigate this unlikely eatery. The menu (cover shown below) shouts "Bottomless Hashbrowns" as well as "Bottomless Fries" and along with a full service menu offers other delicacies like:

"Hog Waller"

4 Farm fresh egg, scrambled together with onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, bacon crumbs, & ham with cheese mixed throughout. Served with hashbrowns. Salsa on the side. Your choice of toast or biscuits. Full order: $6.50 Half order: $ 5.50

"Slop"

This delightful array of bell peppers, ham, tomatoes, onions, grilled into a heaping portion of our famous homemade hashbrowns. After it is cooked we add cheddar cheese, and then you pick the gravy. Either homemade country sausage or rich brown gravy. Regular or Cajun.

Full order (On large pizza pan) this item only is a T-Shirt item ... To share or to go - $17.25 and $13.95. For one: $6.25

"Barnyard Omelette" To share or to go - $17.95 ... $13.95

This omelette has eight eggs, blended with a small portion of milk, ham, bacon, sausage pieces, potatoes, tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, onions. with swiss, cheddar and American cheese blended throughout. This takes a large platter. Hashbrowns and toast are served on the side.

Half order: (4 eggs) .... $8.95 Barnyard junior-with two eggs and a concoction of the above ... $7.50.

If you're ever in the area, make this a "must see" ... And come hungry. Portions are huge, service is friendly and the regular items on the menu are very reasonably priced.

The Hog~N~Jog menu cover. 

The name of this restaurant is as funny as the menu. 

Great restaurant in Spirit Lake, Idaho 

6:00 PM Saturday June 4, 2005

I haven’t written in so long, I’m not sure where to start. Phil and Les have gone off to a place called Nevada Lake to wet a line with their new Montana fishing licenses in hand. They bought the one valid for an entire year because the daily or weekly fees for an out of state fisherperson would have cost nearly as much for only a couple weeks. Since we will be in Montana until early July, they figured it was the least expensive way to go. Gloria is in her coach keeping busy on a project or reading (I’m not sure which) and I am sitting here looking out the window at the magnificent panorama of snow-covered mountains off to the south and hoping to catch up on the blog.

We’re on a new satellite G4R but the connection is iffy at best. A restless night brought me out on the couch to keep from waking Phil and I watched the blue lights (five on the modem) burn bright and steady all night as I tossed and turned. Then this morning, they started blinking off and on intermittently, which breaks our connection if we manage to get online. Now, this afternoon, it’s been behaving itself nicely so I’ve decided to try and post a few pictures and write a few lines.

Didn't get this fellows name but he was a great shot out the loggia above the front entrance of the capital building in Helena. 

Les and Gloria's Saturn in front of the Montana State Capital building on a rainy day in Helena. 

The grand staircase inside the Montana State Capital Building in Helena. 

Consecrated in 1924, the Saint Helena Catholic Church in Helena Montana cost a mere $645,590.44. In todays dollars it would cost tens of millions of dollars. The 59 stained glass windows were contracted to F.X.Zettler of Munich, Germany. It has been renovated and restored once during the mid 1950s, again in 1982-83 and most recently in 2001. The doors were open to visitors and organ music was playing inside the cathedral. A spectacular example of gothic architecture. 

Looking out just one of the magnificent stained glass windows. 

Entering the interesting little town of Deer Lodge Montana. 

Hope you can read this ... very interesting! 

I've always wondered how they get the haystacks so high?  

These haystackers abound in the Garrison, Avon, Deer Lodge area. 

Phil bellied up to the 1860s bar in Desert John's Saloon housed in the Frontier Museum. It has the largest collection of whiskey memorabelia in America. The bartender had a motion sensor attached that turned on a "Howdy stranger" welcome recording each time we walked in front of him.  

Me and my pard'ner John Wayne in the Frontier Museum in Deer Lodge Montana. 

This is what a clear (well almost) day in Garrison Montana looks like. More rain and thunderstorms in the forecast for Sunday but we're enjoying this for the moment ... it's beautiful!  

10:56 PM Friday June 3, 2005

It seems that the weather is affecting our satellite connection and the weather has been rainy with a low, thick and very dense cloud cover. Just this afternoon it started to clear enough that we can stay locked on to the satellite for longer than a few minutes but as you can see, it's very late. My get up and go has got up and went for today. I will hope for a good connection tomorrow morning and try again to add to my blog.

7:25 PM Thursday June 2, 2005

After being offline for eight days, Phil and Ground Control (our ISP provider) have managed to change our satellite successfully and we are finally back on line. Will update the blog tomorrow and tell you all about our latest adventures! Sorry for the long, dry spell but it was unavoidable!