Placid Lake Boulder and Beyond

Fall color

Dateline near Republic Washington:

This Moose and Mosquito adventure is winding down. ETA for home is sometime tomorrow. And once again its been a great and strange trip with all sorts of wonderful adventures along the way and did I mention the beautiful fall color?

Boulder Valley, Montana

The last internet was I don't know when - somewhere back in Canada. Since then we've been quite busy with assorted museums (yours truly sometimes refers to them as nauseaums. But hey I count myself lucky NOTHING completely devoted to cars or trucks on this trip. Yes, an entire post might be devoted to that topic but maybe another day.)


But the scenery is a living museum.

Placid Lake

Sometimes -while on the road- this curious traveler occupies the time collecting interesting -erm in my opinion- names of businesses and place names. I ask myself, why or how did that name get attached to that particular place or thing.  For example,  Trout Creek is the Huckleberry capital of the state of Montana. So then why is it  named Trout Creek? Seems to me it should be Huckleberry Town or Huckleberryberg.  Starvation Lake, Idaho does not sound like an inviting place to visit but there are resorts on it?!? The brilliant marketing award goes to: The Beyond Hope Resort...sounds like ten tons of fun.  The Darwin winner is, The Stray Bullet Cafe  and just so ya know it was granted a liquor license and now serves beer and wine. A can't miss combo booze and bullets. Street and road names are fun...Old Person Road was one the Big Fella spotted. Old Person Road -really, is he trying to tell me something?  In the descriptive department, Ant Flat Road hmmm call the exterminator, Migration Road  was in the middle of nowhere- Ok -I give- migrating animals or humans?  Ha Ha Creek is not too far from Laughing Walter Road -I am serious- these two should get together and form a comedy duo.  But the best is left for last: La Moose Lane -a nice French touch- and Mosquito Creek...ahhhh.

Not sure if I mentioned this...

Placid Lake white caps!

With the exception of the wind -at Placid Lake State Park  and a bit in Boulder- the weather has been exceptional. The wind did howl at Placid Lake. It shook the camper and yours truly will admit to being a bit nervous -please don't let the camper blow over. Placid Lake was/is a beautiful Montana State Park located a few miles from the highway and It is indeed a quiet place.  So what about that fall color? Boulder Montana was awash in yellows, golds, and bronzes. And what could be better than a Big Sky Montana sunrise or a visit to the Lockhart and headwaters of the Boulder River or a sun-downer on a fall evening?

Smith Ranch sun rise

Boulder River head waters

Fixins for a Sun-downer

Maybe the herd of elk that crossed the road just in front of the car.

Elk herd

The herd bull

Fall in Montana

One of the good things about traveling at this time of year is the lack of crowds and of course the bad thing is many places of historical interest are closed for the season. In fact most public campgrounds closed in late September and many private places are done for the season. Finding a spot to park our home away from home has been a challenge.  Last night we were the only campers at Thompson Falls State Park (MT) and it was somewhat eerie. The Big Fella thought he saw three wolves or more likely coyotes near the restroom (washroom in Canada eh?). They were gone by the time I got there but I did take my camera just in case.


Today's adventure was the Bonner County historical museum in Sandpoint and a fishery near Clark Fork Idaho. Both were worth the time although I nearly fainted when the Big Fella found the second floor of the museum. Aack!

Sun light on the larches of Sherman Pass

Tomorrow's tour will probably include a local museum and some sight seeing then home sweet home. I may or may not do a wrap up of the trip, so au revoir until the next Moose and Mosquito Tour! It's been fun.

This cow wanted the last word. Geesh.