Eureka - Holland Lake, Montana 09/23/09

We got on our way at 7:30am. Had to stop at Stein's, the local grocery store, because they had Tillamook Chocolate and Peanut Butter ice cream on special. I just love that stuff. It's usually over $6.00 for whatever size they are now selling. One thing's for certain it isn't the half gallon we used to get for 69 cents!

Had several stops to make in Kalispell. First stop was at Kari Dodge where I had just had Clementine serviced, although service had little to do with it. When I took her in I specifically asked that they check the air in the tires. These days if you don't ask it doesn't seem to get done. I confess I didn't look the bill over too carefully until I got home. When I did look at it I saw that they had charged me $27.00 to "remove the tires" to check the air pressure. I was livid. Clem has duel axles in the rear but the tires have valve extenders. You certainly do not have to remove the tires to check the air pressure. They told me I would have to bring Clem in for them to look at it, if you can imagine.

It was an unpleasant stop. They tried to argue with me that they had made a mistake when they wrote up the order. The charge was to pop the wheel covers! Something that should take about two seconds per cover. I've had the pressure checked fifteen times and no one has ever charged a penny. It was clearly a case of the technician padding the bill. They were not going to give me a credit until the service manager overheard the conversation and he very quickly told them to make the refund. I should also mention I had had the fuel filter replaced at the same time and after I got about fifteen miles from the dealership the fuel filter light came on. I had to drive all the way back to the dealership to find that the same technician had forgotten to plug the fuel sensor back in. I'll be thinking long and hard about returning there.

I had a couple of other, more pleasant, stops and then we headed to Bigfork. Actually, we just drove through Bigfork. Our objective was someplace down past Swan Lake toward Seeley Lake. I didn't really have plans as to where we would stop.

I actually did something intelligent for a change and stopped in at the ranger station in Condon. The gal there told me about Holland Lake. A lake I had never heard of before. We headed straight there and it was a great tip.

We almost had the place to ourselves and our campsite was right on the lake and the lake was picture perfect.

Holland Lake

Our Campsite

After getting camp set up we took a wander along the shore and found this picture in the water. I thought it was kind of fun with the rocks in the sky. The view is looking east toward Holand Falls and the Bob Marshall Wilderness (The Bob) to locals.

Pebbles in the Sky

Even though it was getting to be late afternoon I decided to hike up and take a peek at the falls anyway. The falls face to the west and the setting sun. Afternoon shots are not too special but I thought we could use the exercise and I could scout the location. The hike is about a mile and a half up along a very pretty trail. And, there are some great lake views as the elevation gain is considerable. But, shooting in to the sun isn't fun. We will set out early tomorrow morning for the serious picture taking.

Still there are no clouds. Where oh where are my Montana skies?

Holland Falls

Koty at Holland Falls


Back at camp I cooked up a hamburger patty using meat I had purchased at Roseauer's in Kalispell. It was the best ground beef I have had in twenty years. I cooked it seared on the outside raw in the middle. It was beyond delicious.

After the sun had set it became so very quiet and still. The lake is like glass. The air is warm. It is seven-thirty in the evening and I am in a t-shirt. I can look out over the lake and hear waterfowl calling, some type of duck I would reckon. It was a another of those very special moments. I had hoped to hear a loon but that was not to be.

Evening Comes to Holland Lake

Fingernail Moon Over Holland

Koty seemed to be very comfortable with our surroundings as well. No people, no phones, no internet. Can't get any more peaceful than that.

Koty Relaxing at Camp

Cost of the campground $15.00/night. Can't get much cheaper than that! :) I tell ya. It's true. The best things in life are free or nearly so.

©Kinsey Barnard

KALISPELL-SPARKY'S DESIGN-49TH PARALLEL

This was my least favorite kind of week. Two trips to Kalispell. Kalispell is about 75 miles from my place and the nearest place to do any shopping or get things done that can't be done in Eureka. This time of year it's too hot to take Koty and that makes it even less pleasant.

The first trip was to get Clementine serviced. I was told it would take about two hours so I set off on foot to get a little lunch and explore. The Stillwater runs right through this part of town.

STILLWATER RIVER

I thought I might get myself a hamburger at Burger King which, unfortunately, I did. My favorite fast food hamburgers are at In and Out and Carl's neither of which are to be found in Kalispell. You won't find an In and Out in the whole state I don't think. Anyway, I got a hamburger and fries and it was just awful. The french fry oil was rancid and the meat, well Koty would probably not have eaten it. I'd avoid this place if you are ever in Kalispell looking for a burger.

On my way back across the Stillwater I looked down the embankment and saw this sign that said "Junkyard Art" so I decided to investigate. What I found was Wayne Hill and Sparky's Designs. Wayne takes what others would call junk and turns it into lawn art. He's done some pretty creative things. Wayne gave me permission to take snaps of some of his creations.

BREW BOY

PROPANE PIGS

JUNK YARD DOG

The titles I made up. Wayne no doubt has his own more creative monikers. Flathead readers may run into Wayne and his creations at local fairs and farmers markets. Seems like a great way to recycle. I am forever fascinated by the human drive to create.

The second trip to Kalispel was a real quickie, in and out with no burger! I had to go for an eye exam. My mother had glaucoma and they say it's hereditary. They also say there are no symptoms a person can notice on their own. Detected in time there is no problemo. As a photographer protecting my eyesight is job one!

49TH PARALLEL

We did, of course, find time for some hikes for exercise if nothing else. We made a couple of trips up the mountain. For those who may not know, the 49th parallel is the line of demarcation between the U.S. and Canada.

MINE SHAFT

On the way up we stopped in at an old mine shaft. Early last spring we stopped by this same shaft and had an interesting experience. I am not a real fan of going into dark tunnels but Koty has no such fears. I walked up to the mouth of the cave and let him go in to the length of his retractable leash. No sooner did he disappear into the dark than I heard a growl emanate from the tunnel. Koty immediately tried to drag me in with him. NO WAY! I hauled him out and beat a hasty retreat.

There was still snow on the ground at that time and no discernible tracks at the mouth of the tunnel so I really don't know what it was. But, my guess is it was a bear. For some reason Koty was not so anxious to go in this time. :)

U.S. CANADIAN BORDER

I find the border a fascinating site. In the above photo you can see it's quite an aerobic exercise to climb up the mountain to this spot. However, there is a switchback trail that makes it a little easier. It takes us just about two hours to get here, from the house, without stopping.

And, of course, no outing is complete without trying to catch Koty in it.

TAKE ONE MORE PHOTO AND YOU'RE A DEAD WOMAN!


©Kinsey Barnard

Many Glacier Will Have to Wait

Well, howdy. Did I get a big disappointment this week. Mom packed up Clementine, hooked up Shadow and I thought we were headed for Many Glacier. The plan was to go to Kalispell, get Clementine some routine maintenance and then head on over to St. Mary's.

The work on Clem was scheduled to take about four hours so we took off for the Great Northern Historical Trail.


The "trail" is a tarmac walkway but very nice and lots of things to see. It heads west from Kalispell and takes you into a very pretty rural area.


There is an amazing array of birds to be found on this walk. We saw beautiful meadow larks, blue birds and mountain swallows. Pictured above a mountain swallow sitting on a post. View full version.



We also spied this little robin who had built her nest on an old trestle beam. View full version.



Then there were these painted turtles doing, well, what ever they were doing. There really were a lot of critters to see on this, really, not very primitive trail. View full version.


Before log we started to see nasty looking clouds forming and a few people we met started talking about winter weather over on the east side. Mom called the park and sure enough they were expecting snow. Well, that was the end of our trip. Mom wasn't about to drive all that way to sit in Clem for a week. We high-tailed it home in the rain. Mom could be heard grumbling for two days as she hauled everything back out of Clem. Full version.


So, we've been amusing ourselves around here and took another walk along the Tobacco River where we came across this old car which looks like it has seen better days but mom thought it was kind of photogenic. Okay, so mom's a little daffy. :) Full version.


Mom was very delighted when we came across this blue-winged teal pair. Full version.

Anyway, I guess it's never a good idea to get too married to plans cuz they sure have a way of changing. Darn! But, mom says we will give it a go again when the weather improves. So, I wait impatiently.

©Kinsey Barnard Photography