FTJ, Entry 111: Magnificent Montana, Part Two

It's obvious we loved Polson, Montana, in that we are devoting another blog entry to our time there. 

One thing we left out of our blog on the Polson Motorcoach RV resort -- it sat above a small airport. Every day we got to watch small prop planes and jets come and go. It definitely added to the great experience. We didn't get photos of the planes (which does not make sense, since I tend to take photos of practically every stupid thing we see on this trip) -- AARGH. 

Anyway, we wanted to share a few more images of our time in Polson and nearby towns.

Have you ever? Stunning.

The prominent gray streak in my hair is getting weirder. I am beginning to look like a skunk. That is Flathead Lake in the far distance.

An osprey over the lake.

Hard to see, but there is a dust devil in the sky. It started on the ground,
then rose up and eventually broke apart.

Loved the gate to this ranch. Kind of wish I could be a ranch owner.

The Land of Trading Posts..and dead things

In that much of the area is an indian reservation, there were a number of trading posts scattered around. Each had a lot of dead animals on display, much to my chagrin.

The trading posts have a disturbing number of pelts. Hunting is a very big thing here. Unfortunately.

Oddities abound in these places.

Museums -- the Weird and the Wonderful

Never in our lives have we ever seen anything like The Miracle of America Museum. Kind of blows your mind. It encompasses more than 5 acres and 60 buildings (well, in many cases calling them "buildings" is generous). There is so much STUFF in this place, it is overwhelming. I actually think my brain imploded. Many people would call it a giant junk shop, but there are gems here and there, and some awesome displays of our history. 

Some of the stuff makes sense; other stuff, well, it is beyond explanation.

 

A beautiful old Packard.

It is difficult to portray how crazy this place is. Crazy and charming and fascinating, all at once.

Clockwise from the top: Some of the museum buildings, Beau with I am not sure what; me with a flying monkey statue, I guess commemorating the Wizard of Oz; and just a fraction of the outdoor vehicle displays.

Beau is understandably perplexed as to the displays, the junk, their meaning, and what to see next.

Love the backward gun.

Beau made me take this, saying these would return me to "my people."

 

Barbara and Robert -- the museum offered some real candidates for your next camper:

 

The top photo is a pop up camper from the 1920s.

We also visited a very beautifully executed museum in Charlo, MT -- the Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana. The hundreds of artifacts and old photos were fascinating.

The gentleman who curates the museum devoted a number of the exhibits to his dad, who was a famous outdoorsman in Montana. Some of his adventures tracking and hunting grizzly bear and other wild animals were published in Outdoor Life magazine.

There were numerous exquisite exhibits of Native American clothing and weaponry. I loved the elaborate beadwork on the garments, and the beautiful headdresses, war vests, pipes, weaponry, and other items from the old West.

 

Boy oh boy, were we sad to leave this area.

Big Sky Country at sunset again.

On to Yellowstone National Park.

Tanks, Panky