Madison Arm, part of Hebgen Lake
 

Last weekend we went to see the 'Mountain Man Rendezvous' encampment that had set up camp in town.

Although we've been to a couple of them before and find
them usually a little cheesy it's fun for a little stroll along the booths on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

 

There was a Trader's Row set up just like the old days, and all vendors wore their period costumes to add to the atmosphere.
Musicians provided some live entertainment and they held black powder shoots and tomahawk and knife demonstrations.

 

It makes you appreciate some of the challenges and dangers that existed in the days of the mountain men.






We had lunch at this little 'traveling kitchen'.
The very nice couple that own it are a very entertaining couple and provided us with a lot of 'insider'-information about these gatherings.
Every little thing they show or do has to be 'period' except for some modern food restrictions they have to comply too (which explains the bottle of salsa).





I finally got to taste the 'scottish eggs' that John from 'Going Gently' is addicted to and I must say it's an excellent snack!
The Indian Tacos were OK but I make better ones myself if I may say so ;)

Afterwards we hit the Outlet Store in town since we could use some new shirts and sweaters. Because of being 'locals' we get 10% off on top of the already very decent prices so we got us 2 hooded sweaters with zip, 1 hoody without and 3 T-shirts for under $50. Not bad!

 

 

The next morning we set out to drive the little 12 mile loop that starts just a mile away from us and that that brings you out to Madison Arm (or more like a 'finger'), part of beautiful Hebgen Lake.

 

 

 

                               

Hebgen Lake has been called the premier still-water (fly) fishing lake in Montana.  Apparently it has a healthy population of browns, cutthroats and rainbows (trouts).

We hope to find out next week how healthy exactly when the fishing poles and reels I bought on E-bay will arrive!

Although very scenic it was far from a 'smooth' ride because of the typical washboard bumps you find here on most of the unpaved roads.
The stiff suspension of our heavy truck makes it even harder, so you either have to drive real slow (5m/hr) or 'ride the tops'. We tried both ways and definitely liked the faster (35m/hr) speed better!

South Fork of the Madison river

 

On the workamper front everything is moving along very well.

James has finished the Handicapped Shower in the main building. Out of 2 regular showers and some dead space he created this beautiful spacious bathroom.

It's big enough for a wheel chair and because it has 2 shower heads/areas it doubles as a 'family shower'. Very handy if you have a couple of young kids! 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

As for me, I wasn't going to bake at all but what do you do when somebody brings fresh rhubarb into the office with a note that says 'FREE'?!..

 .... Right, you run out for some strawberries and you make your husband's favorite pie, ... well, I'll have a little piece :)

 

 

Also I have discovered something disturbing. Do you know the summer is dwindling down? I walked by the meadows and all of a sudden noticed a lot of flowers have gone to seed and some typical end-of-the-summer (dare I say fall?) ones are appearing, like Goldenrod.
Now I must say, I like fall, in fact, it's my favorite season, I loooove fall, but ...jeez...already...?

    

This is the same meadow in the spring/summer  (L) and how it looks right now (R) ....
Oh well, c'est la vie!

 

There are some puzzling things in this collage. For me, at least.

 

I know the one on the left is an Indian Paintbrush and the 'shroom' on the bottom right a King Boletus but what's that stuff in the middle or the very prickly sort of thistle at the top right?

 

He or she who can tell me earns a piece of my Strawberry-Rhubarb pie! (Pick-up only :)