May 2018 - Camp Bighorn in Plains, MT

Camp Bighorn, Plains, MT
May 2018



We worked with 2 other couples here at Camp Bighorn, in Plains, MT for the month of May.  L to R, Wayne & Gail Fieler, Sharon & Floyd Hadley and Mimi & Larry Biladeau.

The Hadley's had to leave after 1 week to rescue their son that had a RV breakdown in Oregon.  Then that left the Biladeau's to work with us the remainder of the May project.

The drive into and through Montana was a scene from a traveler's magazine.  So green and the rivers were flowing almost over their banks in some instances from the winter's bountiful harvest of snow!

Our parking spot was surrounded

by lots of greenery which

we found out all too soon

was a breeding ground and

home for MANY mice!

Mountains surrounded us on all 4 sides,
the Clark Fork River (below) was across
the street with railroad tracks that saw
a train almost hourly.  We saw airplane
bodies, coal cars and many things being
transported that had Seattle bound on it.

The flowers were just beginning to bloom in Montana.
They grow them big and beautiful in this state.

The ladies sewed new privacy curtains

that went below the sinks in the boys and 

girls bathrooms.

One of the first jobs that the men tackled

was repacking the bearings on trailers.

The apple trees on the campus were
in bloom and beginning to show signs
of fall harvest.

Some of the buildings on the Big Horn

campus.

Mimi Biladeau made this gorgeous new
topper for the 4-wheeler they have on campus.

Wayne & I ventured to Wallace, Idaho to meet some 

SOWER friends and while we were there we

became the Center of the Universe!

Our friends who have moved to Coeur' D'Alene, Idaho.
Bill & Jenny Sutherland.  Here we are doing what
we do best.......eating!

The guys talked us gals into visiting an

old silver mine that is no longer in

operation but open for tours.

Can't believe I went into this mine, me

the claustrophobic one!

Of course you cannot go to Montana
without visiting Glacier National Park.
Not all of the Road to the Sun was open
due to snow packed roads but we were
able to see much of the lakes and park.

Notice how clean the water was.
You can see right to the bottom.

Mirror images, gorgeous.

Now a visit to Libby, MT.

On our way to Kootenai Falls
in Libby, MT.

Yes, we both walked over the 

swinging bridge.

Just beautiful scenery along the hike.

St. Ignatius Mission

just north of Missoula, MT.

It was noted that all the murals painted in
this mission was done by the cook!

Mimi, Larry and myself took on the revamping
of the flower garden next to the maintenance shop.

Wish we knew how it looked this summer.

Tamping out a walkway thru the

garden after finding flat stones, robbing 

them from their location and relocating them

in the new garden!

Wayne climbed to the trail top at
Big Horn where there was a cross that
overlooked the Clark Fork River.

So.......the Clark Fork was at flood stage,

and we wanted to launch a rubber duck,

follow it miles down the river at

different locations, then say good-bye

at the last bridge because

at the Fair Grounds we never saw

it go by!  But 3 months later a man called 

in upstate Montana that found it captured

by some logs in a lake, freed it once again,

and relaunched him.  He called cuz my #

was on the bottom of the duck!

The National Bison Range was close by.
North of Missoula about 50 miles, many, many
bison free-ranging.

Mimi and Gail undertook refinishing
the doors on the dining hall.  They were
gorgeous when finished, like brand new.

The men continued to work on the 

remodeling of the bathrooms in the 

dining hall. Many hours of

tiling, grouting, sealing and then 

the task of reinstalling the bathroom 

stalls, and hardware.

Camp Big Horn had some major renovations in bathrooms for the men this Spring.  The ladies sewed, gardened, and refinished doors.  The scenery at this location was absolutely beautiful which led to many weekend excursions.  Mornings were cool but by afternoon it was perfect for any outdoor activities.  We have learned that Big Horn has cancelled the remainder of its SOWER projects for the summer, maybe next year they will open the doors once again.

At the end of this project Gail is leaving to spend the month with Nanny and of course spending time with the other Fieler's (Philip, Amanda & Lilly) all in North Carolina.  Wayne will be relocating the RV about 120 miles South to Camp Utmost about 40 miles outside of Missoula to work alone.  He will document his events!