Flathead Lake

Saturday, June 14, 2014

It was a rainy, nasty day and a good day to curl up with a book.  Ted went down to the office in the afternoon to get some information but I didn't leave the motorhome until it was time for dinner.  There is a little outdoor cafe in the campground called the Backwoods Bistro.  It was cold and damp but there was a roof over the picnic tables and there was a hanging fireplace with a fire going in the middle of the seating area.  I had fried chicken strips with bacon and scallion waffles and coleslaw.  Different but very good.  Ted had the fried chicken dinner with grits, coleslaw and green beans.  Except for the cold, the price was right and the was food tasty.

Sunday, June 15, 2014   Father's Day

We started the day by Skypeing with Aaron, Titina and kids.  Pietra sang happy father's day to grampy.  She was watching Minnie Mouse on TV but then got some great rides on her dad's back.  He was a tiger not a horse.  So much for the cowgirls we used to know.  Arthur was walking everywhere.  What a change a week can make.

The day was still overcast and gray so we decided to go to Kalispell about thirty miles away which is the largest town around.  The clouds were touching the tops of the mountains and there were small wisps of clouds in front of them.  We followed portions of the Flathead River almost into Kalispell.  When talking to Ron Paradis yesterday, Ted found out that we could get a 15% discount on our Verizon bill if he was a veteran.  He took in his DD214 as proof and we should start getting the discount.  While he was taking care of that, I went in to Famous Footwear and found the Birkenstocks that I have wanted ever since I saw Melissa Zuber's this winter.  Ted came in and he bought some new water shoes and a pair of Birks as well.  We then went to Bajio Mexican Grill for lunch.  A quick trip into Walmart and the sun was starting to peak out.  We decided to do the loop around Flathead Lake.

On Our Way to Kalispell

Flathead River

This Guy Watched Over Us While We Ate

Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River.  It is about twenty-eight miles long and up to fifteen miles wide and more than three hundred feet deep. The water is in shades of aqua, green and turquoise and was very beautiful. There are more than a half dozen state parks around it and the road follows the shore almost all the way around sometimes on high cliffs looking down, sometimes with houses, fields and woods between the road and the lake and sometimes right beside the water.  We stopped a few times to take photos and I snapped some pictures as we were traveling along as well.  Traveling down the west side of the lake, we could see the tall Rockies with snow on top towering over the east side of the lake.  Going up the other side we looked across at hilly but much gentler terrain.  There were two large islands toward the south end of the lake.  One is large enough to support deer, bear, wild horses, bald eagles and big horn sheep.  Rumor has it that the lake also has a monster similar to the Loch Ness Monster.

Green Water Near Northwest Side of Lake

Mountains Across the Lake

Really Green Reflections

Big Island in the Lake 

View from the South

View from East Side of Lake Looking West

Lots of Orchards on East Side - We Don't Know What Kind of Trees

At Wood's Bay near the north east corner of the lake, I noticed a sign for the Flathead Lake Brewing Company.  Ted turned the car around and we took the last parking space.  When we got out of the car, we could hear music.  We went in to the bar and they had ten beers on tap that they made right there.  Ted had the Bufflehead Brown Ale and after trying a few, I had the Centennial IPA.  Both were good choices.  We went out the side door and up onto a large deck where there were picnic tables and a stage where The Bad Larrys were playing.  They were really good and played a variety of music.  We sat at a table with another couple and could see the lake across the road.  We nursed our beers and listened for about an hour before continuing our journey back to the campground.