Gates of the Mountains

Ted and I cleaned house this morning as we knew we would be having company over the next few days and didn't want people to see how the dust builds up as we travel. I also baked five dozen cookies and made a salad to contribute to the gatherings that Bonnie was having this weekend.  At one we met Bill, Lois, Beryl and Virgil (Tim's parents) and Mike (a friend of Bonnie and Tim's from Washington) at the end of our road for a trip to the Gates of the Mountains.

About ten miles back towards Great Falls and a side road to the Missouri River is a marina.  We bought tickets and stood in line for quite awhile hoping we wouldn't be put on the same boat as the bus load of school children who were noisily running around.  Once on the boat, Beryl and Virgil sat inside out of the sun while the rest of us sat on the stern deck in the bright sunshine with the amazingly blue sky overhead.  The trip takes about two hours and travels up the Missouri through really high limestone cliffs until it gets to high rolling hills covered in grasses and trees.  This is where we turned around and from the angle the boat was at, it looked like the cliffs were blocking the river and you could go no further.  When Merriweather Lewis saw this, he said that this looked like the gateway to the rocky mountains.  

Closed Gates

The Gates are Opening

Along the way, we saw swallows, vultures and an eagle nest with eaglets and one of the adults flying around.  There were lots of points of interest including the site of the worst forest fire tragedy ever in the U.S.  From this tragedy where all but three of the smoke jumpers perished, modern forest fire fighting techniques were developed.  There were also signs of more recent forest fires.

Trees in the Background are all Dead from Fires

The cliffs along the way were spectacular and the captain gave a continuous narration of the flora, fauna, geology and history of the area.  It was really a wonderful trip made even more so by being with such good friends.

High Cliffs 

Spectacular Views

Interesting Formations

A Window in the Wall

Bill, Ted and Tim

Lois

When we returned, they all stopped to see our motorhome and visit for awhile.  We showered and returned to Bonnie's to pick up Bill and Lois to go to Trevor's piano recital.  He has been taking piano lessons since he was five and is extremely talented.  He played for about an hour and a half and we wanted it to never end.  One of the pieces was his own composition.  Incredible!!  Bonnie and her friend, Alissa, and daughter, Holly,  had a lovely table of desserts set up in the anteroom of the church where the recital was and we visited with the great number of family and friends that had come to hear Trevor play.