Choteau to Condon

This morning I woke up at the stage Stop Inn in Choteau (again), went down to breakfast, started a load of laundry down the hall, then went to sit and plan out the day. I moved the laundry to the dryer, and went for a run. It was brisk, sunny, and the terrible gusts of wind had stopped. I ran to the north end of the parking lot where I saw a long straight road. I ran along it, then up it. It was about a mile and a half to the top of the rise, and then I ran back down. It was a terrific view. And when I say ran, I mean I ran/jogged/walked while panting.

The view from my run, with the Rocky Mountains in the distance. 

When I got back I folded the dry clothes, and packed them back in my suitcase. Then I tried to wake up Ruben. He was not pleased that I tried to wake him. Breakfast was almost over and he declined. He also declined to shower. He declined to get dressed so I threw some clothes at him and went to take a shower. When I was finished he was half dressed.

It was coming up on check out time, so I put the pressure on by asking him to go get the rolling cart, and we ended up pulling out of there at exactly 11am. I was breakfasted, exercised, and ready for the drive. Ru was ready to drive.

Ruben’s review of Stage Stop Inn in Choteau

“There was plentiful washing resources and the customer service was excellent. The thing I like the most is that everything was organized and well kept. I didn’t go to the breakfast. The pool was a really good temperature, and the spa was a really good temperature. They were clean. The shower had a bathtub in it and the shower head was very coolio. The water temperature was good”

We had a reservation at Standing Stones B&B in Condon, and we made our way south from Choteau on yet another amazingly beautiful road, the 287 south. We came to a crossroads and took the 200 west, stopping in Libby Montana for the WORST food of the trip. It was drenched in liquid smoke flavor. We couldn’t eat it.

Decorating with dead animals in the hotel lobby. 

Decorating with dead animals in the restaurant. 

We continued on the 200 till it intersected with the 83 north, traveling into the mountains again. Condon is where we were headed but we had cell service for most of the drive, and I found a hike that sounded like our style. It was next to a lake, with a waterfall. We took the exit for Holland Lake, and traveled down 3 miles of nice gravel to get to the trailhead. It was a 3.2 mile hike round trip, The first 2/3 of the trail were relatively flat, but then it got pretty steep. The view of the lake, and mountains in the distance was just gorgeous, the lake was so clean and such a pretty blue. The waterfall had a big spill at the top, the went rapidly over bounders down to the lake.

The lake was well used, and all the Montana plates showed that it was mostly a local place. There were many kayaks and moored boats, water skiers and sunbathers.

Ruben’s review of Holland Falls (and lake)

“There was a bunch of hipsters and people who weren’t old on the hike. Lots and lots of squirrels and chipmunks, especially up at the falls. There were split paths on the trial that looked convincing but led to a dead end. The hike was definitely not an easy hike, there was lots of slippery dust and near the falls it was very sloped, but most of it was flat and easy to walk over. The lake was a nice turquoise color, and there was a spot on the lake that was very still so lily pads were able to grow on it. There was tons of people playing in the water because it was a good spot, like a peninsula where you have an outlook of the whole lake. The waterfall seemed to come out of nowhere. Like it came from the sky. The mist from the waterfall stretches very far, and even if you are standing far away you can still feel the mist. There are lots of sharp rocks and roots on the trail. Probably wouldn’t ever wear flip flops.”

Click on this picture to see it larger, and look at the white spot in the valley at the top of the lake. That's the waterfall we hiked to. 

Sure they are just shrubs, but they smelled wonderful. 

I'm thanking the good smelling plants by putting their picture on the blog. 

My big foot

Holland Lake with Rocky Mountains as seen from the falls. 

We were sweaty and tired when we got back from the hike. We drove the short distance to where google maps said our B&B was, and it wasn’t. There was an old guy working on a shed, and I asked him where it was. He said “Oh just go yonder down the road, past the old white storage tank and look for them big rocks. Don’t go past em, you got to pull in between those big rocks. They got rocks everywhere.” So sure enough we drove down the road, past the white tank, and in between the big rocks. Lynn the caretaker said she wasn’t expecting us. She said they switched reservation systems and mine must have got lost. Fortunately they had a room, with 2 queen beds, and its own bath. Unfortunately, it’s clean but divey, and the beds are hard.

We dropped off our stuff and headed back to a steakhouse we passed between the lake and the B&B. Cab kept asking me if I had steak yet, and I hadn’t. I paid $21.00 for a small mediocre overcooked steak, a baked potato, and a salad of limp iceberg lettuce. Ruben didn’t fare much better with his $21.50 for 7 shrimps on a skewer, and a baked potato. He passed on the salad. We did play an epic game of chess, and he captured my king fair and square.

Meh food. Good game. 

Things we notice everywhere in Montana.

1. BIG red trucks. Old and new, seems every other local vehicle we see is a red truck. Most of them either have a hat on the dash, or a hat on the driver. The little SUVs and cars are usually out of state.

2. Horns, antlers, dead animal heads, and sculls. Everywhere. I haven’t seen any at the B&B yet, but we haven’t been in the breakfast room yet either. They have been in all the restaurants, lodges, museums, and hotels.

3. Most houses and buildings have American flags.

Also Ruben has been surprised by then number of people who pass him on country roads when he is doing 70 (the speed limit). They just fly by him. We have seen one police officer this entire trip.

After we ate we came back to the B&B to relax. I wrote this (while praying my stomach will digest), Ru played a game on his phone, and watched the cartoon movie Epic while I read a book. I had a hard time falling asleep due to stomach issues.