One thing I keep forgetting to mention about Montana is that before we go I need to buy stock in lip balm. Because I use it like crazy when we’re there. I never realized how much drier it is there.  Not a bad thing, just different.  I always have lip balm with me, and in the Rocky Mountains I used it copiously;; my lips always felt chapped. I’m sure if we lived there my body would get used to it, but the difference between there and here was very noticeable.

One thing I wish I’d known then, when we were traveling along I-90, or maybe hurtling along would be a better description…because the speed limit was 75 mph…is that there was a frontage road that we could have driven on instead.

Because, in viewing it on Google StreetMaps, the view was pretty amazing.

The road ran pretty much right next to the river, and the pace would have been slower.  And yeah, I admit that we needed to get to Coeur d’ Alene that night, but still…

Next time, yeah? In the meantime, we were ready for another break, and found one at the Bearmouth Rest Area, just makai of Drummond. This was an even bigger oasis, and it proved to be a terrific one.

I don’t know why the map shows it as Eastbound, because you couldn’t get to it heading east.  Only makai.

Try look da lake!  Of course, when we first drove in, we had absolutely no idea that it was there.

I learn so much while we’re on these trips, and as always, love reading about my ancestor.

We walked along by the lake, and I spotted this beautiful duck swimming along.  I researched it when we got home, and discovered that it was a Goldeneye Duck, which I’d never seen before.

We even got a video of him.  So kewt!!

We took some videos of this tranquil and beautiful place. Yeah, can still hear the traffic zooming by above, but it was still wonderful. You can hear birdies singing above it all.

If I were a duck, I think I’d like it here.  You can see our white van in the parking lot waiting patiently for us to come back.

This would be a wonderful place for a picnic.  I would’ve enjoyed just sitting here and watching the wildlife.

Oh yeah, and the aspen trees.  I know I’ve said it before, but watching their fluttering leaves is one of my favorite things to do. Summer, fall, anykine time.  And the bark is so lovely, too.

I know pretty blurry, and the sound of the traffic is loud, but I hope you enjoy this.

Here’s a streetmaps photo of the rest area. You can see the lake in the background.

We’d been chasing the rain all day long, and we were so grateful that when we stopped here at 2:30 p.m., it was a pretty warm 50°.   We needed to get moving, so we hopped back into the car again, and headed off down the road, the river always at our sides.

The hillsides were just beginning to green up.

And the river kept moving along, just as it had for thousands of years.

Chalet Bearmouth.  How’d you like to stay here for a week! It has really good reviews.

Nolemana talked about staying here, getting a Montana fishing license, and spending some time relaxing.

We had no idea what this thing is, and I can’t find it on StreetMaps.

Missoula County.  Another sign that we’re heading makai, getting closer to home.

And closer to Idaho.

Fish Creek Road: 1 mile

Uncluttered freeways. Oh how I love thee.

A hui hou…till next time.