After we left the ghost town of Virgelle, we continued on the dirt/gravel road for a mile to Coal Banks Landing. This is BLM run, you can camp here while you canoe or kayak the Missouri River. We noticed a number of out-of-state cars and we know this is one of two embark/disembark areas of the river. This is a beautiful area, natural, still pristine, and as I stared across the river and up and down it, I could imagine the Lewis and Clark expedition coming through here.
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| Osprey adult, baby, and another adult across the road staring at us |
We saw a family getting ready to head out on the water, they were heading downstream towards the White Cliffs area of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. There are certain stretches of miles of the river where no motorized traffic can go, only canoes and kayaks. This is also where we would have embarked on our journey if we could have taken the guided river tour.
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| Current swift - poof - they are out of there! |
Most people float downriver to Judith Landing, big too far for us to go. We talked to an intern ranger and she said that round trip from Coal Banks to Judith and back would be about 120 miles. Tidge too far. Glad we did get to see this area, though.
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| Bazaar looking formations right by landing |
From Coal Banks we headed back to the paved road and continued on to the town of Big Sandy. We expected it to be bigger than Fort Benton but I have to say it was only 1/4 the size. Did visit their Historical Society and museum, lots of artifacts on display. Stopped at the Bear Paw Mountain Cafe for a cup of coffee - what a charming place! Upscale, modern and very busy for 2:30 in the afternoon.
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| Now you know where Big Sandy is |
Just before we got back to Fort Benton, we stopped at the roadsigns right before dropping into Benton. Saw the Missouri River as it meanders through town, saw the railroad tracks - then discovered why we had not heard the whistle of the train. I don't think any trains will be coming through any time soon. Now we understand why we see so many eighteen wheelers hauling grains in and out of the town, can't use the train. Every night after dark a number of tractor trailers come in to park not far from our campground. Sometimes they are hauling harvesting equipment, sometimes just the grain carriers. And then they are gone by 7am. Poof.
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| Little problem here - washout big time! |
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| Looking towards Fort Benton |
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| Sampling of the traffic that comes and goes each night |
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