Moved to Fort Benton, Montana

Packed up this morning and drove 125 miles north and east to Fort Benton, Montana.  We followed Interstate 15 out of Helena, a divided road and had very little construction to deal with.  In one canyon the crews were putting up steel netting to stop the downward fall of rocks - they were spelunking!

Spelunking- workers putting up fencing for stones

We had visited Fort Benton 4 years ago, strictly as a day visitor, we were camping in Great Falls at the time.  Thought it would be nice to see more of the town, get a better flavor of what is here.  One thing we wanted to do - and hopefully will find out more tomorrow if we can - is to take a guided tour down the Missouri River to the Upper Missouri River Breaks area.  This particular area is known as breathtaking scenery, only accessible by water (canoe/kayak/guided boat - or backpacking it in) and cannot be driven to the area, no roads at all.  Lewis and Clark's journals stated how beautiful the area was and we are hoping to see it.

Missouri River

Small boat fishing

I was expecting a boring drive from Helena but was surprised the first 60 miles of our journey.  We followed the Missouri River through canyons, deep ravines, small towns, just very pretty.  Saw lots of small boats on the water fishing and some kayakers.

Missouri is very low

Flat land - where are my mountains?

Once we got within 30 miles of Great Falls, the land flattened out.  Weird to not see mountains.  And the land is so very parched.  Got into Great Falls and recognized many of the stores that we had visited back then.  Continued on north on route 87, crossed the Missouri for the last time, drove another 40 miles to Fort Benton which is called the birthplace of Montana.  This town was the last destination of steam boat travel on the Missouri, the river becomes narrower and shallower.  Fur trading post, founded by the American Fur Company, was established in 1846 and you can visit the fort today and step back into the frontier days.

Crossed Missouri for last time in Great Falls

We have run into a problem - the temperature is topping 99 outside and our air conditioning unit is not working.  Hot.  Just glad the humidity is next to nothing (7%) so it is hot, but not humid.  Since we are so far from a 'normal' RV repair center, we will live with this until we get to Billings, our next stop, this coming Thursday.  In the meantime - trying to keep cool (poor cats are not liking the heat).

No air conditioning - top number is inside, bottom is out.  Ugh.