Monday, June 20, 2011

DAY 3: Philipsburg, sapphire mining and the Sweet Palace

Once we got to our RV field in historic Philipsburg, we unhooked and headed to Gem Mountain.  Brian and Deb told us about this great little place 20 minutes away.  You pay for a bucket of dirt and sift and peck for sapphires.  We found a few and the kids had a blast.  Jack was REALLY good at finding those little gems in the clay.  Let’s just say you wouldn’t want to get in his way if we was a gold prospector in the 1800’s.  

We went into town for their 2nd biggest tourist attraction….The Sweet Palace.  Jeff got a big hunk-o-fudge free for Father’s Day.

After dinner we strapped on our helmets and rode our bikes back into Philipsburg to tour this quaint, historic little town. 
Gem Mountain





Philipsburg


The Sweet Palace






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DAY 2: Missoula, Yogi and a flat

We’re still RV’ing it which means staying in RV parks, etc. but the true camping is coming up when we get to Yellowstone in a couple of days.

On our way to Missoula we stopped at Lookout Pass and played in the snow before heading to Missoula.

Jellystone RV park in Missoula is heaven compared to Spokane complete with pool and miniature golf.  We also found a great place to bike outside of the grounds in a rural, equestrian neighborhood with a mile plus long paved road. 

After swimming and some mini golf (before the rain came) we were even visited by Jellystone RV parks mascot...Yogi bear himself!

Just before leaving Jeff noticed our trailer had a flat.  I naturally thought it was our tough, unfriendly neighbors with twin pitbull’s in tow.  Even their kids dressed the part with their  pocket knife chain accessories and hopefully fake tattooes.  Which makes me wonder…how old do you have to be to get a tattoo?  I said hello and smiled and I got nothin’.  I’m thinking we may have looked too whimpy sporting our Blakely Bulldog hoodies and bike helmets.   Rosie didn't help the picture. The only thing keeping "the twins" from making her lunch was a chain that looked way to flimsy for those steroid beasts.  I wanted to take a picture of the dogs but I was just plain scared.
There is a happy ending.  We got out alive and they didn’t slash our tires after all.  Jeff and our tire guy said the flat was the ‘‘perfect storm’ of events… a tiny, spear shaped rock that hit the tire in a very precise spot that caused the flat.

We're fixed and on the road again.  Next stop Philipsburge, Montana....

Jack - King of Lookout Pass, MT

Harper doing her 'happy dance' in the snow...




Bike ride over the hill from camp