MONTANA - PART 2

We had a wonderful visit back in March with Amber, Dylan and their pup Finley.  We arrived on a Friday and of course we got pizza that night. 

Amber and I went on Saturday morning for pedicures which was wonderful. It's been years since we have had a pedicure together. We also went shopping that day to a store called North 40 Outfitters.  That's were Mark can load up on some ammunition at a good price and no sales tax. He is a member of a shooting range. 

We did stay in a lot and door dashed a few times. One day we did go to Jaker's, which is a lovely restaurant, for dinner.  

We have been bringing photo albums and such for Amber to go through. She loves having actual photos. She has her walls full of family members. So we did that one day. 

We really enjoy just hanging out. I think we visited twice during the pandemic and it's kind of nice to do nothing at all. I know that next time we will do some more sightseeing. There are several places Mark wants to visit again. 

We did stop at a few places. We visited the C. M. Russell Museum which we had gone to several years ago. It's a great place to see Western art. I didn't take pictures except for one statue that I thought was excellent. It portrayed the Buffalo Jump which was a very sad time for the Indians and the buffalo's. 

We have been to the Buffalo Jump before. You stand out at the jump and it looks like the buffalo's could run forever on flat land. The wasn't the case. I have a photo of the jump when we passed by it going home last year. 

A metal sculpture outside the building of C.M. Russell Museum

Mark wanted to go to Fort Benton, which we have been to before but the day we had planned on going it had snowed. 

We also visited the Giant Springs State Park which isn't far from their house. It's a nice place to walk around.

We also went over to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, which we have been to before. We actually went for the gift shop. Amber wanted a new dried flower picture for her wall. 

They have some very interesting dried flowers out in front. The ones in the frames that we have bought are pretty dried flowers between glass. 

Dylan has about 5 large tanks of beautiful frogs and also some geckos and lizards. His tanks are so beautiful and lush inside. I will definitely have to get more photos next time. I know I have some from a few years ago but didn't feel like looking for them. (sorry)

Now this little guy is sitting on a creeping fig leaf which are very small.....

So it was a great trip. We spent six nights with them. We have two days of driving up and then back home. I can't wait to see them again. Hopefully we will get back there this summer. If you didn't see the pictures from our drive you can see them in Part One. 

The one issue I had was that at the higher elevations my oxygen levels dropped. It was scary. I am working with my doctor on this right now. We did buy some Boost oxygen canisters that they sell for mountain climbing. Didn't help that much. 

We have a few other options to try. She doesn't want me to start on oxygen because normally my levels are good and she said I may never get off of it. There is a possible pill that they use for heart patients to take when they go to higher elevations. Because I have COPD and heart issues it's not for sure where my issues were coming from. 

The other option we have is to drive one shorter day and stay in St. George, UT which is around 3,000 ft high and then take a 12 hour day driving to Great Falls, MT which is also around 3,000 ft which I can handle. I seem to be okay driving through Utah's high elevations but certainly can't do a night in a hotel there. 

Of course we could fly too but then we can't bring things for Amber that she can't buy there and Mark can't get his ammunition. However we will probably try to fly in between other trips so we can see them more often. 

Sorry this is so long.....