[a/s] Great Falls, Montana - July 10, 2000

[HHamp5246@xxxxxxx]

Hi Gang,

Jeez, I woke up at 3:15am to more hail.... <sigh> I feel like that kid in 
Peanuts with the black cloud over his head.....  only my cloud is full of 
hail not dirt.  This was nothing like the assault at Rapid City... this was 
more like popcorn.

Pop....pop.....pop.....pop..pop..pop..pop.pop.pop.pop.poppoppopoppopoppoppopop
poppoppoppoppop..pop..pop....pop.....pop......pop.......................pop.

I wasn't even worried, my truck and trailer are already dinged so much I 
wouldn't notice more.  I was worried about a 1938 Buick Limited a guy was 
pulling as his toad behind a Flair motorhome.  This car is awesome, I would 
hate to see it ruined.  No harm done though, it was baby hail (c:

We left White Sulphur Springs and had a 90 mile drive to Great Falls... wow, 
most of the miles were through the Lewis and Clark National Forest.  A 
bazillion pine trees, a roaring creek along the road, small summer cabins 
with decks over the river, and daisies, lots and lots of daisies.

Fishermen casting their lines in the rapids, a deer giving me a heart attack 
crossing the road in front of me.... my brakes are good.... mountains, lush 
green alpine meadows.... this has to be one of my favorite drives so far.

Great Falls is just a big city... the drive in goes by fast food restaurants, 
tire dealers and shopping centers. Thanks to my CB I was directed easily to 
Dick's RV Park.... our friends from the other night are here, the 1938 Buick 
is here, another motorhome from White Sulphur Springs is here.

Don and I dropped our trailers and headed right for Walmart.  We both got oil 
changes then headed for the Charles M. Russell museum.  The museum has a 
wonderful collection of Russells, also as it is on the grounds of his 
home...the original house is there and the best part is his log studio.  It's 
exactly as he left it, even his brushes look like they are waiting for him to 
start a new painting. Before he died he started an addition to the studio 
because he wanted it to become a museum... I have been a Russell fan for many 
years... ever since I bought an "Original Russell" at a flea market when I 
lived in Cincinnati... but I won't embarrass myself with that story (c:   

So, after a terrific Chinese buffet in town.... I'm back at the park.... the 
dogs have been walked and I'm settled in front of the tv. ....

Life's good.

Hunter