Miles City, Montana: With all the “excitement” of yesterday, I forgot to mention - during the giant dip we drove over/into - our fruit bowl crashed onto the floor. Only a tomato lost its life, but guacamole was prepared this morning… carving around the bruised bits of two avocados that had rolled around the floor of the RV.
Back to today, which basically consisted of driving to the next town, Miles City, on the Yellowstone River. There is an attraction in town, the Range Riders Museum, that can amaze or just overwhelm a person.
The displays consist of hundreds of collections from hundreds of people who seem to have kept relics from their family history, barns, or have given priceless collections of Native American photography, European antique ceramics, or western gear to the museum.
There are photos of Native Americans of various tribes, thousands of arrowheads, headdresses, beadwork, axes, knives, swords, rifles and handguns, including one of four remaining elephant rifles in the world. Spurs, chaps, saddles, reins, saddle blankets, hats, boots, bullets, bullet casings, and a Japanese WWII hand grenade turned into a cigarette lighter.
The saddle display is presented along a faux main street in a typical western town. Clothing shop, barber shop, jail, post office, livery, blacksmith, saloon, bank - all out-fitted with period antiques.
They have clothing irons and leg irons, household items, ancient typewriters, an antique dental chair and antique dental equipment, momentos from Scottish sheepherders, dinosaur teeth and reproduction dioramas of Mill City and nearby Fort Keogh. Something for everyone? I didn't know there that many branding irons - or brands - in the world.
This was on a rifle case.
We were at the museum for several hours, as it is contained in many buildings and the collection is so huge. I have no knowledge or interest in antique guns, but if you do, this would be the place to visit.
Dave wanted to have lunch at the Montana Bar in Miles City, so we drove into town after our museum visit. The old town area is very interesting, and Main Street is lined with old bars with fantastic neon signs.
We went inside the Montana Bar for lunch only to find it completely empty and the bartender looking a little lonely. She explained they "didn't have a kitchen" today. Not sure if there was a repair needed on the stove, if their chef had quit, or if the health department had shut them down, so we mosied on out.
We had lunch at another bar. They were all very similar, with a long, booze bottle filled wall down the entire length of the interior and seating/dance floors in the middle. Assume they all offered bison burgers as well. Our lunch was not worthy the bandwidth to post a photo and my tummy grumbled all afternoon.
Which is another reason for the guacamole. If we go out to a gut-bomb place for lunch, we usually have no interest in dinner. Chips and guacamole were perfect. Dave sat outside this evening chatting about rocks and geology with our neighbor. I gave myself a pedicure.
Try to contain your excitement.
Our trip east continues tomorrow. We have left the wildfire smoke behind.
Until my next update, I remain, your western correspondent.
Campground Information: Miles City KOA Journey
A barbed wire collection? Who woulda thought?!