Heading South - Montana to New Mexico

I can't believe we are leaving Montana.  

We didn't get to see and do all we wanted but we made a good dent in it and met some very nice people.

We head out via the East shore of Flathead Lake

 There are several Cherry Orchards along the shore - I regret we didn't get to do this 

drive when the Cherry Blossoms were out.

In Polson we pass by rolls of Hay made into different figures

We were doing to stop at the National Buffalo Range but we are on a tighter schedule

to get to Steamboat Springs, CO so we pass on it and make a short stop at St. Ignatius Mission instead

It is quite lovely inside

 The are doing restoration work on the Murals

A nice place to stretch the legs as well

Not long and we are in Idaho.  I had hoped to get to see Couer D'Alene but I 

guess we'll do that another time.

We follow the Snake River

 and pass by some furrowed fields

 and through some morning fog

 The Palisades Dam

 The water looks beautiful

We leave Colorado and have a few passes to cross on our way south.  Rabbit Ears is the first

The Fall colors are just past peak but still pretty

We figure we'll stop for lunch in Leadville

But first we have to go through another Pass

 Leadville is a cool town at 10,152 feet

Hey you look dog friendly - let me in!

 Brisket Sandwich for $6 sounds good

 The Nantucket Nectar cap says the highest point in Nantucket is Folger Hill at 100 feet -we've got that beat by 10,052 feet here

We are on a long stretch of road with nowhere to pull over.  I googled places and looked like we had to head over to Colorado Great Sand Dunes National Park, but about 20 minutes before we reach that we come to this UFO campsite.  $10 a night with an observation tower to watch for UFO's plus my bladder wasn't going to make it another 20 minutes.

Hi Mom!  This place is out of this world!

Apparently Men are from Mars

Tucson hanging out with the abominable snowman

Camel Rock

And we arrive at our new home for the next two weeks

Nate and Jeanne have a beautiful home in Rio Rancho

A beautiful place to watch the birds

Then the moon comes out

and the Balloon Fiesta evening Balloon Glow

and fireworks

Looking forward to my time here - Gary is off to Albany in a couple days.