Early on Sept 10, we left Banff and headed east to Calgary and then turned south toward the United States. We crossed the border at Coutts and had no problem with only about a 15 minutes wait. As we continued south on I-15 through the wheat fields of Montana we finally stopped at Great Falls for several nights.
Once again the weather was wonderful with clear blue skies and warm days!
The campground is not far from the Missouri River, so off to see the falls we ventured!
The Great Falls of the Missouri River are a series of waterfalls. The five falls, which are located in a 10-mile area
of the river are:
Black Eagle Falls (26 feet 5 inches) top photo.
Colter Falls (6 feet 7 inches)
Rainbow Falls ( 44 feet 6 inches) second photo
Crooked Falls (19 feet
) third photoThe Great Falls 87 feet)
Only one of the waterfalls that comprise the Great Falls of the Missouri River exist in their natural state today, Dams built on the falls beginning in the 1880's, have
significantly altered and even submerged the five waterfalls. Black Eagle Dam was built in 1890, and half of Black Eagle Falls are now submerged in the reservoir behind them. This structure was the first hydroelectric dam built in the state.Rainbow falls was dammed in 1910 when Rainbow Dam was built. The reservoir behind the dam submerged Colter Falls.
Crooked Falls is the only waterfall in the area which is in its original state as of 2009.
Volta Dam (later renamed Ryan Dan) was built on top of the Great Falls (further down river) in 1915.
The Missouri River drops a total of 612 feet from the first of the falls to the last, which includes 187 feet of waterfalls and 425 feet of riverbed descent. The Great Falls have been described as "spectacular", one of the "scenic wonders of America", and a major geographic discovery. Meriwether Lewis said they were the grandest sight he'd beheld thus far in the journey of the Corps of Discovery.
The Great Falls of the Missouri River were depicted on the Montana Territory territorial seal, and became part of the State of Montana's state seal in 1893.
The United States purchased the area around the Great Falls of the Missouri from France in 1803, as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Thomas Jefferson, then President of the United States, had long desired to send an expedition into the area, Jefferson sought and won permission and funding for an expedition from Congress in January 1803. On May 14, 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition departed St. Louis, Missouri, to map the course of the Missouri River;establish whether a river route to the Pacific Ocean existed. The Lewis and Clark Expedition discovered the Great Falls of the Missouri River on June 13, 1805. Meriwether Lewis was the first white person to see the falls.
We left Great Falls on Monday, Sept 12, and continued south on I-15, through Helena, Montana ( the capitol of Montana) to Dillon, Montana. The sky
was hazy with smoke from the forest fires in the
area. In Dillon we went to dinner at Sparkeys
Garage Restaurant.... John said it was the BEST
BBQ brisket that he had ever had!!!! The restaurant had its beginnings as a garage but was later turned into a restaurant. Great food and a fun place.On Tuesday, we continued our journey south to our next overnight in Pocatello, Idaho, we passed through the town of Spencer, Idaho, which I found our is the
Opal Capital of America. No we did not stop for any Opals....maybe another time!
From Pocatello our next stop will be in Salt Lake City, Utah for several days.
In Utah we had dinner with Keeth and Kristy, who were there on vacation and Kristy's Mom and Dad. We had a nice family dinner.
While in there we drove back to Park City where John lived for a while. The place is about the same. We drove by the old house and found that they had been painted a different color.... life goes on. This the first place that we have begun to see the leaves changing color. The hills around the town were bright yellow and red!
From here we are heading to Virgin, Utah and Zion National Park.
Until then, Candy and Johnny on the road!!
