Billings, Montana

This picture was taken going over 'Lolo Pass' on a very rainy day, it was so beautiful. I was headed to Billings to see my friend Brenda....

Beautiful area.

Got to Billings and parked next to Brenda at the Moose Lodge...


Great quiet place to park, except Brenda said ...since I got there some crazy things were happening.....I don't know why she blamed me???

Everyone sees airplane fuselages (without wings) going down the railroad tracks...

Don't they????

...and I know its common to see two donkey drawn wagons stop traffic....

....don't they?

...and a friend that doesn't want her picture taken?

Dwarshak State Park, Idaho

Went to see my buddy Roy at Dwarshak State Park, where he has been working every Summer for the last few years....Its a huge lovely park and covers quite a large area.

This is the actual dam that controls all the Recreational lake waters

Put it out and they will come.....

In fact he would have to refill 2 bird feeders a day...because they came so often

.....at one time I counted 8 birds on one feeder...

The camp workers got together for a cook out...this is the Ranger being the chef...

....and here comes Roy with his water-gun....

..a very nice bunch of people that Roy works with....

Metaline Falls, Washington, 'Ladies Day Out'

This was 'Ladies Day Out" for Shirley, Patty, Jody and myself. We decided to tour Metaline Falls, and some of the most unique architect work I've seen. Found out later on the Internet, that "The Postman" ...starred in and directed by Kevin Costner was filmed there in 1996.

It was a corporate company town and this was one of the mucky mucks house.

Jody says "where next"???

The Metaline Falls Museum where they have a visiting show from the 'Smithsonian called 'Food of America'

Cheese Head!!!!

....and you didn't think Shirley was ornery????

....and a disappearing American view....'the phone booth....'

Ione, Washington "The Great Train Ride"

The North Pend Oreille Valley ( pronounced Ponderay) Lions Club and the Pend Oreille Valley

Railroad (POVA) have united to operate several weekend excursion rides along the

Pend Oreille River to Metiline Falls Washington. There are several tunnels and bridges

along the way. I was fortunate enough to take one of their excursions.

This is our porter...

and our Miss Jody is ready to go....

...and our Miss Joey is already digging into her box lunch....

The train has three classic railroad cars, three open-air stock cars and a caboose.

The 20 mile trip takes about one and a half hours.

We chose a stock car to ride in....and here is Jody, Butch and Tom.

...and here is Butch, Jody and Joey....

This view is from the Box Canyon Bridge

Mr. Tom grinning from ear to ear....

Tom and Patty have joined the Lion's club and help out on these train rides.

Now we know why dogs love to stick their heads out the car window...

.....It has been said that the "Cutter" Gang has been known to rob the train....and guess what???? they did.

All the money taken is donated to the Arts Department of Metiline Falls.

One of the old trestles bridges......

This (11 year old) young man was telling Tom some jokes and making Tom blush!!!

GO FIGURE......

The Inland Empire Spokane Model T Club attended the same excursion and it was great fun seeing some of these old cars....

This lady was dressed in a duster, scarf and goggles of the era.....talked to her and she said it was in defense......because their car had a windshield for the drivers side, but not the passenger.....

she said she didn't smile a lot while driving....

It's pretty sad when the car that you rode in as a teen-age is now being called a friggin antique....

...and this old fire engine needs Sadie.

Patty stayed behind and worked at the station......