Crazy Weather

I will start with an apology for being AWOL for 6 weeks. Much of what is in Deer Lodge was blogged last year and the weather has kept us from venturing too far. I will be posting a few things we've done. 
This post will be about the most significant flooding here in 30 years. The town grew up around Cottonwood Creek starting in the 1800's and is the second oldest town in Montana. The natural creek bed follows an "S" curve right through the center of town that contributes to flooding at times of heavy rain accompanied by melting mountain snow.
About 4:30, Larry decided to go downtown to check on a bike he had seen at the local pawn shop. On the way down Main St., nothing was unusual. When he got to the shop, he noticed water flowing down a side street toward main. He was inside for just a few minutes. By the time he came out, the way back home was covered with water and he had to circle around on I-90. We decided to walk down to the grocery store because the rain was taking a break. This is what we found.

The only way to get to the store to wade. That was highly discouraged by a deputy sheriff. He pointed to the adjacent gas station

 

and said that someone had tried to cross and had received an electrical shock. It was obvious that the creek was now blocking Main St., so we decided to retrace our steps to higher ground to check on my friend, Ranger Lyndel, whose home is situated very close to the creek. Her place was still in "safe" territory and we continued to walk around the area of the creek.

This is where Cottonwood Creek passes under I-90. On the far side is ranch land where the water only impacts pasture. These culverts are huge. To us, it looked like a dam when they open the flood gates.

 We followed the creek west as it passed through town.

 

The creek goes to the right. To the left is a street. They have constructed a gravel & earth dam down the center of the street in an attempt to contain the flow.

 

A number of years ago, the city contracted the building of a retaining wall intended to keep high water within the channel. I believe they will be in contact with the contractor since he obviously failed to create an adequate foundation. The river is washing the soil from under the wall and it has mostly collapsed. Construction probably cost the city a quarter of a mil.

 This is one of several homes threatened by the water.

 

We saw huge gravel trucks bringing in loads and dumping them for dozers to push into place. Every area construction company sent operators and equipment. The local logging company sent machines to snare logs and other debris from the flow.

 

Main Street

 

In spite of everything, there are those who just wonder what's going on.

 

 

Movin' On...Again

"I'm goin' to leave...ol' Texas now...."

 "They have no room, for the longhorn cow."

Or maybe the nearly 100 degree temperature and wildfires would be an even better motivation!

Actually, it is just the time to leave in order to get to Montana on time. On the other hand, the 15 degree, above-normal temps have not been pleasant or kind to Texas along with no rain. For the sake of our friends here, we hope the rain comes soon.
Most of the volunteers have departed for the season. We got together for one last Thursday dinner together at the Silver k Cafe'.

Until next time, safe travels to (L-R- row 1) Clair & Betty from Michigan, Bao who is LYJO Curator, us, Dottie- fulltime rv-er.
Row 2- Anne and Ranger Bob House (retiring soon and hitting -the-road), Al and Janet Kitamura, also from Michigan. 
Earlier, our friends the Schmidts, also returned home to Hutchison, KS.

 We will miss many of the folks we worked with here, but plan to return next winter.
Well, the 99 degree temps made packing up pretty tiring. I guess it's time to get some rest.

S-h-h-h, I'll add some other misc. pics later!

Salt Lick BBQ, Driftwood Texas

It was great to spend Monday evening with John and Elaine Snively, bike club friends from Ohio. The only things we miss about "home" are our family and the many friends we have there.

Larry has been spending his non-volunteer days at the Hill Country Bicycle Shop in Fredericksburg. The shop is closed on Wednesday, so that is our only day to get away for some fun. Since we only have two more weeks here, we decided it was time to track down some real Texas BBQ. My ranger friends recommended the Salt Lick in Driftwood, Texas, about 33 miles from Johnson City.

I was told that the restaurant really fills up both at lunch and dinner, so we made sure to be there at 11AM when they opened. The setting was absolutely beautiful and rustic.
They have a wine tasting room with outdoor seating and a Bocci Ball court.

Flowers are everywhere, including a beautiful rose garden.

 Larry found something to take home with us.

 The dining area blends into the setting with tables and benches of various sizes to accommodate groups of any size.

 The menu is simple and the prices reasonable. Beef, pork, sausage and turkey are slowly cooked in a stone pit located adjacent to the dining areas. The smell is wonderful!

 

The restaurant is BYOB. We brought our local favorite from the Real Ale Brewery in Blanco, TX.

"Larry, wait! It's only 11:10 AM. We can't drink beer before noon!" His reply: "It's after noon in Ohio!"

 

Then our food arrived. As is usually the case, we both decided to have the same thing - chopped BBQ beef with potato salad, coleslaw, beans, pickles, onions and both sweet and jalapeno pepper sauce.

Yum, Yum!! 

That's one BIG sandwich. We took home enough for dinner!

 Good times in Texas! Wish y'all were here too.

 

Pickin' and Grinnin'

Soon after we arrived here in Johnson City, another volunteer couple invited us to accompany them to a local establishment for the regular Sunday night "jam session." As it turned out, this was the BIG entertainment center of JC.
These are our friends, Kay and Gene Schmidt of Kansas.

 

Well...this is "where it's happening" in Johnson City, TX.

 

Of course, good music and good beer go together. In a few cases...beer and bad music is also a good thing!

Here are some of the musicians who have entertained us:

This lady is the organist at the UM church. I wonder if she whips up the crowd there too.

 

This guy's accordion looks exactly like the one I learned to play when I was about 5 years old.

 

This was the only time we ever saw this fellow. Possibly the first he's been out of the house since winter ended?

That's all for now.