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We are overdue with an entry, but have been busy this week visiting with family and friends and visiting old familiar sights since we are about 20 miles from where I grew up. The weather has been gorgeous most of the time, but it was in the high 90's yesterday which made for a lot of conversation among the locals about how unbearably hot it was. It will be back in the 80's today. There is a great River Trail that follows the Missouri River through Great Falls. You follow the river through the city and out into the open country. You also go pass 2 of the 5 dams in this area. After many years of very low river flow the water is high with water cascading over the dams. Great sight to see. We spent one day bicycling about 16 miles on the trail.
We took a day to drive to Fort Benton which is not far from here and is the furthermost inland port in the US. It is on the Missouri and is about 3000 miles from the mouth of the Mississippi. When Montana was being settled steamboats came to Fort Benton. Supplies and people then
Giant Springs
Giant Springs is next to the Missouri River just below the Black Eagle Falls. Beautiful park and picnic area as well as a fish hatchery. traveled on land through Montana, the other northwestern states and into Canada. Toured the museum, old fort and other sights. We plan to go back next week for 2 days of kayaking on the Missouri. Planned to do it earlier, but water was so high (and moving faster) they were restricting access. Water has come down so glad we will be able to do this. My great grandfather on my father's side ran a ferry boat business in Fort Benton 9n the late 1800's so was fun to go back and see the town.
We also drove about 7 miles from Great Falls to visit an Indian Pishkun (buffalo jump). Before the advent of horses in the 1700's the Indians would hunt buffalo by driving them over a cliff. One person would cover his body with a buffalo hide and work his way through the herd to the front and start moving toward the cliff. Buffalo will blindly follow the leader. Other individuals would position themselves around the sides and back of the herd and by yelling and waving blankets scare the buffalo into running. The lead person would stay ahead of the herd and jump off the cliff
Missouri River
This is the Missouri River bottom land near Fort Benton. onto a ledge to escape the buffalo tumbling after him. A herd could have 500 or more buffalo so you can imagine the amount of work they needed to do after this hunt since they used all parts of the buffalo. Very interesting interpretive center. At the top of the cliff there is a large prairie dog village. Was fun to watch their antics.
David and Sarah are in eastern Montana this week at a dinosaur dig. We will continue our trip to Fort Benton and then on to the Helena area next week when he returns.
David & Barb
Final tidbit: Bought the sheet music to the Montana state song so will be able to entertain you with some good Montana music. I wonder if I can play it on the handbells.
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