Once in a Blue Moon when Pigs Fly

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Moon, when Pigs Fly



It was another glorious morning with the sound of the creek drowning out all others. I just had a leisurly morning, having coffee in my lounge chair while watching the creek pound by. I talked to some of my neighbors about where they have been, what they have done and where they are from. Everybody has a story.

It was about 11:30 by the time I was ready to investigate Red Lodge so Oscar got to stay home and I went exploring again. There is a ski area here so I had to check that out for Jeremy and the area wildlife. It was another hour before I made it into town, found a parking place and decided where I wanted to go. It was really busy with bikers and tourists, shopping, grabbing a bite to eat and just hanging out. It's a cute little town with one main street, hanging baskets of beautiful flowers and old buildings that have been well maintained. I wondered in and out of a few shops, did find a cute maple syrup pitcher to replace mine at home then decided to find out for myself what everybody raved about in a store called Scoops. Yes, it's the local ice cream parlor and I was told by several people that it's the best in the world. They were right. I sat on the long bench just outside the door and watched as people came in and out. One biker dude told me as he was walking up the steps that he had been doing this trip (Bear Tooth Pass) for 15 years and he ALWAYS stops at Scoops after, can't miss it.

That was enough of town for me so I went home and played with Oscar for a while until it was time to go to Bear Creek. It is the town over the hill and what a world of difference there is. Red Lodge is in the Rock Creek valley so up over the hill and starting down the other side there is a world of difference in the vegatation. There is little moisture there so everything is browned out and brittle. No trees just dead grass and dried dirt. As I continued down the other side I noticed buildings that seemed abandoned. Pictures. It was a coal mine at one time that supported the town until the disaster. In April 1943 there was an explosion that trapped and killed 46 miners and left the town dead. The buildings have been left as a memorial to them and as a result new legislation was passed for mining safeguards. I visited the cemetery, just caught my eye, and found families buried in family plots, children, infants and mostly dead miners. What a very hard way to make a living.

By then it was time to hit the Bear Creek Saloon, I had reservations for dinner. The place is the same as it's been since the 1800s and the current owners thought of a plan to increase their dying business. He proposed pig races. Well, apparently there was an uproar because it would compete with the horse racing game so it went to Helena for discussion on the state level. With some modifications the pigs were allowed to run and now the place is THE hot spot on Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun nights. The menu is simple, steak, baked potato, salad and homemade bisquets; of course, there's a bar. I was in the 5 pm seating along with 87 other people and service was swift and very pleasent. Then it was time to go check out the pigs to see if I could spy a winner. Out back they have a race track with seating and standing room 3/4 of the way around the track. About 15 min before race time they let 5 pigs out of their pens to come into a holding area. They already had their racing silks on complete with different colors and numbers. Hard to tell them apart otherwise. They were young pigs, still able to move around but I had my douts about their racing abilities. They were just laying around poking at each other or rooting in the dirt.

The betting is a little different. They had cards at the betting window where you put your name in a square and bet $2.00 for each square you chose. Then when the card is full they randomly pick 5 squares for each race. If your name is picked you have that pig for the race so if he wins you get the money. You could win $25.00. My name didn't get picked so I couldn't win but the money goes to a local scholorship fund so I felt like a winner anyway.

You could feel the tension building as it got closer to race time and everybody grabbed their spot at the rail to get the best view. All I could think about was the pigs would be confused when they opened the gate and just meander around but when the announcer came over the loud speaker the pigs came to attention. They jumped up and ran into their starting gates and were ready to go. The bell rang and they were off like grayhounds. It was hard to take a picture, I was laughing so hard. Did manage a few. In 20 seconds it was over, leaving the crowd abuzz with excitment. Don't worry, there's another race in 15 min. Yes folks, there are 6 or 8 races a night. They have raised thousands of dollors for the scholarship fund over the years and saved their town, such as it is.

I no sooner got home and walked Oscar when it was time for my next adventure of the day, photograph the Blue Moon. The campground is in a valley so I wanted to find a high spot to catch the first glimpse of the rising full moon. I went up the road I had just come down and found a great spot to park, set up the tri-pod and waited. I could take the setting sun as well so I was a happy camper. Pictures..

The moon apeared over the far ridge not as a blue moon but a beautiful orange, red moon. I knew it wouldn't be blue, just the expression as a fairly rare event to have 2 full moons in one month. I snapped away and marveled at how big the moon first appeared then got smaller as it got higher in the sky. Several people stopped to look at it on their way over the hill, nice to see other people appreciate nature's beauty. Pictures.

It was a wonderful day but again, I'm exhaused. I have to move tomorrow but then I'll take it easy for a day or two, right!

Once in blue moon, pigs really do fly

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Comments

[Dedie]

the pigs
That is amazing. Wish I was there!

[Mary Ellen]

Keep writing!
I am so enjoying your blog. Love the way you write. Feel like I'm with you!

[Kathy Watson]

Thanks
It makes it fun to write the blog knowing that so many are coming along with me. I am so truly enjoying myself doing what I want to do. Good riddance to bad rubbish.