Here is our RV with the base water tank in the background.
This photo gives you a better idea of the FamCamp.
We had full hook ups and the price was right $100.00 for 7 days/8 nights. Since Greg has a large apartment with a guest bedroom, we decided to stay there while in Great Falls and enjoy the luxury of a regular shower.
Just north of the Air Base is a lot of empty countryside.
Weather was great for our visit. Most days in the 80s with low humidity and no rain. For folks from Florida this weather was just about perfect
Pat's left knee was really bothering her so we decided to take it easy and have a relaxing visit with our son. Monday was laundry day as we were running out of clean clothes. On Tuesday, we visited Pass and ID on the base so Pat could get her military ID renewed as it was set to expire in early August and this would be our only chance to get it done until we got back to Florida. On Wednesday Pat got an appointment at the Base clinic to have someone take a look at her knee. Conclusion was that she needs a knee replacement and there was nothing in the short term that they could do. They did recommend getting a knee brace so we did that. We also hit the Base Exchange and Commissary to restock our RV with food and supplies.
Thursday we visited the Great Falls visitors center and museum and I did get to shoot some photos. Great Falls got its name from the series of waterfalls on the Missouri river. In 1805 the Lewis and Clark Expedition was following the Missouri river in an effort to find a easy way to the Pacific Ocean. As they approached this area they heard from the local Indians about a water fall on the river. However, when they got here it turned out that there were five waterfalls ranging in height from to 6-1/2 ft. to 87 ft. with cascades resulting in a total drop in the river of 612 ft. The Expedition spent almost a month portaging around the falls before they could resume their journey upriver.
This photo is of a statue just outside of the visitor's center that shows Lewis and Clark looking over the waterfalls.
In this photo you can just see the Missouri river. Back in Lewis and Clark's time it would have been much easier to see as you wouldn't have had the highways and buildings.
From the visitor's center we went to the Great Falls History Museum. The museum building was originally an International Harvester manufacturing facility. Here is a photo of one of their products from their heyday.
This is a 1924 Farmall tractor that originally sold for $950.00 and was made in this building. It looks like you didn't have to worry about getting a flat but I imagine the ride was a little rough.
Here is a photo of a buggy from back in 19th century.
This is a photo of a model of the Great Falls Opera House that was built in 1891 when the city was only 6 years old. It survived until 1955. One of its most famous visitors was Mark Twain.
They also had on exhibit examples of old equipment such as this Underwood typewriter.
And this scale which was manufactured on Dayton, Ohio, where Pat is from.
Here is a mechanical calculator that was made in Switzerland from 1893 until 1935. Supposedly it was the first calculator that could add, subtract, multiply and divide. It was known as the Millionaire."
They also had a 1920s vintage National Cash Register company cash register also from Dayton.
This is a model of the Park Hotel which was built in 1886 when the city was only 1 year old. It cost $50,000 to build and was destroyed by fire in 1914.
Friday we ran a few errands but mostly just relaxed. Saturday was my birthday so we went out to dinner in celebration. Had teppanyaki. For as small and isolated as Great Falls is, they have some very good restaurants.
Monday we hit the road again and start playing tourist again. We will be headed to the town of West Yellowstone for a couple of days exploring Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons. We've been to Yellowstone several times but Pat has never been to the Tetons and it's been 53 years since I last visited the Tetons.
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