No-Destination "Finding Home Tour"

[ski3pin]

I’m going to be a professional camper when I grow up. Hear tell it pays well.

maybe not in money, but it does pay well.

 

[hoyden]

That is true, Ski.

Tomorrow - to the hot springs! And if they are full by the time I arrive, cuz apparently some event this weekend, campering in the forest near them til the next day. Then hot springs! (Which is really good, because even the dogs are complaining that I need a shower! hahaha!)

Then on to The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas.

 

[Foy]

Thanks for all the ideas, Foy. I think I'm going to try to get to Elkhorn Hot Springs. I called them and they said there's some event nearby this weekend, so the 'tent sites' might fill up quickly. Thinking I might stick it out where I am currently camped, and head over there Sunday.

This weekend is Bannack Days! Bannack was the first capital of Montana Territory and is a wonderfully preserved ghost town. Dealing with some crowds is a price worth paying to visit Bannack during Bannack Days.

Have a look at the Elkhorn Hot Springs website. I recall it shows the outdoor pool which the natural hot spring waters flows in to. Elkhorn is rustic, for sure, but comfortable and friendly. Enjoy the Grasshopper Valley! Be sure to venture the few miles along MT 278 over the low pass west of Polaris and see the Big Hole in and around Jackson, MT.

Foy

 

[kmcintyre]

You should hit some of the many music festivals in MT during this time... they are everywhere!

 

[hoyden]

Foy!

Elkhorn Hot Springs is a bust!
Well, I got a shower, so that's good. My dogs agree.

The big pool is very dirty, and the hot tub is down for cleaning. I checked in anyway cuz the kid at the desk said that it'd be ready in half an hour... that was three hours ago. Everything here seems to be either broken, or on it's way out. I'm currently sitting in a lounger chair in the restaurant that is so broken I have two pillows under me just to reach the table! Haha! Folks are really nice, but they need to work on upkeep. Of the two toilets in the women's area, one is broken. The showers are all screwy, each in their own way. And there are three or so very nice doggies roaming randomly, which means I have to be careful with my (leashed) pups.
*sigh*

Hoping I can get a hot tub in before I leave tomorrow tho - my back re-tweaked and I was really looking forward to a soak!

 

[hoyden]

You should hit some of the many music festivals in MT during this time... they are everywhere!

I'm not a big music fest person - too many people! Tho I did almost detour to a freebie of Robert Earl Keen at some festival near Jackson, WY.

 

[hoyden]

In a fit of "I need my people!" and a couple of friend's changed plans in Spokane, I decided to go south to stay with some friends just north of Denver. After a drive souther towards Jackson, Wy and a good night sleep, I looked at the forecast for Rockport, Wa. (where a friend I haven't seen in 20 years is, but temps in the 90s this week also prevented me from heading that way) and I saw that next week the temps drop down to high 70's during the day!

So, I went from Bozeman (which I really liked!) to Jackson, WY (which I wasn't so fond of. toooooo touristy and expensive!), to Elkhorn Hot Springs (see above post), and will slowly make my way to Rockport, Wa.

From there, I'll go visit other old friends on Marrowstone Island (pretty!), and head south to coastal friends in Yachats, OR, then, if timing works out, to a party in Corvallis mid-August!

I think from there, I'll head either to my friends in Colorado there, or down to Santa Fe area.

I've been applying for a few jobs, but "I still haven't found what I'm looking for"

 

[CougarCouple]

Howdy
We’ll applying for a job the way you are doing it doesn’t sound to awfully bad. Chasing cooler temps is hard work, and I know that you’ll land one when you really don’t want it that week. Stay cool do not look at VEGAS temps. Have fun and say hi to your companions from Charlie the wonder dog.

Russ

 

[Foy]

Foy!

Elkhorn Hot Springs is a bust!
Well, I got a shower, so that's good. My dogs agree.

The big pool is very dirty, and the hot tub is down for cleaning. I checked in anyway cuz the kid at the desk said that it'd be ready in half an hour... that was three hours ago. Everything here seems to be either broken, or on it's way out. I'm currently sitting in a lounger chair in the restaurant that is so broken I have two pillows under me just to reach the table! Haha! Folks are really nice, but they need to work on upkeep. Of the two toilets in the women's area, one is broken. The showers are all screwy, each in their own way. And there are three or so very nice doggies roaming randomly, which means I have to be careful with my (leashed) pups.
*sigh*

Hoping I can get a hot tub in before I leave tomorrow tho - my back re-tweaked and I was really looking forward to a soak!

Arrghhhhh! Catching Elkhorn on a good day/week when things are up to snuff can be a challenge sometimes. And I'd forgotten that they close the pools for 1 day a week to scrub out the algae growth--guess that day is Wednesday. Dang it, I was hoping to have turned you on to a good find.

But hopefully you drove through the rest of the Parkway to Wise River enroute for I-90 or better yet drove back to MT 278 for a Big Hole cruise to Wisdom and Lost Trail Pass.

Safe travels,

Foy

 

[hoyden]

Hi Foy!
It wasn't all bad - the hot tub filled up enough for a few of us to sit on the bottom and have a partial soak last night - while fending off giant horse flies! Whoa. I also did dishes, got a shower, and got a soak this morning.

I'm heading to Ewam and Garden of One Thousand Buddhas, Arlee, MT now!

 

[hoyden]

Working on getting caught up:

When I was seventeen my dad took me to Lake Tahoe. He’d rented some kind of condo room on the bottom floor, next to the lake, with our sliding door opening to a view of exquisite mountains in the distance. Very soon after we arrived, I started feeling something I couldn’t describe. All I knew was that when I was outside I didn’t want to look directly at the gigantic mountains.
[ 463 more words ]
http://no-destination.org/index.php/2018/07/25/hic-sunt-dracones/

 

[Machinebuilder]

Working on getting caught up:

When I was seventeen my dad took me to Lake Tahoe. He’d rented some kind of condo room on the bottom floor, next to the lake, with our sliding door opening to a view of exquisite mountains in the distance. Very soon after we arrived, I started feeling something I couldn’t describe. All I knew was that when I was outside I didn’t want to look directly at the gigantic mountains.
[ 463 more words ]
http://no-destination.org/index.php/2018/07/25/hic-sunt-dracones/

I hope you enjoyed the pool at Granite Hot Springs. I went there about 20 years ago on snowmobile, and then last year. It’s been changed a bit....

It’s interesting to hear about your heebee geebees.
When we have native Texans come to East TN the feel closed in with the trees and hills. When I go to TX, I get tired of flat with no trees.

 

[Foy]

I'm hoping to see more about Granite Hot Springs, too. I've never been and have read about the smaller pool a short distance from the main developed pool which requires a stream crossing to access.

As to the mountain heebee-jeebees, it works in reverse, too, I long ago met a guy who'd grown up in the Blue Ridge and had never lived anywhere else. He said (paraphrased here) "these mountains feel like an overcoat draped over my shoulders, protecting me from everything outside of them" and "whenever I'm in the flatlands, it feels like I'm riding in the back of a pickup truck, with no cover, going 100 miles per hour".

Keep on exploring!

Foy

 

[DavidGraves]

Howdy

If you need a place to park off Highway 101 on the north coast let us know.

We have space, private and quiet (well maybe cows) or can send you to a few nice spots in the state forest...

The park campgrounds will be absolutely full and a bit stupid.

David Graves

Nehalem, Or

 

[hoyden]

I'm hoping to see more about Granite Hot Springs, too. I've never been and have read about the smaller pool a short distance from the main developed pool which requires a stream crossing to access.

As to the mountain heebee-jeebees, it works in reverse, too, I long ago met a guy who'd grown up in the Blue Ridge and had never lived anywhere else. He said (paraphrased here) "these mountains feel like an overcoat draped over my shoulders, protecting me from everything outside of them" and "whenever I'm in the flatlands, it feels like I'm riding in the back of a pickup truck, with no cover, going 100 miles per hour".

Keep on exploring!

Foy

Granite Hot Springs was okay. I didn't hear about any smaller pool, but there was a really cool waterfall just down the road you could walk down to. Cold tho!

I'm gonna write more about my mountain heebie jeebies, but I totally understand what that fellow means - just the opposite! hahaa!

 

[hoyden]

Howdy

If you need a place to park off Highway 101 on the north coast let us know.

We have space, private and quiet (well maybe cows) or can send you to a few nice spots in the state forest...

The park campgrounds will be absolutely full and a bit stupid.

David Graves

Nehalem, Or

Oooooooh! I might! I'm heading Westerly from Spokane in a few days to visit old friends I haven't seen in 20+ years in Rockport, Wa and also on Marrowstone Island (over by Port Townsend), then planning to head down the coast to visit friends in Yachats, OR.

I realized that I have this opportunity, I should take advantage and visit some old friends while meandering around! I could come see you en route to Yachats!

 

[ski3pin]

Granite Hot Springs was okay. I didn't hear about any smaller pool, but there was a really cool waterfall just down the road you could walk down to. Cold tho!

The hot springs are at the base of the falls on the far side. You need to wade the river below the falls to get to them.

 

[Machinebuilder]

The hot springs are at the base of the falls on the far side. You need to wade the river below the falls to get to them.

Now I have another reason to go back there sometime.

 

[hoyden]

The hot springs are at the base of the falls on the far side. You need to wade the river below the falls to get to them.

Damn! I totally missed that. And I don't think any of the people wandering there knew either cuz I talked with a few "where are the hot springs?" Ha! Yes, an excuse to go back!

 

[hoyden]

Update through Montana and Wyoming

The dogs enjoyed viewing the Beartooths from afar while we were in Wyoming! After a lovely rain storm and overnight with this view, I drove to Elkhorn Hot Springs, just outside of the teeny town of Polaris, Montana. The folks were nice, but the hot tub pool was being cleaned when I arrived, and wouldn't be ready for many hours. … [ 273 more words ]

http://no-destination.org/index.php/2018/08/01/update-montana-wyoming/