June 20, 2009

June 20, 2009

Before leaving Great Falls, MT we drive to the Missouri River to look at the waterfalls that Lewis and Clark had to portage around on their expedition. Lewis only planned spending a half-day to drag their boats around this Great Falls of the Missouri. Unfortunately for him there turned out to be four waterfalls. It took the Corps of Discovery a month to portage the 18.5 miles around the set. And unfortunately for us, Montana has put a series of dams along this stretch submerging one and spoiling the view of the other three falls.

After looking at one of the falls we encounter a Lewis and Clark Interpretative Center. We stop for a quick look but end up spending most of the day there. It is nice and huge. Well worth the stop in Great Falls. We have followed snippets of the Lewis and Clark trail but at some point I would like to follow the whole thing. Every time I read about the journey, I am amazed at the accomplishment. Both Lewis and Clark both kept journals of their Big Adventure. I guess that is where I got the idea.

Late in the afternoon we head out of town and stay at a public RV park in Shelby, MT just south of the Canadian border.