In the early morning dawn Red drove up to Columbia Falls to go to church and visit with church friends there. Just on the highway he encountered an Elk. Look carefully to the side of the road on the left and you will see the white of his rump and make out his outline . . .right next to the lane of traffic just on the shoulder! Glad Red wasn't coming the other way. Something that big would sure demolish even his big Chevy truck!
The Candian Geese were some of the first official wildlife greeters at the campground. In addition there were several deer in the campground wondering who was disturbing their peace!! On the way to Holland Lake Red saw elk, mule deer, white deer, turkey, and a bald eagle. He was glad to be back to the wonderul wildlife whose home is Holland Lake Campground. Remember, you are the summer visitors!! This is their home year round.
On Saturday Red was sure amazed that someone actually drove thru the campground checking it out the first weekend he was there! The "official" campground opening date is May 11th. Unfortunately the bad surprise was that the bathrooms are locked as there is a water pressure problem. Hope to have that operational soon. Camphost has electric but no electric to the pump station. Hope to have that done soon, too. Oh . . .and someone made off (stole) with the entire seasoned wood supply while the campground was closed. The Forest Service is investigating the theft. So Red has some work to do to make sure campfires are burning soon!
Red happily pulled into Holland Lake Campground about 4 pm on Friday, 4/27. It sure felt great to be there but was he surprised at the snow showers that greeted him! Although there was no snow in the campground and the snow melted as soon as it hit the ground, he was reminded that "spring was right around the corner and winter barely over in Montana!
Red experienced a shock between Billings and Butte on his trip back to be Camp Host at Holland Lake! After enjoying a beautiful early spring in Indiana he drove to Illinois and Kansas where he experienced 90 degree days. Then off on the trip west where he had nice weather and temperatures in the 70's. Then on Thursday April 24th . . he ran into THIS!!! Of course to Red it just meant he was "back home in Montana!"
