Ten days after leaving Michigan, crossing Minnesota, North Dakota, getting the truck repaired, crossing most of Montana and the great divide at 6393 feet, we reach our destination of Ronan, Montana.
There has been a lot of smoke in the air since we reached Western Montana…so many fires. I can sure see it, but oddly enough, I haven’t been able to smell it at all.
I have marveled at the constantly changing scenery, gosh this country is so diverse there is something for everyone. Sure I’ve always known that, but seeing this variety of natures beauty just never gets old.
Driving/towing does though, and I’m relieved to reach sweet little Diamond S RV Park where I can just settle for awhile.
We were here twice last summer, the second time for a number of weeks while I was trying to recover from a back injury. During that time, ‘Arizona Eileen’ dropped by. She is the author of the must have Casita Manual called ‘Casita A-Z Owners Guide’. It was due for an update (you get it on line), so she decided to stay here too, where she could get her work done in peace. She liked this RV park so much that she arranged a Casita Rally here, which is finally coming up next week over Labor Day. That’s why we are here…I just decided to come a bit early.
The views here are of the Mission Mountain Range. The elevation of Ronan is 3,048 feet, and the mountains in this range run in the 8,000’s up to McDonald Peak at 9,820 feet.
Not quite so smoked today. See the glacier up there? This is in view of Diamond S.
This all sits on the Flathead Indian Reservation. This reservation is 1,938 square miles and was set aside in 1855 with a treaty for the Bitterroot Salish, Kooteanai and Pend d’Oreilles tribes.
It’s hay bailin’ time.
Now however, with a population of 28,324 at last count, non-Indians outnumber Indians 2:1. How this came about is a long and painful story and you can learn more about it if you wish, on Wikipedia by researching Flathead Indian Reservation. Slowly though, the Native Americans are buying their land back.
If you travel, I highly recommend a visit to this beautiful area. Some points of interest:
Flathead Lake. It’s huge, this is a small bit of it.
Flathead Lake State Park
Flathead Indian Museum in St. Ignatius
The National Bison Range
Ninepipes National Wildlife Refuge
Ninepipes Museum
St. Ignatius Mission
The People’s Center in Pablo
Today we went to the Farmers Market in Polson, about 11 miles north of Ronan.
It is a thriving market with nice fruits and veggies, also art work, jewelry, soaps, flowers, etc. I bought a beautiful Honeydew melon, Flathead Cherries, juicy just picked peaches, basil, a bag of salad greens, and some ripe red tomatoes!
I just finished a salad of the basil and a big tomato, EVOO and some black cherry balsamic vinegar (from Monterey CA). That along with a hunk of good bread for dipping in the excess O&V…holy moley…food doesn’t get any better than this!
A smokey sunrise over the Mission Mountains.
Wandering Spirit 
Thank you for the to-do list – see you next week!
Laura
Yay! Can’t wait!
Just read your eclipse account. Wow… so so much more than wow. I wrote back.
Looks wonderful! And a Casita rally! That would be so much fun!
Looking forward to it Dawn!
This sounds like bliss! Have a great time, I’ll bet the kids are recognizing previous Montana scents!
I think they do remember it Maureen. When we went to the dog walk area they recognized the scents….they told me with their tails, ears, and general perkiness!
Thank you for your reporting and photographs- beautiful!
Hi Alyssa, thank you. My pleasure! I’ve always found that for me, writing something down helps me grasp it better, and remember it and solidify it….so I really do enjoy writing the blog.
Flathead lake looks amazing!
Very beautiful area Jessy!
very nice over view, thos casita seem like nice trailors, I would love a fifth wheel casita if they had one just like the fifth wheel scamp.
Hi Roberta, and welcome! Casita doesn’t make a 5th wheel. They have a 16 ft and 17ft tow behind in 4 different models. They have had the 13 ft Patriot, but I think that may only be by special order now…? Check out http://www.casitatraveltrailer.com
Diamond S is a special place! I felt a kinship with all the crafting being done and the great selection of books to trade!
I love Flathead Lake as I have shared with you Micky! And am so happy you are eating their cherries – yum!
Enjoy your rally!!
Hi Patty, oh boy, am I ever eating their cherries!
Dessie has been sewing away, embroidering cute little travel trailers on towels…suspecting that the Casita people might like them. Yeah and I bought 3! Now I look at them and they are so cute that I don’t want to use them….but I will!
I’m hoping to get up to Big Arm St Pk today to check that out!
And look at Finley Point SP on the east side of Flathead too. We really liked that too!