Linda admiring Bruce and Darcy’s trophies.
We left Sharlene and Kenny’s knowing that the first thing we were going to tackle was a 6 mile 8% grade over MacDonald pass. The continental divide runs along the top. Last night in Kenny’s off-road 4×4, the guys scouted out a possible gravel alternate route over the pass but ruled it out as being too rough. We got to be a bit concerned because they didn’t return until well after dark. They had waited “forever” for a train stopped on a siding at a crossing that was waiting for another train to pass by. A couple of hunters came by in a pickup with a low tire. Kenny loaned them his car jack. The hunters were lucky the guys had been detained because they were out in the middle of nowhere and it would have been a long time before another car came by.
We made it up the pass without any trouble. Highway 12 is a four lane so people were able to pass and the trucks were creeping along too. We even passed one. Merv did have to replenish the engine oil. It had dribbled out of the back of the engine during the long steep climb.
People continue to delight in our cars. At one point, as we crept up a steep grade, we pulled over to let a mini van pass us only to find them pulled over a little further up the hill. They had stopped to take a movie of us as we went by.
The rest of the route offered more great mountain scenery with an added bonus. In the town of Deer Lodge, a few miles off our route, was an antique car museum with over 120 old cars, many old model A’s and T’s. Many were extremely rare.
We pulled into Bruce and Darcy Hover’s place near Clinton, MT around 5:30. Bruce is Linda’s nephew. We caught them in the middle of a busy work week but they made us feel more than welcome. As you can see from the pictures, their home is a trophy chest. Bruce, Darcy and their two boys are avid hunters and lovers of the outdoors.
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- Kenny and Sharlene in front of their Helena, MT home.
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- Larry, Linda, Sheila and Merv just before we headed over the divide to Clinton, MT
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- Saying our good-byes.
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- Larry and Linda lead the way over MacDonald pass, 6 miles uphill.
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- Merv had been concerned about having to resort to second gear for the 6 mile 8% grade. We were limited to about 25 miles an hour and were pleased with that.
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- We actually passed this truck making its way up toward the divide. The only vehicle we have passed in 8 days on the road.
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- We lost some motor oil out the back of the engine as we climbed the steep grade. You can see the dribble marks behind the car. No problem, we are carrying extra everything.
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- Kenny was so enthusiastic about our trip over the divide that he hopped in his truck and joined us at the top.!
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- The elevation at the top of the continental divide on Hwy 12 between Helena and Missoula.
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- We noticed a number of fields with these hay stacks
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- This is the contraption that makes the old fashioned haystacks.
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- Larry and Linda in the process of putting up their back window. They have yet to travel with the top down.
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- Bruce and Darcy Hover’s front yard near Clinton. The excavation in the foreground will be Bruce’s shop one day.
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- Bruce and Darcy’s yard has beautiful ponderosa pines.
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- This is the kind of lawn ornament you find at a home where everyone in the family hunts.
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- This is what the inside of a house looks like where everyone hunts. Darcy’s elk is the larger one.
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- Bruce hunted this particular bighorn sheep for 30 days.
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- Merv perusing rows and rows of old cars at the car museum in Deer Lodge, MT
9-12-13 Morning Looks like your moving along .Did you pass that semi truck ? How many miles have you gone so far ? Man for stuffed animals .Must be a pro at hunting ?
Drop a line if you can .Good luck . Ken