Buffalo

We are really enjoying our time here in Montana. We spent several days in the Missoula area and we will return someday to explore more. We went way up north across rolling plains and into mountains to explore the area where A. B. Guthrie lived and used as the setting for his fur trading books. Very remote, rugged, and beautiful. Then we explored Garnet, an old mining ghost town that has been preserved by several government agencies and private donations. Again, remote, rugged, and beautiful.

We are now in Butte, MT, but several days ago JC insisted we buy a couple of vacuum packed buffalo rib eyes. I was reluctant because buffalo is lower in fat than regular beef and I just didn't see how that could translate to a good steak.

Well, I was wrong!!
These were really tender and tasty!
Paired with a really great Washington Merlot that we had been saving - Yum yum - good eats!!

The Methow Valley

Just before we left Washington we decided to drive through the Methow Valley, formed by the Methow river. What a beautiful area; remote and sparsely settled, it seems frozen in time.

We decided to take an old logging road called the Thompson Ridge Road. The Sun Mountain Trail System spins off of this and welcomes hikers, bicyclists, and horse back riders. The vistas are stunning.

And the flora is amazing with wild flowers in abundance. But it's the Ponderosa pine that intrigue me. I don't know if it is the way they stand tall and proud above the rest or the coppery, carved ruggedness of the trunks, but I'm mesmerized.

We kept a sharp eye out for critters and we did see wild turkeys although we didn't get a good picture. This little curious fellow wanted to know what we were about . . .
and his friend wasn't to be left out of the action!!

Then we spotted this lovely lady relaxing off the side of the road. She seemed very alert although JC did mention that he thought she looked a little thin.

This fellow was also relaxing just off the road, but he was a little more skittish, decided we were a nuisance, and departed!!

Here is the Twisp River, just one of several that flows into the Methow and that played a part in forming this little piece of heaven.

Road Food - Western Style

JC and I took a drive through the Methow Valley in Washington a couple of days ago (more to come on the valley). We wound up in the very "western" town of Winthrop. I remembered it from a trip we had taken up to Canada years ago and it was just as charming now as then.

If it weren't for the cars, you could almost imagine another time.

This fellow certainly seems to be enjoying his ice cream!!

We were hungry for more substantial fare and chose a place just outside of the touristy main street area. JC's pastrami with a mustardy aioli was really good!

My turkey/bacon/ranch on a spinach tortilla was nice, but you see that stuff in the big black cup??

This is the reason to eat here. Creamy chicken and wild rice soup. Yum yum yum!!!

It tastes like Chicken and Dumplings, but with lots of other good stuff in it.

The Valley Hub in Wintrop, WA. Eat here - you won't regret it!!

"Full-timin'"

It's been a busy month for JC and me. We've decided to go "full-time" in our RV for the foreseeable future. We will winter in Casa Grande, AZ where we are "improving" an RV site at Palm Creek resort. We've had such a good time for the past 1 1/2 years that we decided this is a good way to spend the first few years of our retirement.

Here we are getting ready to start this leg of the adventure. We are spending some time in the Wenatchee, WA area and then heading to Montana.

This blog will continue to be a confusing mix of cooking, crafting, and exploring our great land!

See you soon!