When we were originally discussing travel ideas for sabbatical of summer 2017, we thought that Terry's family Montana cabin would be our final destination, after Utah, California, and Washington to visit my sister. But it was just too darn far and too darn much money. So we opted to go to the cabin sometime after our two week Utah and California trip.
Yes, the cabin. Terry's grandmother Dorothy owns a little cabin the mountains outside Red Lodge, Montana, and her eight kids and their kids can use it as long as no one else is planning to. Grandfather Elmer's mother and step father built it in 1939-1941 or so. I wish I had remembered to snap a picture of the black and white cabin construction photo on the dining room wall. There's a sort of collage hanging there with the date 1939 written in.
I had visited once prior, in 2009, when we drove up in Jerry's Rialta with Terry's parents and newlywed Shari and Jesse. Here's day 1, day 2, and day 3 of that trip. I wanted to remake some of those photos... But also, Terry visited here a ton when he was little. It was nearly a yearly thing to go in late August or early September and celebrate Great Grandma's birthday in addition to his (Sept. 3) and his mom's, Alice's (Aug. 26).
Back to our trip. It took us forever to decide on dates and even longer to get all of our preparations together since we didn't plan very well, but finally we were off on Tuesday, July 18, 2017. We stopped at the store like three times before we left and then again on the road. Geesh.
We went north through Sturgis and Belle Forche and then through Montana reservations. It was so slow. This was the way Terry's dad always took them when they were little, but he drove 100 mph. Ha!
After two hours we stopped first in teeny tiny Alzada, MT for a bathroom break and snacks. It was like the longest stop ever thanks to Samuel's slow bowels - he even made all the guys in line impatient. Then we stopped in Billings for coffee and popcorn, then again in Laurel at their Walmart to get a bunch of water and other snackies. The cabin was fully stocked with kitchen dishes and everything was functional, but we needed to bring our own food. And since we'd never done this trip on our own before,we didn't really realize all of what we'd need. But we did alright.
Finally, we drove through Red Lodge and onto the Beartooth Highway, where the cabin is located, right next to Rock Creek. This gravel road is extremely bumpy and takes several miles to get back to the cabin. Beautiful views though!
Finally we made it! Terry had to find the keys and then unlock the gate for us.
There's the cabin! I was pregnant with Samuel in 2009 so it was new to he and Ezra. Evie didn't remember it at all since he was only two, but Noah did somewhat. I did remember to pack his jeans this time. Ha!
I believe the name of the tiny creek that flows into Rock Creek below the house is Sheridan Creek. It is this creek from which the cabin draws its water from!
Evie and Noah had played here a ton in 2009 but not a lot this time. Perhaps it was because Rock Creek, which is just below the cabin, was running very high and a kayaker had drown in it the week before. I didn't want the kids playing out there alone even though the riverside is way overgrown so it's not easy to get to. Water plus my kids freaks me right out.
After Terry got the electricity and water going, we brought in all of our considerable luggage, mostly food, and I got to work straight away making dinner on the propane stovetop. I heated up a meal we had hauled all over the southwest but never eaten, taco dippers. It was delicious. A home cooked meal on the road always tastes amazing.
Next we explored the house. The littles and Evie really, really wanted to sleep in the loft, pictured here. Terry had never really been allowed to, and Terry's folks didn't want anyone up there in 2009, so we were hesitant to let them, but in the end since they were so persistent, we let the three of them sleep up there. Evie slept on the bed the littles are on.
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| Ezra's "smile" cracks me up. Terry noticed on this trip that he has made a habit of making that face. |
Looking the opposite way, Samuel and Ezra slept on the bed the olders are on. Ezra is looking down the trapdoor that leads to the stairs.
The reason they don't like kids sleeping up there is because the "stairs" are really more like a ladder and it'd be pretty easy to fall down them, especially in the middle of the night. So we told them they couldn't come down alone and we left a nightlight hanging from the trap door. They all did fine. No one ever came down the stairs at night. The bathroom is on the right and Terry and I slept on the white bed through that curtain.
Next we went outside to use the new fire pit and have smores.
I walked to the back corner of the lot to try to capture more.
We did a fire pit every night except the third when we were in Yellowstone. It was great fun.
There is a working and mandatory outhouse on the edge of the property, right next to the road. You're supposed to use the outhouse for number two since the cabin pipes and septic system are so old. We abided by the rules!
Why there are two seats in the outhouse no one knows!
I love this sign in there.
Looking down from the outhouse.
There's a decorative little well to the left of the outhouse.
A little further left was some elk horns. Ha!
At the corner of the lot is this old shed. Not sure what's in there but there are tons of pine needles all around it. Behind the shed is little Sheridan Creek.
The view looking down from the shed. Plenty of firewood!
Steps that lead up to the road next to the shed.
There is the cistern filled with creek water for the house. You shower with the creek water and wash dishes with it too. It comes straight off the mountain and has always tested fine, but still you bring water along to drink.
It was amazingly clear! Also, you can see the neighbors across the creek. We visited for a bit and they were nice.
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