August 30, 2021 - Montana through Wyoming and into South Dakota

The journey today from Red Lodge, Montana through the corner of Wyoming into South Dakota was pretty uneventful except we had a warning indicator light come on the dashboard of the truck. The truck was running fine. We stopped in Sheridan, Wyoming at a Ford dealership to see if they could get us in. Hah … they couldn’t schedule an appointment for us until next Thursday. Currently they only have two mechanics and maybe only twenty vehicles on the lot to sell. 

With the truck running fine we made the decision to take it easy and push on. Our final destination Wasta, South Dakota. Uh … there is nothing here. The Wasta Bar is closed. The gas station has no attendant and it is self service. There were no cars at the motel. We had found out about this Overnight Parking location from the AllStays Camp & RV app. The cost $20 with power hook-ups for eight rigs and it is a self pay station. This a nice clean camping spot to land at for just an overnight stay. The sites are long, level, not cramped and in the end only five RVs came in. 

As we neared Wasta a massive storm had formed north of us and it was traveling south east so we were good. It would miss us. Thank goodness because it had 1.75” size HAIL … as the weather alerts told us! We had a wonderful light show from it after our arrival but as the night wore on there was a small cell that had formed off of it that began to come towards us. We spent a good part of the evening outside in the dark watching it. 

We decided to stay up late in order to keep an eye on the storm. Ready to depart if needed. It was really windy here. The last of the big storm cell passed us and we were in the clear without one drop of rain. I’ll post a video of the storm on Instagram!  

Tomorrow, Tuesday, we will continue to head east and keep an eye on any storms. Our journey will boomerang us home to Florida by way of OHIO! Yup. You heard that right. 

Hint #2 - We will be heading somewhere RIVETING! 

Can anyone guess where we will land and at what event? (Don’t blow it for others for those of you who know!)

August 29, 2021 - Last Day in Montana … fishing!

Sunday brought a full day of To-Dos as our last day in Montana. First up was going out to breakfast in Red Lodge followed by the laundromat and a side trip to an old ski lodge. Why is it flapjacks taste so much better when they are from a restaurant? At the laundromat we knocked out FIVE loads of laundry in ninety minutes! Wish I could do that back home!!

Afterwards we went fishing! All afternoon and into the evening we fished. Never eating lunch. There were four public fishing access points north of town that we had our eyes on to visit. The forestry service gives fishing access to the water here. Most with vault toilets and dry camping spots. You can easily find these access points online along with many, many others here in Montana. 

As the day progressed we managed to stop at them all. We were able to fish three of them as one was busy with other fishermen. The excitement and anticipation kept us focused. Both Tim and I had strikes throughout the day. However the end of the day brought no fish. And that’s okay! We were outside with nature as one. Not a care in the world as we cast those flys out. The beautiful landscape was enhanced by the constant sound of the fast flowing water of the creeks. Peaceful! 

Was it really about catching fish today? Was it about the adventure of each stop? The unknown around each bend in the creek as we waded? The thrill of the ‘hunt’? With each stop the terrain was a different challenge. At one I fell. I told Tim this is steep, I don’t want to fall. Two steps later down I went. 

Five minutes later after we maneuvered the steep creek bank and parted ways, one south and one north, I had to lower myself into the river by hanging onto a fallen tree. We waded through and across what ever we came across. It was a fun day filled with the adventure of fishing! 

At another location it was just a few simple small creek crossings by foot to get to the larger creek access. The last and best location called for a steep drop from the parking lot to a fast flowing irrigation ditch that we had to wade across. Immediately there after was a wide shallow fast flowing creek that had a foot bridge. I took the bridge, Tim waded those waters. 

The beautiful small meadows that we crossed next were easy compared to the spectacular fast flowing larger creek that we approached next. This was the best location yet and exactly what we were looking for. Good open moving water to wade and discover where those fish might be hiding. It’s all about reading the flow of the moving water. 

Here there is a large culvert that diverts water for the irrigation ditch with a series of manual flow gates. Someone even left a tractor seat for me to fish from! Tim and I both had a few good strikes here. We

landed no fish but still had one our best days of   adventure fishing on this trip. Like I always say ‘It’s better than a good day at work!’ And I guess my hat didn’t work! LOL 

Tomorrow, Monday, brings a travel day for us. We are looking forward to the next segment of this journey but not so excited about leaving this part of country. Stay tuned for hints about our next location! 

Hint 1 - It’s not out west. 

August 28, 2021 - Back in Red Lodge, Montana

The bed in the Airstream seemed extra comfy last night and it was certainly nice to get out of bed to a warm environment this morning. The sisters started texting me early to tell me how windy it had been all night in the hay field and that a big storm had blown threw around 4am. My decision to depart yesterday was a good one! 

Jett was so excited to see me last night and she is doing so much better. She has one more day of meds so we will see how she does once she comes off of them. 

Our morning was spent unpacking the truck from my stay in Absarokee for the welding clinic. I had to sort everything and get those items either re-packed into the Airstream or back into the truck. It was time consuming and I wondered WHO brought all this STUFF and how will it all go back?!

This afternoon after re-packing we went fishing! The weather was a little chilly and still windy. The campsites on the river where we are staying have fishing access so we decided to keep things simple and just stay at basecamp to fish. All the sites are not the best for fishing except one and no one was in that site. This site had easy water access, calm water with some rippled rocks and a little more open for casting. Of course after we got the reels rigged and walked to that site a large camper was there so we had to go a little more upstream to the tent sites to fish. 

After some time fishing at the tent sites we decided that the current was way to fast here for us. The trees and brush also required a more skilled fly fisherwoman and fly fisherman. So we called it a night and walked back to basecamp to plan for tomorrow. 

August 27, 2021 - Day 3 of SOTF Welding Clinic

This morning, back in the shop, the task at hand was now down to the wire. All the sisters worked on finishing their test welds to connect two pieces of metal and then grinding them flat. 

Once completed Scott and Kyle cut them into two pieces. 

 

Then the test began. They bent the first piece in one direction and the second piece in the opposite direction. The first thing one hopes for is that the metal doesn’t snap in half during the bend. Next is a very close look given by Kyle scanning both sides of each weld checking for any hairline cracks. 

Everyone passed except one lady. One piece had a small crack in the weld. We all had a fun week, learned a lot and plans have already begun for next year. Only a really big difference next year … there will be no more HORSESHOES! We will actually be fabricating and building work tables and a paint rack for Scott’s shop. 

(The two Kellys listening to Kyle)

With that said there was a guest speaker scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, for our welding clinic and then we were to go fly fishing in the afternoon. The speaker had to cancel due to health issues and the weather is not looking promising for fishing either. Our entire Saturday was now canceled. 

Once our test was completed and we were done in the shop I headed back to the hay field to begin packing. Tim came by a short time later to pick me up. On the way back to Red Lodge we grabbed a bite to eat. I was so looking forward to a hot shower and a nice warm bed to sleep in. (Still proud that I survived three nights sleeping in a hammock in a tent in a hay field. Glad I had the experience!)

August 26, 2021 - Day 2 of SOTF Welding Clinic

This morning after breakfast I returned to the Dolly Dome only to find a few locals hanging out. There are so many and they are everywhere. 

Since my 102 group did not have to be in the shop until 1pm we took a field trip. So we ‘know a guy’ who lives about ten minutes away and were invited to his home and shop. Pristine! The ladies who went enjoyed and appreciated his hospitality and time spent with us. 

I think he has everything! Including …

As soon as we got back to the shop it was back to work. We were given ten horseshoes, a rebar square and a pile of scraps to dig through. Our objective was to be creative and make a project from these items. I decided on making three horseshoe wall hooks and a horseshoe wall hanging with a hook. Not super creative but these will be practical items I can use at home. 

Next up was to begin our welding bend test. We have to join two pieces of flat metal end to end by welding them together. After running our bead welds to fill the deep ‘v’ joint (mine took four runs to fill) the next step is to grind the welding lines flat. Then the guys in the shop will cut our pieces in half lengthwise bending one in a U in one direction and the other in a U in the opposite direction to test our welding skills. I’ll do my test in the morning! 

August 25, 2021 - Day 1 SOTF Welding Clinic

Day 1 and we are having a blast and are on fire! It is so good to be back in Scott’s shop. We know who is running the place … 

The Sisters on The Fly of course! 

The 101 girls had the shop this morning after our safety meeting and rundown of projects. Then the 102 class had the shop in the afternoon. Every group is given a different skilled project to complete and every individual does their own project independent of each other with help from the shop owner or the more advanced students. We have safety meetings and are taught each tool and machine prior to use. 

At a glance the projects may seem tacky and minimal but we are also practicing running lines, tack welding, figuring out what angles these horse shoes need to be welded at, cutting horse shoes, bending metal, figuring out what tools to use to get the job done and using grinders to touch up our welds. We also are required to do drop tests with every step of each project. 

It was a fun day getting back in the groove of welding with these amazing women from all walks of life and we will be back at it tomorrow!