Gold Medal Time

On Saturday we went to a wake for an old friend, Kenny Butler.  There were lots of stories about his escapades and the memories took us back thirty years to our days of the Super Fools Olympics in Clark Fork.  Retired Mountain Man and I, along with the Walrafs, made up the Murphy's team in the first Olympics in 1980.  We won several gold medals and the highlight was winning the gold medal for the obstacle course event.  The medals were made of artfully cutup beer cans tied with strings of ribbon.

Kenny was the torch bearer.  Picture a guy clad only in a diaper, running with a torch to light the flame.  He runs across the field towards a toilet bowl filled with kerosene and lights the flame to begin the Super Fools Olympics.  He was a guy who really enjoyed having fun!



The Butler home site is a beautiful place.

There was music on the back of what used to be the Alibi Charter Boat.  Behind it in the photo, is the more modern version of a houseboat.  You know, the kind with a hot tub on the top deck and a bar.

In 1979 we had a Coulthard Family Reunion on the Alibi.  It was a once in a lifetime event.  We actually got all three Coulthard sisters on the boat, even though Irene was afraid to go because she couldn't swim.

A view of the Alibi from the top of the other houseboat.

The very nice people on the new houseboat treated anyone and everyone to a shot of tequila or the beverage of your choice.  Here is Dancing Mandolin Gal about to drink her shot of tequila.  I heard a story about her dancing a striptease to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", on top of the Alibi as it came into the docks at the floating restaurant back
in the 80's.  Yep.  She's definitely Dancing Mandolin Gal.  Plus, downing a shot in Kenny's memory was the right thing to do.

After seeing the house boat I had to look up the old pictures from our reunion.
Here are some old photos of the 1979 Alibi trip.

Uncle Jack and Aunt Irene, RMM and Ravishing Beauty

 We anchored just off the back side of one of the islands so that the kids could swim.

Kiley, Jenny, David, Brian, Mary, Kirsten, Jamie

 The three sisters and Aunt Naomi.

Ruth Coulthard Kiebert, Irene Coulthard Dunn, Lois Coulthard Burkhart and Naomi Burkgart.

I remember having a difficult time convincing everyone that $7/person to go out on the Alibi for the day would be worthwhile.  Uncle Pete and Kermit also grumbled a lot about taking a day off from work to go spend a day floating around on the lake.

Eric, Travis and Marty

We ended the memorial with a toast of Lucky Lager Beer (Kenny's favorite).

Here's to those who have left us:  Kenny, Uncle Pete, Uncle Jack, Aunt Ruth, Aunt Irene, Grandma Lois and Grandpa Jim, Aunt Naomi and Cousin Marty.  

We had some fun and crazy "gold medal" times.

Hey friend, try this out!

David and Julie were here for David's 20th high school class reunion.  We were so happy to have a visit with Shana, and her son, Matt.  Yes, we chat with her on Facebook, but it's not the same thing as a real chance to sit down and talk for a couple of hours.  (The young tech generation just doesn't get it, do they?)  We heard the next day that the Class of 1992 closed down the local bar in Clark Fork on Sat. night.  I think they had a good time.

Ben and his new friend had a fun time with Retired Mountain Man's fountain.  When Maggie was a puppy, she taught Ben to get a drink out of the fountain.  Ben was quick to show Matt just what to do.  There was a lot of giggling and splashing.  So much water left the fountain that RMM had to refill it. 

This is how you do it.

 

They were as pleased as could be with themselves.

Whew! Hot enough for you?

Yes, we complained about the cold, wet, rainy weather and now we get the opposite.  
Last weekend we went on a road trip to Montana and it wasn't any cooler there.  Our destination was the Big Hole, but on the way we stopped in Victor and Hamilton to visit friends and of course, Ben.  

We meet baby Finn.

At the Big Hole Battlefield we learn about the battle between the Nez Perce and the army.  This is the barrel from the Mountain Howitzer General Gibbons planned to use to fire on the encampment.  They managed to fire two shots before a group of warriors overtook them. 

1873 Trowel Bayonet

 The soldiers used the trowels to dig pits in the ground during their retreat.

Bow, quiver and arrows used by Five Fogs.  Unlike other warriors, during the attack he did not use a gun.  He stood in front of his tipi shooting arrows.  The soldiers fired on him three times and missed.  The fourth round killed him.

A warrior was in the dead tree in the photo.  He killed 14 soldiers from that position.


They say that when the Camas flowers were in bloom, that from a distance they looked like blue lakes.  They were not in bloom when we were there but we did get a chance to see and touch some Camas Bulbs that the Indians dug, dried and ate.

Next stop was Jackson, Montana and the hot springs there.   Retired Mountain Man and his sister got to vacation there many years ago.  The resort was called the Diamond Bar Inn at the time.  We were there during their Jackson Days celebration.

Small Arms Impact Area

We had lunch and left before there was any small arms fire.  We drove on to Bannack, the first capitol of Montana Territory.  Bannack is a ghost town.  A real ghost town.  Not commercialized as in Virginia City.

                                                     The Skinner Saloon. 

 

The bad guys ended up in there.

 
 

Modern washing machine in the doctor's house.  Notice it is the "improved" model.

One view of the Big Hole

Ben and Aunt Linda in their version of the  4th of July Parade

His first 4th of July!

The only way to start out life is to celebrate your first 4th of July in Clark Fork Idaho.  It has one of the finest Independence Day celebrations.
 
The theme of the Clark Fork parade this year was celebrating the 80th anniversary of the formation of the C.C.C.  Retired Mountain Man's father worked for the C.C.C  near Thompson Falls, Montana. 

The Krewe of Cougar Creek is hoping for another parade trophy this year.   On the evening of July 3rd the float is ready.

2012 Float

 The Clark Fork 4th of July parade.  Small town America at it's finest!  We start the day at 9:30 a.m. in the parade.

There are lots of vintage cars.

It wouldn't be a parade without lots of horses.

Fire engines and big trucks.

Add some squirt guns and water to cool down the crowd.

 After the parade and all afternoon long  there were events for the kids, a watermelon eating contest and of course, the turtle races.

On your mark!  Get set!

GO!

Oh come on, turtle!  

Please move.

Then it's time for the log sawing contest.

The happy crowd.

Medium saw contest.

Trav in the large saw contest.

 The day ends with the Hope Fireworks display.

Happy 4th of July!

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Yes, we did win the trophy.  Best Float, Adult Division!