Helena, MT

It was cold when we left Myrna and Eric on the morning on the 6th of September...6C cold. Although we started out in sunshine by the time we reached Waterton Lakes the clouds set in and were to remain with us for some time. After crossing the border into Montana at Glacier National Park we were in completely new territory for both of us. To our surprise and delight, we found great natural beauty throughout Montana.

Our first day’s journey, to Helena via Great Falls, took us through miles of golden flatlands bounded by low mountains on either side. For most of the day, we kept company with the Missouri River which, disconcertingly, meanders north through Montana for hundreds of miles before turning east not far from Great Falls into North Dakota where it eventually turns south east on its long journey to join the Mississippi near St. Louis. We were reminded again how all great rivers have small beginnings. Though cloud cover and intermittent light showers left us little opportunity for photographs, we enjoyed our first day immensely. Luckily, the sun cam out just as we were passing through some spectacular mountains, and we managed to get a couple of good shots.