DAY 7
Week 1
CASTLEGAR (British Columbia, Canada) to CLINTON (Montana, USA)
Tuesday June 27th, 2006
TODAYS MILEAGE – 410 miles or 660 kilometres
TRIP MILEAGE – 1273 miles or 2049 kilometres
Hey it's Day 7, does it seem like a week since I started??? 
I got up nice and early, as the plan was to fix the tow dolly tie down strap situation once and for all. It was getting to the point where I was going to ship the Trailblazer back to Boise and be done with it.
Jungle choofed on off to work and we made our respective best wishes. I felt a bit of a lump in the back of the throat as over the years, I have come to love Jungle as brother and as we all know, it's hard to leave family members. I will hold him to his promise of being at the next Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival in two years, in Edinburgh (Scotland). Hopefully he will bring Yvonne (aka "Jane") with him - as two better people you could never hope to meet.
None of the businesses in Castlegar open until 9am, so I just pottered around town for an hour or so. It reminded me so much of my home town of Alice Springs, but 20 years ago. In that I was sitting in cafe with a newspaper and a toasted bacon & egg sanger (sandwich) listening to the locals go about their lives. Everyone knew everyone and everyone had time for each other.
I got the tow dolly fixed up AGAIN and was contemplating staying another night as it was 11 o'clock already and I knew I had to be in Butte (Montana) for a rafting trip around the 29th, but was waiting for confirmation from my good mates, Nathan and Danette. I decided "stuff it", got a kiss and a cuddle from Yvonne and it was on the road again.
Aside from the scenery, I was struck by how close the locals attitudes were to those of us fair dinkum Aussies. Pretty much casual laid back, have a natter with anyone and don't mind a beer. I truly miss that kind of peoples. That's not to say that the American I have come to know and love are not like that, it's just that whole communities are like that in Canada and Australia. I'm thinking the border crossing fella was just making sure I wasn't an American impersonating an Aussie to upset the apple cart???
The Man Pad was pointed North for the little town of Balfour (British Columbia, CAN) and after a quick photo opportunity at the community of Brilliant (BC, Canada), I can also now say that I have been to Brilliant and am now searching for Perfection!!!
I arrived 10 minutes early for the ferry across Kootenay Lake and while waiting to board, I found out that the ferry ride is recognized as the "Worlds Longest Free Ferry Ride" - tick that one off my bucket list.
The 45 minute trip across the lake was spectacular. Towering rugged snow capped peaks, rolling down into lush green valleys, that come to the edge of the emerald green waters of Lake Kootenay. At Kootenay Bay I headed South in the direction of the United States, as I got a call on the dog & bone from Nathan, so I decided to forgo Glacier National Park and head directly for Butte (Montana), lest I miss the planned rafting trip.
I crossed the US border at Port Of Entry Porthill (Idaho, USA), which took less than 10 minutes, and headed into Montana through Kallispell and Missoula bound for Butte. The drive across the state was simply gorgeous, especially around Flathead Lake at dusk. It was simply spectacular, as you can see by the photo.
I was looking around Missoula (Montana) for somewhere to pull over for the night. At midnight I parked up at a roadside stop outside Clinton (Montana, USA) which is about 17 miles outside of the town famous for the Maggotfest rugby tournament. It was a long day, but simply a wonderful viewing experience.
Check ya later.
• CASTLEGAR (British Columbia, CAN)
• BRILLIANT (British Columbia, CAN)
• BALFOUR (British Columbia, CAN)
• BOSWELL (British Columbia, CAN)
• CRESTON (British Columbia, CAN)
• PORTHILL (Idaho, USA)
• LAKESIDE (Montana, USA)