Looks like we're in for some bad weather

The main reason that we are heading south east instead of directly east is because we wanted to drive the Beartooth Highway. It's supposed to be one of the most scenic drives in the Unites States. It only opened on June 1st and we thought about doing it back then, but the weather was not great at the time.

Well it turns out that the weather might be even worse now!

So we are headed back to Gardiner, MT at the northwestern edge of Yellowstone National Park. We already have the park pass, so it will cost us nothing to get back into the park and do the Beartooth highway that starts at the eastern end of the park.

However... the weather forecast is poor. Rain (and snow at higher elevations!) for the next four days. Not clearing until Wednesday night.

But, as my father once said, the only thing you can change about the weather is your attitude towards it! So we're planning on sitting out the worst of it between tonight and Tuesday morning in the town of Gardiner. We have rain coats, so we will still get out and get some fresh air. Supposed to be a high of 57F (14C) tomorrow in Gardiner!

Yesterday, we drove from Seeley Lake to Townsend.

Yesterday's drive 135 miles (216 kms).

Again, a very scenic drive, but it is hard not to find a scenic drive in western Montana!

Salmon Lake.

Scenery along the way.

Steep downhill coming up!

View from a roadside overlook.

We stopped in Helena, Montana to do our weekly grocery shop. The store was busy. It's tough to stay 6 feet away from people when it's that busy! Most people do not wear masks. Montana has had a very low rate of COVID, so I guess they are not that worried. We are not that worried either, but we still take precautions.

While Ruth was getting groceries, I picked up oil change stuff for Sherman and got out of there and waited in Sherman for her to finish. A 5 minute thunderstorm went through while I was waiting, and it rained on and off for the rest of the day.

We decided not to stay in Helena and made our way to Townsend, about 18 miles (30 kms) south.

It's getting cloudy.

Here comes more rain.

We got to Townsend and found a baseball diamond parking lot just outside of town. It was gated and the gates were closed when we arrived, but they were not locked. A sign on the gate said something to the effect that "this property was donated for the use of the general public". So we figure they kept the gate closed just to deter the hoodlums from using the parking lot for spinning their tires and doing graffiti.

There were no other signs, so we stayed the night and nobody bothered us. 

Ruth made a delicious shrimp veggie rice dish for dinner.

After supper another thunder storm went though. I had downloaded a lightning photography app for the phone and there was a bit of opportunity to give it a try. Once I figured it out, I can see the potential...

Not bad for my first try!

Unfortunately, it looks like there will be more opportunity to take lightning shots over the next couple of days!

Gotta get on the road before it starts to rain again.

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