Thursday, October 27/2011

Hwy 191 MT construction

Hwy almost washed out

That little creek did all this damage!

Our spot in Roundup MT

Peaceful enough now. Check out what it looked like last May just after we left!  http://youtu.be/cpoxj5RHSro

It was quiet here all night and this morning I can hear the prairie dogs chirping outside.  Hogan has been growling for a while now so I know that they are out and about and bugging him.  It is a bit chilly in the bus this morning so I turned on some heat and started the coffee.  I need to write the blog so that John can download pics then get it posted.
It is windy today so I am not sure if John wants to travel in it or not but sitting here for another day would not be all that bad either.  Our next stop will be the little campground in Roundup.  We stayed there this spring on our way home and it was lovely.
What greeted us in Roundup was pretty sad.  Although many of the old cottonwood trees were still standing, there were so many of them that weren't.  There was devastation  in the whole area.  There was even a tree left crashed upon the roof of one of the building at the fairgrounds.  The ground was solid but there was evidence of flooding in the campground.
I remember when we were here in the beginning of May last year that the Musselshell River was flowing fast and strong and was close to the top of its banks.  I hate fast moving water and remember this quite well. The river would have easily swept anyone and anything away rather quickly if it got the chance.  We stayed here for a few days and enjoyed the quiet serenity of this wonderful little campground.
On May 26, 2011 the river, fueled by record rainfall and melting snow, flooded its banks and sent raging torrents of water over the highway and onto the surrounding low lands at a speed of 6000 cubic feet per second (more that ten times its usual volume).  This little campground and many homes and businesses here in Roundup were flooded.  Some buildings had as much as eight feet of water in them.  Four teenagers decided to cross into the fairgrounds (which is just beside this little campground I am sitting in now) and were trapped by the raging water and needed to be rescued by the local fire department.
The water eventually receded and just as clean up was getting done...... On June 8/2011 the river once again flooded sending torrents of water through this area for the second time.  The little town of Roundup was one of the worst hit areas in Montana.
With all this destruction to deal with, I can see why this little campground is in such a sorry state.  There simply must have been too much other stuff that took priority.  Perhaps the  town will be able to start cleaning up this mess next year (God willing and the creek don't rise) and restore this little campground back to its quaint peaceful beauty.
There were a few deer out tonight - much to Hogan's delight but unfortunately, they were on the other side of the river so all that he could do was raise his hackles and growl!!