Laurel-July 5, 2012

After reading so many ads about the businesses in Laurel, we decided to go there this morning in spite of the nearby fire. What a huge disappointment Laurel was. There's almost nothing there but poverty. So sad. We did manage to find a new WalMart, our least favorite store on earth, and picked up a few items. We came home and unloaded. Then we went back to Columbus, first to the post office and then to the New Atlas Saloon. It's claim to fame is over 50 mounted animals. There was sure a lot to see. And the place was full of locals. We are getting used to being stared at when we go in a local place. One nice man struck up a conversation with us and through him we learned there is a platinum and paladium mine here. We have seen the smelter but didn't know what it was. There used to be a huge quarry here, right behind this park. The granite from that quarry is used in the state capital building in Helena and in one house here in Columbus. It is a very nice old house.

Front

Side



What a delightful house to see. Now we want to go to Helena to see the capital. For the record, over 455,000 acres have burned here in Montana. More are burning still. It doesn't make the news because the houses are on ranches, not stacked on top of each other like they are in big cities. Several hundred of those ranch houses have been destroyed and power lines are burned down all over the place. It's such a tragedy and most all of the fires here were man caused. How badly rain is needed. Today was a very comfortable day, in the 60s, no wind and overcast. Love it! And it was a welcomed break for the firefighters.