Anaconda

 

Years and years ago while watching tv with some friends, and probably using substances that were illegal then , but now you can buy at the corner pot shop.

The TV was showing Marlin Perkins Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom show, and they were deep in the Amazon. Now we weren’t really watching the show out of choice, it was the only channel we got.

But there was Marlin deep in the Amazon walking along with another guy and they came to a puddle that on tv didn’t look large enough to hold a catfish after a hurricane. When Marlin said “The only way to capture the giant Anaconda is to jump into its natural habitat  and wrap it around your body” the other fellow striped off most of his clothes jumped in and completely disappeared into the puddle. Soon the water was splashing about and the fellow crawled back out with a giant anaconda wrapped around his body

Now since we were using substances that were illegal then . We thought this was hilarious, we were ROTFL before it was a thing.

Marlin And A Anaconda

 Fewer  years ago, when I was meeting a motor bike compadre in Montana,   I saw the sign for the road to Anaconda. I thought it would be cool to see the huge mine, and the road  going  there was better than riding on  I 90.

The bike I was riding was the snake venom one. . It was bran new, but for some reason the heated grips quit working on this ride. No heated grips were not an issue until I turned down the road to Anaconda and the light rain turned to snow. No worries, the snow wasn’t sticking.

New Bike No Heated Grips Whats Not To Like

 Pretty soon the snow was sticking and by the time I got turned around Raynaud's Syndrome had made my hands dead. Luckly I had a pair of heated gloves in the saddle bag and I got those hooked up and got the hell out of there only stopping at the motor company outpost in Butte, where they took pity on me and pulled the parts off another bike so I could go along my way with heated grips.

For today’s run to Anaconda.

It Was Slow Going Getting Out Of The RV Park

My starting point was  Dillon Montana , where I went about my morning enjoying  my koffee , and then set about making the van ready for the road.

It wasn’t long before I had the interior temperatures perfect, had my jacket put away, and I started out.

This was not the way I had previously traveled, but highway 278 northbound was a welcome relief from the interstate, and I discovered some unique things to the area.

The gates were the first thing I noticed. I have not seen gates like these anywhere else.

Unique Gates Of Montana

Another interesting thing I spotted and  might be local  to the area are  giant catapults. ( you can’t be too careful living next to Idaho)  but I think they are used to load  hay that is not bailed

Giant Catapult

I saw a tractor pulling a wagon with a huge mound of hay, that’s why I think the catapults are used for that…

The mine at Anaconda is off limits. You can’t go there. It is more toxic than Chernobyl, and its surrounded by mountains of tailings, but no one seems to pay it any mind.

The only thing you can see of the mine is the stack that spewed toxins into the air everywhere.  But that was a long time ago.

Remains Of The Smelter

Memorial To The Miners

Anaconda, the town, is a great little town. Gas is inexpensive, the downtown was nice to walk around in. I never saw a espresso shop but there were lots of bars, and I’m okay with that.