Sunday July 26

Finally all is loaded (WOW does it really take this much for 2 men, for 1 week?) Actually the display took a large portion of the truck bed. Even remembered to power up the old cell phone with minutes. Uneventful trip as far as Spokane. Called Sharon hit the Idaho border phone died not to return till hit Washington again.Cruised along the Clarks Fork River very beautiful the Old Mission was nice, big wedding the day we were there. Oh NO RAIN!!! Rained all the way to Gem Mountain no tents tonight, sleep in the truck and listen to the rain.



This is the reason we went to Billings.

Monday July 27

Gem Mountain, Montana certainly not like N.C. Very nice operation super nice people. Did fairly well several large blue green and a large pink sapphires. Well this took a little longer than thought (Where'd all the people come from?) Now off to Crystal Park, another scenic drive through Montana's country. Found dig site decided to set up camp and see what time is left. Set up, dinner, and bed try tomorrow.



55 Carats ungraded.

Tues July28

Crystal Park, Montana Very nice parking area w /informative signs. Beautiful easy trails most paved, and then dig in ! Andy and I jumped in and away we go started finding small crystals the first shovel. ( A screen is really a nessesity here.) For the short time we were there did very well with some very nice clear and Faden quartz crystals from 1/4" to 51/2".Some nice limonite( psuedomorph after Pyrite) crystals, little smokey and citrine crystals and one very nice amethyst septer crystal. Andy found several nice specimens too! Will let him tell you about his finds in his trip report. All too soon is time to head to Billings so off we go, more nice scenery along the Clark Fork River. Once we get back up to Butte and on I-90 checked out some campgrounds and decided on the KOA great choice!




Best of the Quartz crystal finds.



Trails at Crystal Park.

Wed July 29

Check in at the show get all the badges and paperwork set. Get busy setting up the display (LOOKS GOOD!) Check out the rest of the show and head back to camp. Here's the best bonus of all at the KOA. The campground is right on the Yellowstone River with a huge gravel bar just full of rocks saying "How about me!". All of our spare time was spent looking for those elusive Montana agate, pet. wood and what ever else was there.



Another shot of the display.

Thursday July 30

Show opens great crowd should be good of all involved. Attended AFMS Annual Meeting, nice to see that American politics are working the same even at this level, and that's where I'll leave that. Back to camp and more rock hunting on the Yellowstone. RAIN!



Home for us at the show.

Friday July 31

Must move 5 spaces as our spot was reserved for the weekend, bikers on the way to Sturges, S.D. about 75 to 100 a night. Walt Williams first session on wood identification. Not off to a good start as only computer still being used til about mid class ( try this part Sunday.) Class starts slow and sort of stays that way today we progressed only as far as tree ferns. Well back to 'home' collect some driftwood and a few more rocks.

Sat Aug 1

Nothing planned at the show so after a morning of rock hunting it was off to check out how the show was doing then back for another night at the campfire.

Sunday Aug 2

Another hot one today. Sundays seminar the morning session turned out to be a repeat of Friday only hotter. After making it through the morning session we decided we could at least stay awake rock hunting, so we skipped the afternoon class. I'm sorry to say that for the cost of the class it was a disappointment of sorts. As without the computer Mr. Williams for my money, just couldn't make the proper presentations. Last night at the KOA.

Monday Aug 3

Up and packed ready to go by 7:30. We were signed up for the field trip to Bear Canyon, arrived at the Holiday Inn parking lot to find that all 300 that signed up showed up. Decided it was way to large of a crowd for us and decided to head home and check out a couple of sites we had been told about. Well this didn't work out, not enough detail in the instructions. So, down through the N.W. corner of Yellowstone Park into Idaho where we made it to Masacre Rocks State Park. Which turned out to be a very nice campground right on the Snake River on the Old Oregon Trail famous for a running battle with the Indians.

Tue Aug 4

Fast I'm off kindly headed for Bickleton,Washington for a bit of carnelian hunting. We hunted for a few hours with moderate success. Luckily on the way out I happened upon a real nice, deep red limb cast about 2" long and 1 1/4" round. Real nice and my best agate find so far this year! Have never found such a red limb cast as this one is. Well all good things come to an end so it was off to Yakima where Sharon had a nice dinner waiting. Then Andy is off, home we were both looking forward to our own beds I think. Anyway a great trip altogether and once again thanks to Andy. I could have never done it myself! (They still don't let me drive!) Will post pic's in the morning.



Bickleton, Washington fimds.

More pictures of the trip in the photo albums.

Thanks to all for a great time Tim.