So, here was the plan:
We'd go up to Lake Bowman to camp. Us and two of her coworkers/friends. Three women and me. This may just work out.
I volunteered to set up her friends tent since they had to work that day. Lake Bowman was about a three hour drive from Two Medicine. That's on a good day.
With all the crap I saw she needed to bring, taking the bike was out of the question. By the time we pulled out of Two Medicine, the entire back of the truck was full of crap, along with the cab. Apparently my topbox full of camping gear wasn't enough to camp with.
Since all I had brought so far for this trip was a tent, sleeping bag and some clothes, I decided to splurge when we got to the food store in Columbia Falls.
I bought three six-packs and three pounds of thick cut bacon. I was set for the trip.
Her friends would bring kayaks, some cooking gear, more beer, and some amusing antics.
On the way to Bowman Lake, we just happened to pass a small store set in the middle of nowhere:
A member on another forum told me of this place and how good the stuff was there. I wasn't properly prepared for just how good. I think the huckleberry macaroons had crack in 'em or something. They were unbelievably good. A definite must stop if you happen to be in the area (within 200 miles).
Anyway, on to Bowman Lake, where we picked out a spot and I began to set up camp. I began, she had to help finish. Her friend's tent is commonly referred to as "The BAT"
What's "The BAT?"
It's a Big Ass Tent.
This thing was huge. It took both of us to put it together, and about a half hour of monkeying around to get it right. All while mosquitos were sucking the life out of me.
After dousing myself with OFF, I took the five minuts it takes to set up my tent, then properly rewarded myself.
Well, now lets see why they wanted to camp over here:
Holy smokes was this place beautiful. We were miles from nowhere.
We drank some brew, and roasted some dogs over the fire while waiting for her friends. And drank, and roasted, and waited. And waited.
About 12:30 am we hear a racket coming from the South. A very loud racket.
Her friends couldn't get the kayaks onto the roof of the SUV, so they hooked up a trailer. You could hear them coming from about 10 miles away on that rutted, rocky, potholed dirt road leading into the camp, the trailer bouncing off every irregularity in the roadway.
They pulled up, and I then realized the trailer was quiet compared to their laughing, trying to put a tarp over the BAT for a rain cover.
Oh well. Tomorrow we're gonna go explore the lake.
-darrell