The Cowboy for years has wanted to build a power generating water wheel. When our local phone co-op started installing fiber optic cable to this valley the Cowboy asked one of the installers if he could have one of the wheels which held the orange plastic conduit through which the fiber optic cable goes. They were happy to have him take one–they definitely had a gazillion of the huge steel wheels. The Cowboy can build anything and a water wheel he has built–it isn’t finished but it’s close! What is he going to do with it–he’s not sure! It was a fun project for him!
The week has just blended but on Saturday we joined friends for an ATV poker run in Checkerboard–a little summer community located about 80 miles from us. We had 12 various rigs–side by sides, 4-wheelers and even a dirt bike–and I think we had 20 people. When we rolled out of our meeting spot it looked as if the entire community was heading north. For readers unfamiliar with poker runs–at registration you spin a wheel attached to a circle made of every card available in a deck of cards. When the wheel stops on a card the registration person notes that card on a sheet of paper. If you’ve purchased more “hands,” you spin until each card is noted on the paper. In the past you were given actual cards but people cheated–bringing along their own deck of cards. At additional stops along the way you are given more “cards” after spinning another wheel. The winner is given a percentage of the registration fees–we think! There were additional ways to “win”–a cash drawing and various door prizes. I won a $25 gift certificate to a restaurant in a neighboring town. One of the members of our group won a portion of the cash drawing.
The countryside where we rode was so beautiful–lush and green! We took our time taking frequent breaks to snack and visit. Lunch was enjoyed under a grove of pine trees where the only hazard was fresh cow pies left by the last group enjoying the shade. Emmi was the only cow pie casualty–she walked through the edge of a pie and needed a foot bath!
The above three photos are of Castle Town–an abandoned silver mining town established in 1882. Transporting the ore was a major problem from this remote location with no railroad. The silver panic of 1893 delayed a planned railroad and the town began to fail. The last remaining residents packed up in 1930. The town is located on private property and also holds some interest to the Cowboy. His great grandmother was supposedly a cook in Castle Town and his great grandfather may be buried in Castle Town. Great grandmother may also have met her last husband at Castle. I wear their wedding ring which is inscribed on the inside with “Z to M, January 1894.”
The Lennep Mercantile in the also abandoned town of Lennep–
“Lennep had a Lutheran church, general store, and post office. Located at the foot of the Castle Mountains, Lennep was once a station on the Old Milwaukee Road. The Lennep Mercantile housed the post office from the time the Mercantile opened in 1914; the post office had first opened in 1903 in a log home across the street. The post office was closed down in 1962.
Today Lennep is abandoned, with a number of buildings remaining and in reasonable condition, including the old church and store. There are still residences in the vicinity of Lennep, but the site is unoccupied.” from Wikipedia.
The Lutheran church is the oldest ELCA Lutheran congregation in the state of Montana, established in 1891, meeting in various public buildings such as the school until the current church was built in 1914 at a cost of $4300. The church still hold services in the gracious, beautiful old building–
Taken during a sunny, warmer part of the day! Wouldn’t you know it we had to don all that rain gear once again–the wind started howling and the rain pelted us after lunch as we were exploring. We quickly headed back to bar for the end of poker run festivities, prize drawings and a bit of early dinner. A great day spent with fabulous friends in beautiful country!
Restoration Cowboy Style 
“but people cheated–bringing along their own deck of cards”.
WHAT!! You mean to say people cheat!! When the heck did humans start doing that!! Nice photos, clear and crisp colors.
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Thanks Al–all the photos from Saturday were taken with my iPhone–I continue to be impressed with the photo quality from that phone!
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What a beautiful and fun day Janna! I love the story you told about Michael ‘s family and Castle Town. And how wonderful and special you have wear his great grandparents wedding ring. The church in the other town is gorgeous. I just love those kind of days. We did a poker-run on the Harley once when we were in Florida. Your day was way more better! Poor Emmi and poor you as I am sure she was in you lap. Looking forward to seeing where the water wheel ends up. The columbine is beautiful!
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I love hearing about Mike’s family history and I love that ring–it’s a different color of gold than that of today. We had such a good time–lots of friendly people, beautiful scenery and of course a little rain. It was only a bit of cow poop on Emmi’s one foot–I used a wet wipe and she was good as new!
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Ridiculous that people cheat on a poker run of all things. But not actually surprising. I recently watched a video on YouTube about these guys who were caught cheating on the professional walleye tour by putting lead weights inside the fish. Watch it if you have time. They were both charged with felonies.
I love the pictures of the old buildings; you cannot help but imagine what life was like in their heyday.
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Yes, of all things–a fund raiser, fun, family event! The ladies in our group wearing our cropped jeans and short sleeve t’s were discussing the apparel of ladies back in those times–no thank you!
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The poker run looks like a hoot- cheating just just needn’t be in cards. The pics & history of M’s family plus that special ring- wow.The waterwheel sure has promise- if you have sufficient volume & velocity of running water,then a generator can provide unlimited power.Looking forward to see how it ends up..All the best.
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Isn’t that the truth–it’s fun, it was for a good cause–why do you need to cheat! Mike’s family has a lot of Montana history–his family came to Montana in the late 1800’s. Will keep folks in the loop about the water wheel.
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Great exploration of Castle town. You folks do get to see a lot of interesting country with the ATV’s. Mike’s waterwheel is coming along nicely. As a retired phone guy, I have made plenty of things with old reels and poles but not a waterwheel.
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We do see such great country on the ATVs and we are respectable of the land and other people. I bet you did make a lot of things with those reels. I can’t wait for Mike to get the wheel in the creek but that will have to wait–we have some more adventures coming.
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It looks like a wonderful adventure, only problem is , we weren’t there!
Outstanding photos!
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Thanks Geri and yes that is a problem you guys weren’t there! All my photos were taken with the iPhone–my only issue is the zoom isn’t as good as the cameras I have.
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Beautiful countryside and lots of fun with good friends :-)) Can’t wait to see what you do with the water wheel. That church is so sweet.
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We had such a good time–and not too far from home. Mike will get back to the water wheel, other things such as getting the equipment ready for haying takes his time lately.
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In the old days, people who cheated in poker ended up earning the nickname, “Lefty.”
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Yep! Or dead!
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Looking forward to Michael’s creation with the water wheel. Looking good so far. What a great Poker run ride. I love any kind of old abandoned town. I am so drawn to the old structure. That purple columbine is gorgeous!!
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We need to contact the owners of that old town to see if we could walk through and find the cemetery.
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How sweet that you wear Michael’s great-grandmother’s ring! He certainly has a long family history in Montana. Your poker run adventure sounds like fun and as always, your scenery is just beautiful. Love that gorgeous church, your columbine photo, and Michael’s waterwheel.
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Michael’s family arrived in Montana in the late 1800’s so yes, he does have a lot of family history in his most favorite place on earth! It pays to marry an only child–Michael’s mother gave me her entire jewelry box before she died and that ring was in the box.
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