We were now on a tight timeline to get to Ennis, MT to fish the Madison river with the Miller side of my family. Doug and Google located a “shortcut” that meant seemingly endless miles of rough dirt road, no animals, minimal cars, no towns and a single isolated yurt. It’s in these moments that I’m gobsmacked by pioneers and the wagon trains that crossed from east to west – how tough and determined they must have been. The mountains in the distance held promise, but even with our modern vehicle it seemed we’d never reach them or civilization.
Distant Yurt 
When we finally hit asphalt and reached the first town, Twin Bridges, exhausted, I asked Doug how far we’d traveled on that isolated road and he replied, “16 miles”. Huh…that’s embarrassing! Just be glad I wasn’t in charge of settling the west or our European forefathers wouldn’t have made it past Boston!
Speaking of settling the west, the towns of Nevada City and Virginia City, were on our route and in both towns the old west is alive and well.
Side note: Something you should know about me…during high school I worked part time at a late 1800s museum called South Park City in Fairplay, CO. You’d be hard pressed to convince me that any other US living history museum could top it, but much to Doug’s dismay, I never pass up an opportunity to compare.
We spent a few hours at the Nevada City Living History Museum and Music Hall. This is an outdoor museum consisting of over a hundred original 1863 to 1900 buildings. Similar to South Park City and Colonial Williamsburg, this is Montana’s version of a living history museum where the artifacts and displays within this old west “town” bring the gold rush era to life.
An impressive collection of player pianos and pipe organs is housed in the building of entrance. The town tour is self-guided, so map in hand, we made our way through a one room schoolhouse, a livery, a saloon, a post office, soda shop, a carriage house and several different homes. Ladies in bustles and bonnets and men in vests and bowlers were happy to answer questions and provide information.
After spending far more time at the museum than expected, we were running behind schedule. We hurried out of Nevada City only to find the mother-lode, Virginia City, was less than 2 miles away. Forced to simply roll through main street, with both hands and my face pressed against the window admiring their adorable shops, I promised to return when we had more time.
We arrived in Ennis for a 3 day visit with my uncle (Harry), a bunch of Harry’s long-time friends, my brother (Dave), father (Tom), cousin (Matt) and his two eldest sons. My uncle has hosted this annual fishing trip with friends, family and fishing guides for many years and this year we were invited to tag along.
Doug, Tom and Dave fly fished the blue-ribbon Madison river on two separate days. My brother is an avid outdoors-man and provided the drift boat and acted as guide. There doesn’t seem to be a season where he isn’t hunting or fishing something. He’s a frequent flyer (see what I did there?) and that makes him amazingly good at it. Doug really enjoyed the fishing, not only because the Madison is a gorgeous river but also because my brother is an experienced rower and he smiles like a quokka with every catch!
Photo by Campbell Jones: Instagram/@as.happy.as.a.quokka 
Side Note: The quokka has been dubbed “the world’s happiest animal” (www.traveller.com.au/worlds-happiest-animal) and Campbell Jones, the photographer of the photo above, has taken some fantastic photos of them (https://mymodernmet.com/campbell-jones-quokka-selfie/).
I can’t get enough. So if you need some happy (and who doesn’t in 2020), follow Campbell Jones’ Instagram/@as.happy.as.a.quokka and send a friend some happy this holiday season by gifting quokka socks or earrings from www.ashappyasaquokka.com.
Me? I like fishing about as much as the Tiger King (Joe Exotic) likes Carole Baskin. Even with catch and release I worry the fish are harmed despite the studies done that conclude fish don’t feel pain. It doesn’t even stop at fish. As far back as I can remember I’ve struggled when eating chicken legs and wings or any kind of ribs because the bones remind me that the animal met an untimely end. That being said, I’m not a vegetarian so I don’t judge and must thank those who make my boneless poultry, pattied meat, and sushi eating possible. Sadly, that sounds so bougee, but it’s true.
While the guys were on the river, Bailey and I walked, read, and napped. Okay, I read…but Bailey participated in the other two activities.
Plenty of happy hour drinks and outdoor group dinners at the amazing Ennis Homestead gave us time to reconnect with the Miller clan and get to know my Uncle’s friends. We’re hoping to be invited back for the annual outing as we really enjoyed ourselves and the Madison!
