1st Retirement RV Ramble 2024

3 weeks / >5000 miles - Part Six

May 20, 2024

With Naomi on board sharing the back seat with the dogs (she’s a pet nut like us) we headed North and West to Great Falls, Montana. The only city of any size we passed through was Billings, and it was a leisurely, uneventful drive. We camped at the Great Falls KOA and although our camping site was tight, there was much vegetation - bushes and trees - to give a bit of privacy. There were much larger sites, nicer with patios and even cabins to rent at the KOA but we were keeping it as low cost as possible. The shower rooms were clean and comfortable, I’d rate it a solid B+ overall. We settled in the first night to rest. Here are a couple shots of the scenery on the drive.

Rapid City to Great Falls

May 21, 2024

Next day we headed to the home of Rick and Naomi’s uncle Babe, their mother’s brother. His name is Adrian, but as the youngest child he was nicknamed Babe and the family still calls him that. He is 90 years old, still golfs and bowls, slower but not giving up. We drove up to find him mowing the lawn. After our hellos and some quick catching up, he wanted to take us to lunch. I had mentioned that I wanted to see the Sip and Dip while we were in town and Karen, Babe’s wife, suggested the restaurant in the same building as a good choice for lunch.

How to explain the Sip and Dip….our friend Kevin Russell of Shinyribs had told us about the Great Falls bar with the mermaid. If you watched a certain Showtime series back in the day, The Chris Isaac Show 2001-2004, and loved it the way I did, you too would have made it a must to see the bar with a mermaid! A mermaid behind the bar was part of the Chris Isaac show and I always wondered, hoped that it truly existed somewhere. It does! Sip and Dip Lounge is found at O’Haire Motor Inn and it is an original 60’s Tiki Bar with live mermaids swimming and entertaining with tricks in a tank that makes up the wall behind the bar. Clark and Lewie’s is the restaurant next door where we had a great lunch. Babe’s daughter Sheila joined us and Rick and Naomi were able to catch up with their cousin. Although the waitress was the no-nonsense sort that reminds one you are not in the South anymore, I recommend the restaurant if you are wanting a solid breakfast or lunch. The mermaids only perform in the evening but we went up and had a quick visit to Sip and Dip as we left after lunch. Oh yeah, we’d be back!

We took Babe and Karen back to their home to rest and we went off to explore Giant Springs State Park. It was a short drive that yielded some nice outdoor time until rain showers cut it short. Giant Springs is one of the largest freshwater springs in the country, discovered by Lewis and Clark. There is a fish hatchery, visitor center, picnic shelters, towering Aspen trees, miles of trails and a Lewis and Clark interpretive center. I would love to live nearby to be able to enjoy its nature regularly. We also spotted an otter! At least we think that’s what it was.

Giant Springs State Park

After the fresh air we headed into town to get dinner at the Celtic Cowboy. Microbrews and ambiance aplenty in this historic building, we were glad we chose it. The Irish Reuben I had was different and cheesy good. Then, I could wait no longer and we were off to see the mermaid at Sip and Dip. It’s a magical feeling walking in to the lowered lighting and tiki atmosphere with the light from the mermaid’s aquarium behind the bar the main draw of the room. We sat at the bar, not crowded at all on this Monday night. The mermaid soon appeared. Not only appeared, but truly entertained with hula hoop tricks and other bubble magic that made it so fun. Although we couldn’t see the surface of her tank, she would go up to gather her breath and then return down to us to interact. You could tape tips for her on the window of her aquarium and she would wave and engage you often. The booths in the lounge were round and highbacked, it was all richly retro and special. Thanks to Kevin for making me aware of the place, I would hate to think I missed this fun. I will share photos, but they in no way do it justice, be forewarned.

Sip and Dip

It had been a full day and we headed back to camp to crash. We had one more day in Great Falls, and one more spot I was anxious to visit. The Charles M. Russell museum was priority on my list.