Columbia Falls started out as a huge disappointment. The RV park was so tight that my sewer outlet was placed directly behind my neighbors’ picnic table, which hardly seems sanitary, and this turned out to be true of my neighbors on the other side as well. I, being polite, did not set up my sewer hose until I was actually going to use it, and put it away immediately after. My neighbors bordering my picnic table, however, were not so considerate, and did not even have an airtight seal.
My politeness did get me free wine, however, so at least there’s that.
The owner was at least friendly, though when I remarked upon the placement of the sewer hookups, said “Well, it can’t be helped dear”, a rather unconvincing statement.
She did, however, point me in the direction of two farmers’ markets. Arriving at the nearest one, I was greeted with 5-6 stalls of crafts, sold by people who didn’t really look like they had made anything that they sold. There was no produce in sight, and, indeed, it turns out that there are no farmers involved in the “Columbia Falls Farmers Market”. A crotchety old man selling candy (which, granted, he may have actually made), grumpily answered my question as to the location of the other farmers market.
“I sure do hate to send people down there, it’s not a good place,” he said.
“Oh, why is that?”
“We set up shop there once, but I sure do hate to send people there. We couldn’t stay, people were wandering around with alcohol, drunk; it’s just not a good family environment. It’s held in the parking lot of a liquor store, see.”
“Right, it’s just that I’m trying to find dinner, not candy or scarves. Farmers markets, well, they generally have produce. Does the other farmers market have produce, at least?”
“Well now, I can’t speak to what they have. We used to have produce, see, but every time we get someone in they steal the vendor away.”
“OK, so they probably have produce. Where is it located?”
“Well now, I really hate to send people that way, we got into a huge fight with them, but it’s down the street at the liquor store.”
“OK, so I just continue straight?”
“Well, yeah, you can’t hardly miss it. But there’s alcohol, and drunk people.”
“OK, thanks. I’m going to go to the other farmers market now….”
Thankfully, the other farmers market actually did have farmers, as well as delicious food carts and live music. It also had drunk people, including a group of retired and ex-rangers who gave me advice on where to go in Glacier National park. Evening saved.