Spending an afternoon on Bigfork's Electric Avenue
It is a typical August Tuesday afternoon on Bigfork’s Electric Avenue, somewhat warm, windless and slightly hazy from fires from the west. The usual summer afternoon car traffic is from all over including many from Montana, Alberta, Washington State, the Dakotas, and other states throughout the U. S. Cars drive slowly down the avenue waiting patiently for an open parking space.
I sit outside of an ice cream store on Electric Avenue patiently awaiting delivery of my strawberry smoothie. It is delivered by a young lady whose smile is an essence of Bigfork “friendly.” The village clock chimes 2 as I sip the smoothie and excitedly look forward to a great two hours of meeting and greeting new friends.
Most of Bigfork’s summer visitors are families or young couples. Some families include up to three generations and perhaps a pooch or two. The children are all strikingly beautiful! Everyone is smiling and looking for a local to answer a few questions. The questions usually include; ‘do you live here year round,’ ‘what are the winters like,’ ‘do you like it here?’ and, ‘where is the nearest bathroom?’
Many seem to be challenged by parallel parking cars on Electric avenue and emerge from their cars with embarrassed smiles. A few of the more successful parkers receive a congratulatory “great job.” However, many fail to navigate into the space or are about four feet from the curb. Apparently the high curbs frighten them.
Side walk “passer bys” are very plentiful and the chairs and benches are mostly full. Shops, restaurants and galleries are busy. Smiles are many and life is great! The visitors are anxious to share information about themselves and ask questions. The conversations are fun as new friendships are made.
A group of five young men sit nearby enjoying various colors of ice cream cones. They seem to be athletic and are happily sharing stories. I ask, are you gentlemen on an athletic team? They answer in a language I couldn’t understand and one pulls out a card that indicates they are members of the Mexican Olympic team from Mexico City and are touring the U.S. Nothing boring with these guys!
A family of six stops by next. They are from Germany and are taking several months to tour America. They laugh when I share with them my memories of my German grandmother teaching me three German phrases at a very early age.
Next to stop are a man, a child and a huge police dog.
Next, two middle-aged couples arrived, who were avid amateur skiers from Vail and Florida. They were researching new ski areas for the coming ski season. They were fun couples. The women really appreciated
Bigfork’s shopping.
Next, three middle aged women who were originally from Missoula but now lived separately in Oregon, Wyoming and Missoula, were returning to Bigfork to share Bigfork’s beauty and memories of long ago. They really had smiles. One leaned out of their car and waved farewell as they left to continue their voyage.
These are just a few of the stories encountered during a two hour visit on a summer afternoon on Electric Avenue in August.
— Jerry Murphy lives in downtown Bigfork