![]() I blasted passed the Berkeley Pit, over the Continental Divide for the umpteenth time, through thunder showers in Bozeman, passed Livingston (without stopping so sorry, Josh and Jennie!), and through the most ironically named Montana town “Big Timber” which is in the grasslands of the plains and has about five trees all shorter than any of the houses in the area. It is brown and depressing in August, it is probably brown and depressing all winter, and it is brown and depressing at the height of spring. All of Montana is so lush and green except for Butte. Earlier when I stated that Montana was so lush and green, this is not true. I had another 600 miles of driving ahead of me so it was road time. The food was OK, at least they gave me real maple syrup, but the inside of their restaurant smelled like a potpourri of a thousand scented candles. Rather than name their breakfasts things like “French Toast” they will call it “Uncle Earl’s Morning Favorite” or something. For those of you left coast, latte-sipping, Volvo-driving, diploma-having, elites, let me paint a picture as to what Cracker Barrel is for you: It’s Pier 1 Imports for people with aesthetically questionable taste who also happen to like NASCAR… with a Denny’s inside. I woke early, made my way to the Cracker Barrel next door for breakfast because I had never been to one before. Montana does not share Washington State’s marijuana laws to be sure. Someone hot boxed the entire third floor (my floor) and about the time I was climbing into my rock-hard bed the police we raiding my neighbor’s room. This time of year the Rockies look like Seattle does most of the time! Leaves popping, grass growing as fast as it can…. Idaho and Montana were especially in the bloom of spring. I left Seattle under gray skies and the gray continued through to Montana, but it was warm. The last time I had been to my claim I was too excited finding stones to stop, take a breath, and then take the camera out of my pocket. Let’s just say that I had to take some pictures of opals for a PowerPoint presentation I have to give to some very important people, and I didn’t have any good photographs. The reason for the trip is still a little top secret at the moment. Not too shabby to do 2,500 miles of driving, a 6 mile hike… and almost being lost forever on the top of a ridge surrounded by snow hours from anywhere… all in less than five days! I left Friday morning, April 22nd, from Seattle and returned Tuesday afternoon. A pretty close to last minute super drive to Wyoming and back was an adventure to be sure. ![]()
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