Under The Big Sky: Part 1

You’ll notice that I refer to this being Part 1 of an undetermined number of posts regarding our recent trip to Montana. There’s just too much to cover in one single post!

To start off with, I present a photo journal of the first leg of our journey. I was really excited about this trip…Rowan and I went out last year, by ourselves, which was a little bit of a nightmare. So many moments on this trip had me thanking my lucky stars that Donovan was along this time. He’d never been to Montana before and I couldn’t wait to show off my “country” roots.

The trip is a fur piece, about 600 miles and what with stops for food, stretchin’, poopy butts, and other whoo-haw, takes about 12 hours. If you’d like to check out the route, click here for a gander.

Heading out...

We got a later start than we had hoped for…of course. 4:00 am comes real early and hits like a freight train. We’re supposed to be on vacation for christ’s sake! Easier to let the clock slide on down to 5 and call it good.

This Jetta wouldn't go fast and kept pissing Donovan off.

I’ll admit it, I have a hard time being a passenger. There have been multiple “discussions” about my reactions to Donovan’s driving — which is good driving, it is! Just….fast. And sometimes aggressive. I try really hard to pass off a gasp like I’m just choking, or to put foundation on my hands so you can’t see the white knuckles…This trip was yet another learning experience for both of us.

Sleepy baby!

Lookin like one damn fine Montana man...

This is the Clark Fork River, …perfect photo op stop. Not just for us — a carload of college guys pulled up just behind us to take advantage of the ideal posing stump. As one of the guys stripped off his shirt, another dude was like, “Take off yer shirt dude!” And another dude was all “Yeah, look all hot and sexy!” Dude in question stated “Now I’m embarrassed” and promptly reinserted himself into said shirt. Too bad.

The Clark Fork river....frickin

We got to travel along this piece of scenerific gorgeousity for most of the last leg of the journey. There’s just something about being near water that makes everything okay.

I have to brag for just a minute about how awesome my little girl was on this long, hot drive. She was so freakin’ good! When she wasn’t sleeping or eating, she was quietly looking at books, singing to her toys, or pointing out the window calling everything she could see a “cow”. Thankfully, she ceased the misguided bovine categorization when we were in populated areas such as rest stops.

St. Regis -- traditional stop, shop and gas up spot...

Now this place…you kind of almost have to see it for yourself. You drive up and the country music is just blaring from craftily hidden speakers. It’s like St. Regis has its own soundtrack. There’s people all over the place (I made them all get out of the way for the picture) — getting gas, going pee, chasing little Tommy and not-so-little Suzie as they attempt to run across the road to Dairy Queen (Git back here, boy…I’m gonna skin ya!) Okay, not really, but almost…

They don't call it Big Sky Country for nothing!

First look at Flathead Lake!

Coming down over the hill, getting that first look at the lake never gets old for me. I’ve made that drive possibly 50 times, and never does that thrill get any less. There’s such a sense of anticipation, and on this occasion, having Donovan along for the first time, it was all the more intense, .

Almost there...just need a little "refreshment". Where better to stop than Del's Bar in beautiful downtown Somers, MT.?

So, yeah. We totally stopped 10 miles out of town for a shot and a stretch. Well, I had a shot. Just walked right in, asked for a shot of Maker’s Mark with a soda back…slammed that sucker and was back out in the sunshine in under a minute. I shit you not.

*****

We’ll be cuttin’ it off there for now…Part 2, should you feel like tuning in again, will include stunning views from the top of Logan Pass, mountain goats and bighorn sheep, and adventures in getting stranded in Glacier National Park.