peaceful world

Helloooo, Rockies.

11:40 am MDT

{Departed Billings: 6:38 am MDT}

Mileage: 1080 mi (682 to go)

Ok really, who were we kidding, thinking the drive yesterday was gorgeous? Hellooo Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone National Park, and lots (as in 6 feet) of snow. Our disappointment about not being able to see Lookout Pass and Coeur d'Alene (and only driving 8 vs. 12 hours) dissipated quickly as soon as we saw what our drive through southwest Montana and southern Idaho had in store. Just beautiful. Driving in a valley adjacent to the Gallatin River weaving between mountains and surrounded by snow-covered trees, brave fly fisherman and abundant sunshine, it was marvelous. The 40+ mph winds weren't quite as pleasant, but Clay is a champ and has rocked the whole drive so far (we weren't sure how well my shoulder would handle a white knuckle grip on the wheel).

Having just left Yellowstone and it's massive snow drifts behind, we are now in the largest producing seed potato area of southeast Idaho en route to Boise. I should note that we entered Wyoming for approximately 5 miles, upping what will be our final state count (barring any further weather detours) to 7: MN, ND, MT, WY, ID, OR, and WA. This part of Idaho looks like we haven't left MN-- until we look off into the distance either east or west and see snow-covered mountains. After having been 42 degrees in Billings and 37 degrees when we stopped in West Yellowstone, it's back up to 60 degrees. 

West Yellowstone

Favorite town/city so far: Bozeman, MT. (If I had to live somewhere in between MN and the West Coast, it would be there-- cute and cabiny.)

Favorite Spotify album today: Now That's What I Call Music 6. (I'm guessing Clay's is now playing-- Springsteen's Greatest Hits. BORN IN THE USA.)

Favorite river: Yellowstone River. We've crossed it at least 12 times over the past 2 days, and I'm still trying to figure out how that's possible.

Favorite lyrics so far: Come on baby, take a ride with me // I'm up from Montana down to Boise // Everything is as cool as can be // In a peaceful world. -- Mellencamp, "Peaceful World" (Ok fine, I tweaked it. Still works.) Bruce's "Badlands" lyrics take a close second. 

Favorite animals: Antelope. Saw a whole farm of 'em-- too cool. 

Favorite iPhone app: Though Road Ninja has the best name, Road Trip Weather takes the cake. Enter your route, and it gives you the forecast for any spot along the way for the time it expects you'll be there. Perfect. 

Ok, we're almost to Idaho Falls, so time for me to drive...

--A

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6:14 pm MDT

Mileage: 1431 mi

So I've admittedly struggled to hold up my end of the blog since thrilling you all with my first post yesterday. And for that, I apologize. Driving 80 mph turns out to be a bit of a mental grind. For that matter, riding at 80 mph is even a little grinding. Ok fine, I'm a baby.

But anyways. Really not that much has happened since Anna's post. The drive has gotten pretty boring again since leaving the mountains of Montana and Northern Idaho. I know Anna touched on it, but it can't be overstated how gorgeous that was. That being said, there were some disappointments along that portion of the drive. Por ejemplo: There was a sign for a "Big horn sheep" crossing!!!! And the light above it? FLASHING. My first thought - "Sheeps can push the 'walk' button?" My second thought "I want to meet this sheep." Third thought (ten minutes later) "Well. That sucked."

Alas, there were no sheep. Nor many of the other animals we were warned to watch for. Disappointing. But, the two fly fishers we saw in the snow surrounded river running down the side of a mountain at least partly made up for it. So cool.

Anyways, since not much else has happened, I figured I would update you with a few other random thoughts from the drive (you know, because it's not like all of this is random enough)

Thought one - The falling rocks signs. First of all. Don't show a rock falling on top of my car. That scares me. And secondly, really?? What am I going to do about a rock falling on top of my car? Swerve into the other side of the cliff?  Outrun it? Maybe we should just pretend like the falling rock thing isn't gonna happen, and if it does I take my medicine.

Second, another sign issue. Don't have a sign that warns me of deer crossing for the next 12 miles, than have a sign 13 miles from there that says deer crossing for the next 12 miles! I mean come on, let's conserve some signs and say deer crossing for the next 25 miles. And if deer happen not to cross in the middle mile of those 25? I think I'll survive. Orrrr maybe. Just maybe, let's just assume that when I'm driving through North Dakota and Montana that I will probably already be on the lookout for deer? I mean, can I get a little credit here?

And lastly, from yesterday: The last exit in North Dakota is titled "Beach". Best. Practical. Joke. Ever.

(And Joanne wondered how I was going to find stuff to write about)

Well, since Anna won't allow me to post all of the ridiculously funny things she has said (both intentional and unintentional), I think that's all for now. 

Ps: Just under four hours til Richland and my little house (Babysitter's club reference!). We'll talk to y'all from there.

Clay

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8:54 pm PDT

Mileage: 1707 mi

Helloooo, Washington! After traversing the (now paved) Oregon Trail and battling 20 miles worth of flurries, Clay and I pulled into Richland, in south central WA in the heart of wine country. After nearly 15 hours on the road today, we reached our destination for two nights, his dad's house, located at the foot of Badger Mountain. I sure don't blame you, Kim, for being antsy to move here, considering how gorgeous your house is. The views, the kitchen, the high ceilings, the decor... I'm not leaving. Now, with nothing to do except blog, sip Coronas, and catch up on March Madness games as we wait for our pizza to cook in the oven that looks more complicated than Ben's physics PhD coursework, we relax. 

Snowy Oregon

In other news: I was offered my third sports residency interview, in sweet home Minnesota. WOO! 

Tomorrow, we sleep in, climb Badger Mountain, sip wine, and take Richland by storm. Saturday morning, we head to Seattle, our second destination, with Brad.  

Thanks for tuning in! Until tomorrow...

--A