008 More driving across country

September 30, 2008 – Tuesday – (1 Week)

Augusta, MT

After biking around Yellowstone for a couple of days, we had to move on.  I could have spent another week there, I’m sure, and not have seen everything.  But, between this trip and the last one when I was there, I am gradually combing the park and its features.  We broke down camp and headed out around 9am, going out the West Yellowstone entrance.  A couple of buffalo had to get in the lane of traffic as we drove, so we got slightly delayed here and there, but it was a gorgeous day and a very enjoyable drive.

The next stop on my list was Missoula, MT but considering how much time I’m off already, I had to skip over it and go straight to Glacier.  Tonight, we found a room in a motel in Augusta, MT.  Taking the road less traveled is usually more of an adventure and this time is no exception.  Instead of just taking I-15 to Great Falls, we took the smaller 287.  It was gorgeous and mountainous.  We got a little nervous about finding a hotel at one point because the towns were so small.  In Augusta, however, we saw the wonderful sign, “Motel” and stopped by.  It did say open, but there was nobody there; if I hadn’t looked closely enough, I wouldn’t have noticed the sign that said, “If nobody is here, call [insert phone number]”.  So, we used the pay phone (no phone signal here) and called the number where a woman said, “Be right down!”  We got a room and jumped at the chance to shower.  

I washed everything twice.  As we were getting moved into our room, a couple of people showed up and got a room two down from ours (Bridgette & Jake).  Bridgette & Jake said that they had been living in a camper without any water, heat or electricity for a while; and that at night it got into the low 20’s in the area.  They were quite happy to have a shower & soft bed for the night as we were.  We chatted with them for a bit, they had been working construction in the area so they needed the showers worse than we did.  I had thought about going down to have a drink with them when they went to the bar, but I also just wanted to chill and write and go through photos after showering.  So, I flipped a coin; heads I go out, tails I stay in.  Tails came up, so I’m comfortable, clean and in.

It was great waking up to the sound of horses in the fields right outside, and the mountains so close by.  Today was mostly just driving through beautiful countryside, so enjoy the photos that I have from that.  Tomorrow, we head into Glacier but I don’t think that we’re going to do any camping since they’re already closing lots of roads due to snow.  I’m so excited, though, to see a new part of the country!

Now I have to eat up some more dinner and copy some more photos from cameras while I settle down and we put a movie in before falling asleep…  Until tomorrow!