We left Glacier National Park and travelled a hundred miles south to Interstate 90, then headed east for 200 miles. We were still in Montana, and would be for another week. The posted speed limit was 80 mph, trucks 70. In the high mountain passes, trucks were limited to 25 mph, with no required reduction in speed for cars. Hmmmmm. Ron noticed an inordinate number of small white wooden crosses along the berm, but I am sure there is no connection.
The Carl Jr's were once again Hardy's, a sign we were heading toward home. Forever on the lookout, Ron notes he hasn't seen a Bojangles since Nashville. The landscape was golf-course green in the hollows in the north, but became a dull brown as we head south, not dry, just dormant, waiting for spring.
We crossed the Western Continental Divide. At 6,973 feet in elevation, I was no longer surprised by the snow flurries. The signs along the highway however were surprising, if not entertaining: "Moose Crossing"; "Finally, Billings Zoo got its Sloth"; and Ron's favorite, an invitation to the "Testicle Festival" on Saturday. A rodeo perhaps? We still have no idea.
The weather too was surprising. As we left Interstate 90 just before Bozeman, heading south again, storms appeared on the far-off horizon, and isolated tremendous weather events unleashed before our eyes. At one point, it was snowing to the left, sunny on the right, and there was a vicious rain storm only miles in front of us.
We had booked a place in Big Sky Montana for a week, to use as a base camp while we explored Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and anything else that looked interesting.
Ron has always wanted to vacation in a ski town in summer. He will not be able to tick that wish off his bucket list just yet. It is far from summer here. I would argue that it is far from spring! When we arrived at our condo, the parking lot was empty, and the steps and grounds were all under snow. It must have just snowed in the last day or so, as there were fresh animal tracks that ran right along the rear of the building to the creek behind us. We drug our stuff up three flights, shook the snow from our boots, and remembered we are long overdue for a ski trip!
The resort closed three weeks ago, and the entire village and surrounding areas are all boarded up until "summer", whenever that might be. We were glad for the emergency cans of chili and box of crackers we carry in the trunk. Hopefully, we will find an open grocery store in West Yellowstone when we go exploring tomorrow.
Car Talk
Distance: 402 miles
Driving Time: 6 hours, 48 minutes
Mileage: 29.7 mpg
Average Speed: 59 mph
Trip Total: 6,421.5
Gas price update:
Range - $2.59/gallon premium unleaded, Costco Winston-Salem (low) to
$4.96/gallon Los Angeles (high).
Octane Range: varies by state, low 90 to high 93.
No gas shortage in Montana!
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