Dawn at the Rails Inn in Forsyth, Montana
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At a rest area in central Montana, I notice this sign next to a well-worn non-sidewalk to a picnic shelter. Doesn't seem to rattle many people.
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We decided to take the business loop through Billings to find espresso. I spotted the sign as Karen drove. She didn't see it, but parked on my say so.
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The Starbucks was at the downtown Billings Crown Plaza. I glanced through the lobby door, and wondered, Exactly What are they Loading?
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My eye liked this. "Downtown Billings Starts Here".
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This is the second trip we've taken right past Yellowstone without trying to stop in. Sure, we'd been there \(http://www.danklarmann.com/Sep2001/journal.htm\), but it is hard to just pass it by.
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We had to stop for gas in Livingston, MT, "The Gateway to Yellowstone".But guess what part of this signage caught my eye? Not so much the defunct Way Out West. Look lower.Karen walked through the caffeine kiosk drive-through as I pumped gas.
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One of the memorable parts of the day was our short hop up Montana State Road 69. It was being maintained. This shot shows an evocative scene from that 20 minute two mile interruption. The dog seemed content.I drove while Karen snapped shots.
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Yes, we finally got off the dirt and onto the gravel portion of under-construction Montana sixty-nine. Not much better.
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So this is what a State Capitol should look like IMHO. North Dakota's box just doesn't say "Capitol" to me like this edifice in Helena.
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I like classical architecture in a well groomed setting.
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The Capitol Dome in Helena has flair.
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I like shiny floors and bright and patterned light.
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A better look at the skylight in the wings of the State Capitol in Helena, Montana
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A view out of a wing on the Capitol Building, showing the state flag
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I can't quite see myself in a Senate Chamber. Or can I?
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Graffiti is not limited to inner cities, as this scenic overlook attests.
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Yes, we are in the mountains. But the valleys are only around 4,000 feet
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So we stayed in outer Missoula, MT at the Ponderosa Lodge. We didn't get to the nice parts of town, as we were just trying to make miles, and the prices are better near the messy junction of I-90, US-12 and US-93
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We walked to dinner from the Ponderosa. Here is a sign by the river...
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And here is the restaurant across the river. Yes, across/over/above the river.But it was closed for maintenance :-(
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So we took a River Wok. The Cantonese owner had cobbled together a menu of pan-Asian cuisine. I asked about it, and he said that he only cooks what he likes to eat. We did, too.
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The Ponderosa has a little charm, inside its 1960's cinder block walls. AAA dings them for not having drywall, like all those noisy and flimsy newer buildings. I like the solid, soundproof feel of this place. Nice and private.
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Here's the progress so far. Note the jog to get to Helena. Had we decided earlier to go there, we probably would have taken US-12 from Forsyth instead of I-94/90.
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