First lift ride up the mountain

Montana - Bridger range

Jay and I took a drive around the area last night after my plane landed.

This is my first look at the Bridger range.
Today we will be skiing at Bridger Bowl somewhere in these mountains.


Great sunset - looks like fire on the mountain.
Today it will be sunny and 40 degrees as opposed to -21 (air temp) in
Minneapolis. I told the people on the airport shuttle yesterday that I was
going someplace warm. They were going to Mexico - I think this is way better.

Last night we had dinner with Lisa and Greg in Livingston
at the Rib and Chop House.
After that is a blur.

Bozeman - a warm, winter vacation

I found this map of ski spots around Montana. We will be skiing at Bridger Bowl and Moonlight Basin - don't think we will make it to Big Sky, but we'll see how the week goes and how my legs hold out. More pictures to come - stay tuned! The weather is 35-40 degrees in Bozeman with sunshine and lots of fresh snow. I'm told the ski conditions are perfect. I'll let the pictures tell the story.

Back to Minnesota

It's a long road going east on I-94 from Montana to Minnesota. I drove just over 1000 miles in 15 hours. My stops were only for gasoline and long enough to fill up. I had XM radio and a sunroof in my rental that kept me entertained. My first cup of coffee was in Alexandria, MN just 200 miles from home. I knew the last few hours would be the hardest so I waited all day for an iced, cold-press coffee from Caribou. Not too many places in North Dakota for a good cup of coffee anyway.



I took the picture of my dashboard when my trip indicator went to 555 - a little over half way. You start to do weird things to stay occupied on a long trip all alone. I am especially grateful for windshield wipers, air-conditioning, the cd player, my cell phone and talk radio. Would I make a drive like this again? Well...not anytime soon, but like childbirth I will forget the pain.

Journey to Bozeman - lasting impressions

The cattle roam the gravel road... One day one of these cows even ran along side our car seemingly racing us! Yet, for the most part they seem less interested in us then we are in them.

Main Street in Bozeman - coffee shops, antique stores, book stores, hunting/fishing speciality shops all together in a small-town, friendly, quiet atmosphere.

The white horse spins slowly on Bozeman Street...

Journey to Bozeman - Home!

Home at last...
A little mother-in-law quarters? Hmmm.... maybe not.
eggs but no chickens (thank god) in the chicken coop
serene, peaceful...
a taste of raspberries right off the vine...

Home

Journey to Bozeman - almost home!

The trailers, trucks, dogs and drivers made it 1600 miles...
We follow behind as the caboose of this gypsy caravan....
Eckert and Son turn off the highway and head for home. It's about 10 minutes up this gravel road, over the railroad tracks and past grazing cows.

Journey to Bozeman - KOA

Sunday, August 6, 2006 - We arrive at the KOA and begin setting up camp. We have two little cabins just outside of Livingstone, MT near Bozeman. We are surrounded by mountains and the Yellowstone River runs just beyond our cabins.

Buster and the Budweiser sign is the indication that you are nearing the 'boy' cabin.

Greg is pondering life and their homeless status...

We don't have pillows, we don't have blankets...but we have an electrical outlet that traveled 1600 miles. Just one of the many interesting items we have with us here at the KOA.

A Budweiser sign??!?

Buster and Sable play in the Yellowstone River.

Time for a little rest and play for the humans too!

A beautiful Montana setting...

father and son look over the catch of the day...

A glimpse into the 'girl' cabin as we "try" to settle in for the night... A bit of dancing...

a little singing...

a little dancing and singing from the top bunk. We find a song to fit nearly every emotion and situation we have encountered on this trip. Music keeps us sane!

Well maybe not sane.... it's hard to get comfortable on a thin, little plastic mattress near the ceiling. It may be a long night.


The 'girl' cabin is a cute little log cabin with bunk beds, ginham curtains and a ceiling fan. It's off-limits to boys and dogs!

Journey to Bozeman

This picture journal begins on Saturday, August 5, 2006 - yet that isn't where the 'Journey to Bozeman' story begins. That story is not mine to tell. My story begins with Lisa's arrival Friday night and our departure from Red Wing at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday. We made our way to I-94 and began going west for the next two days.

Interesting landscape across North Dakota.
We had many hours of singing and witty repartee so we took the time to stop for a variety of road side attractions. The big steer up on the hill caught our eye!!

Another road side attraction, but one not worthy of stopping for (it's no big steer) but fun all the same!
Theodore Roosevelt National Forest - Painted Canyon - beautiful place near the Montana and North Dakota border. This picture does not do it justice - would be a great place to spend a few days on your way to visit the family in Bozeman.