Summer Dream 2006

Arrived at White Sulphur Springs, MT as planned, but that's a story. A perfect day and the beer REALLY tasted good.

Dawn came early and no elements of civilization were awake to provide coffee. So an hour up the road, the first of today’s fragrances; coffee at a small roadside café in Orofino, Id. Me and lil’ Joe stopped to charge our batteries. Lil’ Joe? He’s my riding buddy. A little Hog Ape that hangs out on the back deck, arms draped akimbo like he hasn’t a care in the world. A s**t eatin’ grin on his face, probably like me.

And the story is “It’s not the destination but the Journey”. I didn’t fret much about this trip before I left, but when I did it was about the great distance. And Day 1 was too many calculations. How far to X? What time arrival in Y? Will I make Z in time for cocktailsJ. Today was so different. I know it started this morning as I entered Paradise. That’s highway 12 through the Northern Idaho mountains. It was more, way more than I had expected.

It became immediately apparent that this part of the trip was not to be rushed, for two reasons. Second was the twisty road that could send you over the side in a lapse of attention. First was the outstanding beauty. The rushing river and mountain air made you gulp lungfuls, get your share before it’s gone. So crisp and clean and invigorating. And the highway was a narrow ribbon of asphalt barely two dozen feet wide, clinging precariously in places to the cliff sides, punctuated sporadically by small islands of humanity.

The climb to Lolo Pass was long but spectacular, every bit of the way. The summit saw the transformation from a raging river and blue spruce and hemlock to a meandering creek and pines on the Eastern slopes. From cliffs to cruising lazily through alpine meadows. The whole ascent was a child’s coloring book of enormous proportions. And I carefully guided blue crayon, meticulously staying inside the lines. There was no room for error. A glance aside now and then at the rushing river, at a cliff, but ever vigilant to the natural traps waiting; rocks and deer. None were to be seen today.

Descent from the mountains led to the "Big Sky Country". Many faces of Montana. through forested Missoula, hilly Helena and out onto the praries. It's really big sky because the horizon is forever in every direction. And the sky is enormous, more than anywhere else on earth. The clouds , famous of this country, were small today. Perhaps tomorrow the towering cumulus, thunderheads. I love Montana. To face this immense prairie is a bit of a challenge, but then, that's live, facing challenges.

Fragrances of the day; coffee of course. And western red cedar passing on a log truck in the Idaho mountains. The crisp smell, more a feel, of the air above and near the canyon river. And later in the day over the top and into cowboy country, the faint but unmistakable signature of large cattle ranches dotting the Montana landscape. And with deeper penetration into the Montana plains, the afternoon heat smell of prairie grass.

Tomorrow, less clothing and more bare arms. The whole state of Montana lies waiting.

And thanks for the comments. Someone is actually reading this stuff:)