Always Ready for a Roadtrip

One day last week, Dan was on the computer in the office while I was fixing lunch in the kitchen. He called out to me, "I know you're always up for a roadtrip..." I immediately responded, "Book it!" I really didn't care where we went. It has just been too long since we have spent a night away from home. 

The Soldier's Chapel in Big Sky

Therefore, Friday morning found us headed west under sunny skies. We really had no itinerary except for a room reservation in West Yellowstone. I especially enjoyed the drive from Bozeman to West Yellowstone, after we left the interstate behind. The snow-covered mountains were beautiful in the bright afternoon sun. 



Upon arriving in West Yellowstone, we checked into our room, but there was too much daylight left to stay indoors! We decided to explore the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center. There wasn't a lot of time left before the center closed, but we walked around some and, of course, took some pictures. 


By now we were getting hungry. Several people had recommended the Madison Crossings, so we came back into town to the early 1900's school building in which the restaurant is housed. Fortunately, there is also a large gift shop and gallery, because when we arrived, we found out that the restaurant didn't open until 5 ~ nearly another full hour! Eventually, we were seated, served, and satisfied. After dinner, we took a quick drive into Idaho, hoping for a sunset. The mountain tops were absolutely luminous! But, as luck would have it, any place where we could get off the road to take pictures, we couldn't see the mountains through the trees. We called it a night and retreated to the motel. 

Since the admission to the G&WDC is good for two days, we returned after breakfast Saturday morning. As we arrived, the wolves were singing quite the welcoming chorus. After a while, we had had our fill of captive wildlife and went in search of another cup of coffee. Back on the road, we set our sites on the Hebgen Lake Visitor's Center. Also known as Quake Lake, it is built on the site of a 1950's earthquake and landslide. The visitor's center was closed, but it was still a pretty drive over to Ennis. We stopped to photograph the mountains, a pair of bald eagles, and an old homestead. 

Not a great picture, as they were quite a ways from the road.
But, we so rarely see more than one eagle in the same spot
that I had to try. 

We came back to the interstate at Three Forks and stopped for dinner in Bozeman. The pass was pretty well socked in, and I was afraid that we might run into snow. But by the time we finished dinner, the clouds had nearly cleared. In fact, "our" side of the mountain was mostly sunny again.

And thus we close the book on another weekend. But it was SO good to be back outside! 

Shortly after we moved to Montana, I read an account of the Hebgen Lake Earthquake.
The title of the book was "The Night the Mountain Fell."
Well, this is the mountain that remains. 

This might be Dan's favorite wolf photo.
To me, it is the stuff of nightmares!