Saturday in Bozeman

It's cool and hazy here, thanks to a big fire just across the border in Canada.  The smoke has blown across the entire state all the way down here.  The sky is a sickly beige color; no Big Sky blue yet today. 

The drive from Walla Walla to Missoula is full of treats for the eye.  The first part is more high plains, with wheat fields, huge cattle ranges, and a flat terrain.  But soon that gives way to beautiful green conifer forests that go on as far as the eye can see.

These forests are very healthy and dense.  No sickly, skinny brown trunks, no dry underbrush.  The grass along the freeway is green and lush with wildflowers galore and some flowering trees as well.  The conifers are dotted with shimmering aspens; it must be quite a sight in the fall.  Soon on our right we could see Lake Coeur d'Alene.

 

It's located in the  Idaho Panhandle, with its northern end located in the city of the same name. It spans 25 miles long, ranges from 1 to 3 miles wide and has over 109 miles of shoreline.  (I'm not making this up; Wiki told me!)

Just after this we stopped at a Rest Stop and when I opened the car door the smell of pine and balsam was so delightful and fresh.  I have to find some candles of that scent to take home.

On to Missouia, home of the University of Montana, about 2,000 pizza restaurants, nice old houses and a small downtown.  We had a yummy meal at a Chinese restaurant and went to bed tired but well fed.

Up and on to Bozeman by way of Dillon and the Patagonia outlet.  I decided not to hand over any of my cash for a new vest as I had pretty much shot my WAM on the insulin.  But we did stop at the Taco Bus for lunch.  Two tacos de lengua for me, an enchilada and a tamale for Mr. C.  Then it was on to Bozeman.

We arrived to a most enthusiastic welcome by the Granddogs who were hysterical with delight that someone had joined their daily housebound solitude.  But it didn't last long.  Pretty soon they returned to their separate favorite napping spots and we got on with the business of moving in.

G'dog Zeke

G-dog Huck

One last note from our trip to Walla Walla.  While we were there, Alex took us to see the new Dale Chihuly chandelier that was being installed in Reid Hall.  The piece was a gift from an alum.

 All these boxes are numbered and lettered to match a master list for installation

Not a good photo but you can see the outline of the design

Here it is, almost finished and lit so you can see the glorious colors.