Friday morning we left Medora and the sublime beauty of the North Dakota Badlands en route to Butte, MT. The drive started out rather blandly as we entered "Big Sky Country" but became more compelling as we approached the city of Billings. Nicknamed the magic city because of its rapid growth following its founding in 1882, Billings is the largest city in the state of Montana.
Wide open ranch land gave way to the towering peaks of the rugged Rocky Mountains as we traveled further west. The van was put to its greatest test yet as we climbed high into the snow-capped peaks, and once again I was pleasantly surprised by the power and stamina of the hippie van. We passed many semi trucks lurching up the steep inclines but were easily overcome by passenger vehicles. I had to downshift a few times to maintain a respectable speed but good old Jerry kept his cool and we were soon gliding down the backside of these magnificent mountains.
One small regret: passing up the opportunity to visit Yellowstone National Park. However, it is a destination deserving of much more time and attention and I will someday plan a trip with this national treasure as the focus of my travels.
We reached our destination with only one minor incident – Jerry threw a hubcap somewhere along the way. He has taken on a slightly less attractive appearance as a result, but I can live with that. There is also a small leak in the rear passenger brake cylinder. I'll be keeping a close eye on that and checking the fluid level obsessively hoping it holds up until we reach Seattle where I can take the time to conduct the necessary repairs with help from my friend Jacob who flies in from Tennessee.
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| I see where the term "Big Sky" comes from. |
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| Scenery changing from flat plains to rocky hills. |
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| Distant snow-covered peaks. |
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| Interesting rock formations along the highway. |
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| Missing hubcap. |
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| There's fresh snow on the mountains this morning. |
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