Up Over: 8/17/16 Reunited and it Feels So Good

Fickle to the core, I have come back to my first love.

A 55 degree drop in temperature woke us up at 48. At Mimi's, the ultimate (and only) breakfast spot in town, we were joined by the smell of smoke from the tired firefighters done with their shift. Lodging was difficult here last night because a fire on the mountain has been raging for weeks and the overworked forest service is staying in Thompson Falls.

As we left the restaurant, wood smoke wrapped us as we mounted and climbed into the haze. A natural occurrence in a dry Montana summer, we hadn't counted on forest fire as being one of our road hazards. The sun dimmed and at each curve I wondered when the flames would be our riding companions. Fortunately all we experienced was the smell and the decreased visibility.

Through the haziness we rose into the mountains, strong above the smoke. Feeling like I was back home in the American Rockies, I fell in love all over again with their rugged strength and beauty. Constant with us, they guided our way into the High Plains.

Hot, dry and hoping for rain, this terrain enchanted me. Every Western I have ever watched played out as we traveled on. We rode with chapped cowboys herding massive droves of cattle north, stage coach passengers sweating in their crinolines and string ties, outlaws capturing us from behind, and the ever present Blackfoot watching us warily from every cliff as we passed through their territory. How so much history ventured into this barren land is mystical. The richly irrigated ranches that dot the road attest to the magic of living here.

Sweaty and satisfied from our encounter with raw Montana, we checked into the C'mon Inn in Bozeman, soaked in one of their seven hot tubs, fed the koi and relived our day. It was another best one ever.

Thank you Rockies for not reading (or ignoring) my breakup letter 8/3. I was smitten by another, but I knew you'd always welcome me back. Your strength and mass overwhelms me every time. Your passes let us ride into you, not just along side. We become one with you on your switch backed inclines and you will always be our first love.

But remember, no matter what, two-timers that we are, Rascal, Jules and I will always love the one we're with.