Road Trip 2009: Idaho into Montana

Today was a nice early start and we zigged and zagged our way north and south around mountains and part of the Selkirk International Loop.

I noticed a variety of scenic and historic byways; some well marked, some not so well marked, overlapping and very confusing. We were on the Great Northern Route and also found ourselves on the Panhandle Scenic Byway, the Wild Horse Scenic Byway and the Historic River Road at times.

Again a lot of wildlife; deer, eagles and many Osprey nests including the one above.

Below: Abby and Montana River Rock. I see it at the garden shops and rock places but it always looks a little fake. We stopped to give Abby a run and ended up on the banks of this river with colored Montana River Rock as far as we could see. I kept picking up some to take home and then realizing how far we would have to carry it. I ended up with one large rock that will go in my new garden area.



Look at the colors!

After we left the Glacier National Park area and kept moving east the terrain really started to change dramatically and stretch out in front of us.
We're in Shelby, Montana tonight at a Comfort Inn. Not exciting but they allow dogs, have wifi and it is close to places for dinner and a grocery store for tomorrow.

I am noticing the biggest difference between Interstates and the two lane highways we're taking on this trip is the way the scenery changes. Interstates cut wide swaths through the landscape and are generally fairly straight. The scenery rolls past. On this trip, covering a long distance on two lane roads we wind in and through the scenery and it doesn't change as fast, it repeats and we feel closer to everything around us. We travel through towns and are tempted by sideroads. This is not the way to make time but I am loving the comfortable pace.