Day 7 - June 5, 2018, Seattle, WA

Day 7 - June 5, 2018

Spokane, WA – Seattle, WA        

315 miles/4 hours

Our drive was pretty uneventful today. We left Spokane in the late morning (we were all guilty of sleeping in). The drive to Seattle was only four hours and all interstate. About halfway into our drive we came upon a huge gorge, which the Columbia River flows through. There was a look-out point, so we pulled over. The water was so blue, it was hard to believe it was a river. I don’t know, it was all kind of an anomaly for me, as it was in the middle of nowhere.

Just reread that paragraph……boring, but that’s all I got!

We’re staying in Bellevue with our friends, the Chamblins. A little back story: I’ve know Alex and Michelle longer than Rich. Alex and I worked together at the Ritz Carlton in Naples and lived in the same apartment building. I dated his best friend, and then Michele arrived on the scene. She started dating Alex, and the rest is history. I lost touch with them after they were married. Seven years later, when I first moved to Atlanta, I discovered that they were also living in the city. I got married, they moved to Charleston and Phoenix, and Rich and I moved to Baltimore. Years go by and we all end up back in Atlanta, living ten miles apart. We became a family and spent all our holidays together. Then they broke my heart and moved to Seattle.

After a long week of travel, it was like arriving home. Michele ushered me to the back porch and gave me a glass of wine. Music was playing, the fire pit was blazing, and Alex was working the grill. Bear made himself at home on Auntie Shell’s computer. Alex and Michele’s daughter, Haley, took Hunter, Audrey and Cammy for a spin in her jeep. Dinner was fantastic, and we went to bed super early. Tomorrow is an early rise!

Day 6 - June 4, 2018, Spokane, WA

Day 6 - June 4, 2018

Whitefish, MT – Glacier National Park – Spokane, WA    

315 miles/5 hours.

Today was one of those days when we had to be very flexible and go with the flow. Also, we were very lucky that our hosts at the Kandahar Lodge were willing to be flexible with us, because we shook things up. In reviewing my itinerary, map, and time table, I decided that there was a strong possibility that we may need to adjust our schedule. Unfortunately, the long winter worked in our favor. Let me explain…

Glacier National Park has LONG been on my bucket list. I was so excited to visit. I should have taken the very overcast (and chilly) day as an omen. The park is only about 30 minutes away from where we were staying, and an easy drive. However, upon arrival we discovered that the park is undergoing some serious road construction. We kept getting rerouted and my NPS map wasn't any help. We eventually found our way Lake MacDonald and it was super pretty. Even though the skies were gray, we could sometimes see how aquamarine the water would be in full sunshine. The rocks in the lake were all different colors too, which was cool. Guys – that was kind of the highlight. After we left the lake, we soon encountered “Road Closed” signs. Turns out they were still plowing the roads! The park ranger told me that the snow was 13-16 feet deep in many areas of the park. We could get out and hike the road, but it was all uphill to Logan's Pass and we were really not prepared for a snowy mountain hike. UGH. A planning fail on my part.

But we did receive one sweet gift. On our way out of the park we ran into three bears! I was very grateful we were in the car, because I didn’t splurge on Bear Spray. My pictures aren’t that great, because I was shocked, By the time I grabbed my phone they were headed back into the woods.

So, our change in plans is that we didn’t go back to Whitefish and instead hit the road to Seattle, to make tomorrow’s drive a lot easier. We ended up spending the night in Spokane,WA, at a swanky Marriott that was able to accommodate us at the last minute for minimal $$$. We even scored a corner room and I got in a long workout (I know, who cares).

Day 5 - June 3, 2018, Whitefish, MT

Day 5, June 3, 2018

Bozeman, MT – Helena, MT – Whitefish, MT

320 miles/6hours.

Have you ever tried Kombucha tea? I bought some last night, because I just read a book that touted the benefits and I figured I’d have it for breakfast. Well, this morning I did. Lord have mercy it was the worst thing I've ever tasted – it tasted like a$$. Yet me, the ever-believing-what-some-author-will-tell-me-to-improve-my-health-and-lengthen-my-life-person, I kept drinking it. The kids didn’t believe me that it could be that bad. Oh really? Well, I’ll pay you $20 to try it – and you have to swallow a healthy sip. Hunter, ever the money-monger was up for the challenge. Oh, I wish I’d had a video. He did it, but he did not like it. He had a mild melt down. “Why’d you make me do that???” Um, make you? Audrey, never wanting to be overshadowed by her brother, wanted her chance at $20. She was practically crying before it even touched her lips. She plugged her nose and after a full minute of getting up her nerve, went in for a sip. She gagged and spit it out. No money for her. Oh, I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. It was so funny!!! Good times😊.

Still in love with Montana. Today we traveled to Whitefish, MT, with stops in Helena and Missoula. Helena is a cute town, but based on the hour or so we spent there (mostly touring the capitol), I don’t think it’s anywhere I want to live. Most of you know, in our quest of visiting all 50 states, we also have to see each capitol. With the exception of a handful, most capitol buildings are similar. The biggest difference, in my opinion, is the access. Montana’s capital had open doors and no security. In fact, with the exception of someone at the information desk, we were the only people in the building. The murals in the rotunda are beautiful. The Supreme Court and the Senate are tiny! We stopped in Missoula for lunch, which is another college town (Univ of Montana). Fun little downtown area and another bookstore (although not much to brag about - rude clerk). 

Then it was on to Whitefish. The drive was stunning, and wow-factor of Flathead Lake rivaled that of Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park. Unfortunately, my pictures don't do it justice. Whitefish is a cute little resort town. Our hotel is at the top of Big Mountain, and my ears popped on the way up. We’re staying in a true ski lodge. Very cool – except there’s no elevator. Uh-oh, we don’t travel light and the kiddos were not happy!

Great dinner down the mountain at a country club of all places. I’m super excited for tomorrow – Glacier National Park.

Flathead Lake

See? We don't travel light...

Day 4 - Bozeman, MT, June 2, 2018

Day 4, June 2, 2018

Deadwood, SD – Bozeman, MT  

484 miles/6 ½ hours.

I’ve renewed my love affair with Wyoming!!!!!! Ah, and Montana. As soon as I crossed the border into Wyoming from South Dakota, I felt it in my bones! Early into Wyoming, I reached the top of a huge hill and saw the snow-covered Rockies, and I swear, my heart beat faster. The four-and-a-half-hour drive from Deadwood to Billings was stunning. Each and every mile took my breath away! The drive from Billings to Bozeman was beautiful, as well.

I scheduled Bozeman again on this year’s itinerary because I love this town. It’s the home of Montana State University and it has the most adorable downtown area. Good restaurants, eclectic shops – and TWO bookstores on Main Street. How cool is that?

We’re staying at a SpringHill suites and it’s the nicest SpringHill I’ve ever stayed. It has a bar (!) that serves Mer Soleil by the glass. Momma was happy. We strolled Main Street, I bought some cute charms, and a book (High Season by Judy Blundel). We had a fantastic dinner at a restaurant called Open Range, which could have only been decorated by Joanna Gaines. I must say, I was feeling quite at home in Bozeman.

Lest you think it was a perfect day. Frick and Frack got into a huge fight as we passed through Billings. The fur was literally flying in the back seat and I was rendered speechless. It was so bad, I didn’t dare get involved, and was afraid to let go of the wheel. As I glanced in my review mirror, I saw Barrett eating French fries, staring at his siblings as if it was a tennis match. His head moved back and forth as insults, fists, and phones lobbed in the air. He was dumbfounded. #lifeontheroad                                                       

Day 3 - Deadwood, SD, June 1, 2018

Day 3, June 1, 2018

Omaha, NE – Deadwood, SD      

563 miles/8 ½ hours.

Another long day and a certain someone is getting quite cranky (you’ll see below). We drove north from Omaha to Sioux Falls and then hung a left to cross South Dakota. SD is a very, very pretty state – and the speed limit is 80 MPH, thank goodness. Listening to my audio book, I quite enjoyed the drive and the view, but I’m sure for those in the back it was tough, because there’s pretty much nothing going between Sioux Falls and Rapid City. All along the highway there are hundreds of billboards for Wall Drugstore. It’s a rather famous tourist trap, and I forget the origins, or I’d share it. I did all the research back when we were out here in 2015, but at the time Rich wouldn’t stop – citing, “tourist trap.” I love a good tourist trap though and decided to take the kids. Hunter was MOST displeased and threw his first fit of the road trip. We left him in the car as we explored (Grandmom he is 17 and six months away from being a legal adult – and I left the air on).

Wall Drugs, well it’s most definitely a tourist trap, and we can officially check it off our list. Camden loved it, because they had all these carved wooden guns and he suckered me into buying him one.

We stayed in Deadwood for the night. Since we explored the town in 2015, it was really just a pit stop. We had a fairly decent dinner at Legends steak house. The only problem was that they didn’t have a burger on the menu and therefore the restaurant didn’t “suit” Hunter. Grumpy, grumpy, grumpy.

We walked around a little bit and it was an extremely interesting crowd. Total Trump Country, complete with some foul t-shirts (see below). Hunter and I got into a disagreement because I wouldn’t let him buy one. I should have purchased one for Ben T, but I just couldn’t contribute to the madness. I’m confident that Ben AND Hunter are smart enough that one day they will come to their senses.

Did I mention the crowd in Deadwood? I’m not judging, but I can assure you that I was judged over and over. More people were staring at us than vice versa – especially that woman who lost the t-shirt sale!

Day 2 - Omaha, NE, May 31, 2018

Day 2, May 31, 2018

Nashville, TN – Omaha, NE

763 miles/11 hours

Whoowee…long day. I must commend the children. They were incredibly well behaved and there was minimal fighting in the car. Honestly, there’s not much to tell, as it’s a drive we’ve made before, so the landscape wasn’t all that surprising. Southern Illinois is beautiful and flat, as is Iowa. We were fortunate to avoid any bad weather, except for a stretch of I70, between St. Louis and Kansas City, where the sky south of us got eerily black. I had to brace the wheel rather tightly as the wind was rocking the car, but we managed to out run the storm. Every time I’m in that stretch of country I get a queasy stomach, convinced that a tornado will take us away.

We had a below average dinner at a local establishment and where the youngest people in the restaurant. Our fellow patrons were quite fascinated with Barrett’s singing and table drumming. We ate fast and moved on to Dairy Queen – can’t get more Midwestern than that.

Here’s my one interesting experience of the day. I couldn’t locate an independent bookstore that was close to where we are and/or was still open after dinner. I settled for the local Barnes and Noble, because I like to browse books and see if and how the different franchises curate their displays. Yes, I’m a complete book geek (and if I ever win the lotto I will open my own bookstore!!!). The Omaha B&N is located in a mall, which is a bit unusual. I parked the car and noticed that there weren’t many people there.  Also, the sidewalks were in very bad shape. We entered the mall and it was dark and stuffy. The only light was from the skylights from above. Most stores were closed, with the gates down. It was only 7:15 P.M. I started to turn around, feeling as though we were reenacting the beginning of a horror movie. Audrey spotted a woman walking towards us and asked if the mall was open. She said yes. Okay? I asked if there was a B&N in the mall, and she pointed us in the right direction. You guys – it was creepy weird! It was a mall ghost town. Nothing was open. All the shops were gated or empty. The escalator was frozen. And there were only emergency lights leading the way. I mean, I’ve read about malls closing and being abandoned, but to actually experience it. It was very sad.

Lo and behold, as we rounded the corner and there was B&N, illuminated in all her glory with bight fluorescent lights. I immediately chatted up the ladies at the information desk. The mall has been closed for years. Only B&N and Target remain.  I asked them if they were okay. “Okay?” At this point I believe they were wondering if I was okay. Yes! I was desperate to know if they had business and were going to stay open. They assured me that they were very busy and the rent was affordable, so they expected to be there for a while. Phew.

My only picture from Omaha!: