#174 Badlands

"General Alfred Sully described it 'hell with the fires burned out,' and to the Lakota Sioux and 19th-century French trappers and explorers, it was the Mako Sica and "les mauvaises Terres" - the bad lands.  Frank Lloyd Wright wrote that 'what I saw gave me an indescribable sense of mysterious other-where...'"

The Badlands are populated with bison and bighorn sheep; I got to see both. There was a little group of sheep down in the grassy area in the middle of a switchback.  I drove around the switchback to the parking area so I could take pictures of them from above.  When I finished and started walking back to my car I heard what sounded like rocks (like gravel) kind of falling down the cliff over my car.  I turned around and bam!  there were two little sheep up on the cliff.  One, of which was standing on top looking right at me.

And last, but not least Wall Drug and a surprise stop to buy new tires!

I'll be honest, I hate shopping...in any form so Wall Drug was actually a nightmare.  But I did buy some really delicious fudge. And no, I didn't get a free glass of ice water.  Thanks, but I've got water in my car - "I like cold water, but not freezing cold water." 


I'd also decided that I was going to buy some Black Hills gold while I was there.  I've loved since I saw Kelly Dayley's wedding ring and so to buy some while actually in the Black Hills was a must do.


Also, the tires.  While i was in Oregon, my TPS came on and my front left tire needed a patch.  Right then I knew: I'd be buying tires sooner than later.  I started through the Badlands scenic loop, and I started on the far side (away from Wall, SD).  So when, not far in, my TPS pinged again, I got really nervous.  My gps said I was probably 30 miles away from a tire shop, so I high-tailed (and by high-tailed, it seemed like 30 hours) it to the first auto shop in Wall.  

The guy told me the patch was bad and that he didn't carry the right sized tires to replace them, but he also said it seemed like a slow leak, so he recommended that he re-fill the tire so I could go back and do my sight-seeing.  Then, come back on my way out of town and he'd fill it again to get me to a shop he recommended in Rapid City.  It was a little miracle, that I'm extremely grateful for.  


After I got to Rapid City and got my tire changed, I was able to still do some Black Hills sight-seeing, and getting dinner at a fabulous little pizza place - where I met a great couple and ended up eating with them. 

All in all, what could have been a disastrous day, ended up being a pretty fantastic one.

#173 Big Sky

I had to do some rearranging so I didn't get to spend time at the Big Sky Resort, instead focusing on brunch at Lone Mountain Ranch...

"More than 45 miles of trails are the uncontested draw at the much-ballyhooed Lone Mountain Ranch, an elegant four-seasons lodge with an acclaimed restaurant."

I was there for their Sunday Summer Brunch, and the way they do it is THE WAY to do a "all you can eat buffet".

Basically, they bring you a menu and you order as much or as little as you want.  When you're finished, they bring you the menu again and you can order again.  Everything on the menu is made to order so it's the right temperature and no kids have sneezed on it.

The do have an actual buffet line for things like breakfast breads, fresh fruit, bacon, and a couple of soups - including their famous venison chili.

• Pickle Fried Chicken & Waffles


• At The Hutch: Greek Yogurt Parfait, Fresh Fruit & Berries, House Pastry & Sticky Buns, Bacon, Sausage


• House Buttermilk Pancakes with Huckleberries


• Rawnola (blue majik almond milk, mixed berries, banana, cocoa nibs, coconut, pistachio)

#172 Triple Creek Lodge

"This may have been the Wild West, but today there's civilization to be found in these parts.  Triple Creek is a ranch, but it's really a luxury resort, where urban types wistful for the City Slickers experience can rough it."

For example, the table next to mine was discussing how their neighborhood was having an Aston Martin car show, but they didn't really want it because of the bougie hoi polloi that invade their sanctuary to attend it.

On the other hand....hummingbirds.


Lunch included a Roasted Turkey & Huckleberry Sandwich (which was more successful once I  treated it like a salad), and an olive oil short cake with vanilla bean ice cream.  

#171 Henry's Fork Lodge

"The cedar lodge was built with the sophisticate angler in mind, in an unfussy refined rustic style that's all about comfort, simplicity, and informality.  Everyone heads back to the lodge [in the evening] for a wonderful low-key but elegant dinner." I was told that over 90% of their guests are repeat visitors.

My dinner included three courses: 

• Zucchini Ravioli, Caciocavallo, Ricotta, Mozzarella, Herbs, Red Wine Marinara, Parmesan Cheese


• Hickory Smoked Amish Duck Breast, Roasted Garlic Farro, Wilted Mustards, Blackberry BBQ


• Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake with Salted Caramel Sauce, Shaved Chocolate

#170 Glacier National Park

The Blackfoot tribe consider the area to be sacred ground, and it’s easy to see why.  It’s flat out gorgeous and awe-inspiring.The park provides good opportunities to see a variety of wild-life, although I didn’t see any bears.  I did see some big horn sheep over by Many Glacier.

Going to the Sun road is a 50-mile road that bisects the park and takes you from the park’s lowest elevations to the summit of the Continental Divide.  The road is closed all winter, and in fact, isn’t expected to open until at least June 22^nd this year.  Plowing operations are still underway, and just watching the webcam will make you need some hot chocolate.
Glaciers are disappearing from the park at an astonishing rate – projection say they’ll all be gone by 2030. 

The swiss-style lodge at Many Glacier is enormous (and where I saw the aforementioned sheep) is the most popular and sits on Swiftcurrent Lake.

#169 Lake Coeur d’Alene

Lake Coeur d’Alene sits on the western flank of the Rockies and has 128-miles of shoreline that is mostly protected from development. 

The Mish-n-Nock (and the rest of the fleet) explore the homes and rugged shoreline on part of the lake – departing from a dock next to the Coeur d’Alene Resort which boasts the longest floating boardwalk in America and a floating green on its golf course.  Golfers are only allowed 2 swings to make the green.

#168 Lewis and Clark Trail

Thomas Jefferson sent two Virginians, Merriweather Lewis and William Clark, to lead an expedition to find a navigable route to the Pacific Ocean. It took over two years and (if ever you doubted how badass women are) Sacagawea gave birth to a son along the way.

A lot of attention is paid to the last leg of the expedition – The Columbia River Gorge.  It is a stunning 80 miles filled with waterfalls, and lush vegetation, including Multnomah Falls – the second highest in the United States.