Welcome to Washington State

Last day! Last day! Last day!

Today is the last day of my move home!

Ok. Must have been excited about it being the last day and all because I ended up waking up pretty early and thereby getting an early start on my day.

Sunrise in the Rocky Mountains

So, since I got such an early start on my day AND since I would be crossing into the Pacific Time Zone today, I decided I had some time to take a scenic road.

Scenic road following the Clark Fork River.

It was a gorgeous day, even with the smoke-filled skies.

Got a glimpse of this guy up on the hill...

I missed this...

Got a look at this guy at a rest stop...

Off-roading in the Corolla in Montana...

Welcome to Idaho!

This particular route home takes me through the panhandle of Idaho so, not a lot of time spent here.  I drove through Wallace (where Dante's Peak was filmed) but I didn't take any pictures... too much construction.

I did get a picture of Lake Coeur d'Alene... from the freeway...

WELCOME TO WASHINGTON!!!

Smoke is getting thicker and thicker and I have to keep my windows closed to be able to breathe, but I am home.

Coming down off the plateau and into the Columbia River Valley and headed to Wenatchee...

And so one adventure comes to an end but there are many more to come....

as soon as the smoke clears...

Into the Rockies

So I started off today with a little off-roading in the Corolla. Well not really. I mean I was still on a road and it was even a paved road but it was a road to nowhere, or at least nowhere that I was actually going.

But it was a pretty road, so it is okay.

It was a very pretty road, so there are a lot of pictures...

Okay... THAT road wasn't paved but I was only on it for like 50 yards or so.... not enough to count.

Saw this lovely guy.

Anyway, after driving about 9 miles up this road and 9 miles back down again, I got back on I-90 and headed into Montanan.

Montana wins, hands down, best welcome sign! Seriously! Look at that thing!


I decided that since I had driven past Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument numerous times but had never actually stopped, this time I needed to visit.

Sitting Bull

Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer

"The Battle of the Little Bighorn was fought along the ridges, steep bluffs, and ravines of the Little Bighorn River, in south central Montana on June 25-26, 1876. The combatants were warriors of the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes, battling men of the 7th Regiment of the U. S. Cavalry. The Battle of the Little Bighorn has come to symbolize the clash of two vastly dissimilar cultures: the buffalo/horse culture of the northern plains tribes, and the highly industrial/agricultural based culture of the U. S... This battle was not an isolated soldier versus warrior confrontation, but part of  a much larger strategic campaign designed to force the capitulation of the non-reservation Lakota and Cheyenne."  www.nps.gov


Custer National Cemetery

Last Stand Hill, where the 7th Cavalry Memorial and Indian Memorial are located.

Overlooking Custer Battlefield

On the scenic loop drive to the Reno-Benteen Battlefield.

Overlooking the Reno-Benteen Battlefield and the Little Bighorn River.

This was one of the more moving battlefields I've had the privilege to visit. As you drive along the scenic route, you see markers. Gravestones placed right where men fell...

On the ridges... in the ravines...

In clusters... and lines...

And alone...

I did visit the gift shop and stroll through the museum but did not watch the movies available or sit in on any of the ranger talks... (too close to home, gotta get back on the road...)


Getting ready to cross the Rocky Mountains...

Seeing smoke for the first time... well, not for the first time, but... you know what I mean.

When rain mixes with smoke at sunset...

Another hurdle down...

One more day to go...


To be continued...