From Missoula, I could take I-90 to I-15, but that would have been the long way as I-90 dips down to Butte to reach I-15. I decided to take a chance on Montanta highway 200 eastbound which would take me straight across the state to join I-15 twenty kilometres north of the Flying J/Pilot truck stop. That would mean having to come back up the same twenty kilometres, but that extra forty was still less than doing the all interstate route.

The first half or so of highway 200 made me regret my decision. It is a very twisty single lane route through a valley rimmed with snow powdered black mountains. The speed limit is ridiculous, 65-75, and there are very few places to pull over and let people pass. Add to that the pouring rain and I repeatedly berated myself for choosing the scenic route over the easy one.

But then there was the climb to the summit of the Rogers Pass, not to be confused with the Canadian pass of the same name. From the top, there is a long 6% descent with one hairpin turn (yours truly didn’t even break a sweat). When you get to the bottom and are able to take a breather, you are in a completely different world of yellow hills and big open sky. Finally, I could understand how Montana got its nickname! And the weather cleared to give me that blue I’ve only seen on the prairies, that bright blue that washes out at the edges because there isn’t enough pigment for all the sky. Oh, I was so glad to have taken this route!

It was a torturous ride through this great scenery to the truck stop outside Great Falls because of the very high winds that kept blowing Miranda towards the ditch. I am convinced that had I been passed with a big rig I would have not had the strength to keep Miranda on the highway. And it just got worse on I-15, that highway I only knew until today as a desolate desert path leading to a glittering oasis of hedonism.

The truck stop is going to be okay for the night; there’s lots of room to spread out, but the wind is very bad! I am keeping a very close eye on the kayak on the roof of the car; I may have to take it down.

There’s public wifi here with short-term packages, including $4.79 for 24 hours. Slow, but the price is right.

the west side of the Rogers Pass. I went from this to the next picture in about fifteen minutes

I’ve never been so grateful to a turnout before so I could take pictures!

driving into infinity

Now, with all my apologies to Paul Brandt, I need to burst into song:

The sign said (100) miles to Canada
and my (rig) tore across Montana
Ian Tyson sang a lonesome lullaby
And so I cranked up the (iPod)
Cause there’s just a little more to go
Before I cross the border at that Sweet Grass sign
I’m Alberta Bound