Montana: As big and scary as you'd expect

We're currently sitting in a parking lot in Wall, SD, stealing a wifi signal from a Super 8 because the horrific hotel we stayed in last night left us unable to update. Undeterred, we made it out of Wyoming and are trucking along hoping to reach Madison sometime tonight. Only 10 hours to go.

In the meantime, here's Emma with some captions.

In Eastern Washington, they had real horses as well as ones made out of iron.

I know I look tired, but we didn't walk up that hill. Pathetic, isn't it.
Here's where things started to go awry. Jane and Michael Stern sent us to Frank's Diner in Spokane. The diner is housed in a former railway car, and the food is exactly as good as that implies. Jane and Michael, ouch. My stomach is still mad at you. I don't know why there is a giant knife sticking out of my hamburger, by the way.
Mike danced a little when we made it to Idaho. I think it's because he knew we were only going to be there for fifty miles.
Which brings us to Montana. The problem started when the state sign was mounted over the highway, which meant that we couldn't stop to take a picture. The next time we stopped to pee, I decided to be cute and make little Montana gang-signs for you. Of course, I made the gang-sign for Missouri instead. You know, life gets hectic on the road. Must I really be responsible for remembering all those godforsaken abbreviations? It's as much Mike's fault as it is mine. Moving right along.

Contrary to popular belief, there is a speed limit in Montana. It is 75mph.

Since Montana had such a lackluster sign, we would like to suggest that it adopt this one.

In Missoula, we stayed at the Thunder Bird.
We were not the only laptop-happy road-trip bloggers there. I assumed that 'topless' referred to the driver's predilection for flashing her boobs, but then I realized it was because she was driving a convertible. Oh.
We were so excited to go to another Road Food stop in Butte. Sadly, it was closed, as was everything else. We ate lunch at a Subway-- the first chain restaurant thus far. It was salt in the wound that the Subway also sold scary, scary dolls, and had carpeting. Oh, Montana. You have done us wrong.
However, Montana did see the return of Dinosaur Gas. Here, I make like a T-Rex.
Billings announced its arrival with a statue of a skateboarder. Hmm.

Oh, Montana. I was so mad at you. Then you showed me your good side. Above, me with my giant bag of goodies from Montana Vintage Clothing.
Of course, the day did not end there. The reason we stopped in Billings was that Mike could spend some more time shoulder to shoulder with his brethren. Above, the crowd waiting outside the decrepit brewery where Against Me! was playing.
To say that I had reservations would perhaps not be adequate. Even Mike was a little scared.

And he was right to be scared. Unlike the civilized crowd in Seattle, this one fainted, bloodied its gums and punched hard.

Phew. He needed to change his shirt again, but no bruises or broken bones. Please note that despite the red Corvette in the background, this photo was not taken in 1987.

When we pulled over to take this photo of the Wyoming sign, there was an 18-wheeler mysteriously stopped, with no driver in sight. We were pretty sure that someone was about to murder us and take Chunky Monkey, but we still got out of the car. Why? Because we love you.

Next stop, Mount Rushmore, Wall Drug, and sweet sweet home.

love
E + M