So, we made it into the States in spite of the fact that I apparently made a faux pas by taking a picture of the prairie scenery as we were pulling up to the border crossing. This was not a good time to be testing my camera. Even though it was pointed away from them and out at the prairie, mind you, but yeah - apparently there's a strict no-pictures policy on all federal buildings. Or you can go to jail and they can beat you with your camera case. (Does that include the White House or Congress, I wonder? I'll bet they're constantly beating up tourists. "No pictures! No pictures!")
Border Dude: "You can't take pictures. What did you take a picture of?"
Me: "Um. A tree."
Border Dude (disbelieving): "A tree?!"
Me: "Well, it seemed like it would be an interesting picture... mostly because of that Taliban-looking guy hiding behind it..."
Border guards run off to investigate, we drive on through and escape. Whew!
Okay, perhaps I exaggerate slightly. :-) But only slightly.
Anyway, near the border, Montana's landscape is pretty much the same as Saskatchewan, although it seems to have more cattle than crops so there's more greenery. And way more casinos! These people are gambling nuts. Every two bit town has a casino. And bars are attached to everything.
There was some very pretty scenery in between Cascade and Craig - some dramatic hills and very curving roads. It felt like I was driving in a video game simulation. Zoom! Whoosh! And the speed limits were still really high in spite of the weaving and teetering along hillsides. "Does this seem fast to you? It seems fast to me..." Concentrate on not flying off road...
Butte was notable for the fact that it's got a giant mine cutting into the hillside. One of those open mines where they terrace and scale away the hills. Huge mine. It's the entire backdrop of the city. So, instead of looking up into the hills, the residents look up at the mine. Nice.
Other than that, I'd say that Montana's rolling hills are pretty, but it's like an extended version of the Calgary foothills, without ever reaching the real mountains. (Sorry, Montana - Alberta does it better.) :-)
Then, at last, into Idaho. Except for the hills off in the distance, Idaho seems very much like Saskatchewan, but with better roads. We made it to Idaho Falls, checked in at a Super8 and wandered around for a bit. There's a river running through the city, which they've dammed and use for hydroelectric power. After that, we ate at Jack in the Box, just because we don't have those at home.
A few pics for ya! (Click on the pic to open the album.)
Tomorrow, it's on to Craters of the Moon national monument, and after that, Salt Lake City.
Border Dude: "You can't take pictures. What did you take a picture of?"
Me: "Um. A tree."
Border Dude (disbelieving): "A tree?!"
Me: "Well, it seemed like it would be an interesting picture... mostly because of that Taliban-looking guy hiding behind it..."
Border guards run off to investigate, we drive on through and escape. Whew!
Okay, perhaps I exaggerate slightly. :-) But only slightly.
Anyway, near the border, Montana's landscape is pretty much the same as Saskatchewan, although it seems to have more cattle than crops so there's more greenery. And way more casinos! These people are gambling nuts. Every two bit town has a casino. And bars are attached to everything.
There was some very pretty scenery in between Cascade and Craig - some dramatic hills and very curving roads. It felt like I was driving in a video game simulation. Zoom! Whoosh! And the speed limits were still really high in spite of the weaving and teetering along hillsides. "Does this seem fast to you? It seems fast to me..." Concentrate on not flying off road...
Butte was notable for the fact that it's got a giant mine cutting into the hillside. One of those open mines where they terrace and scale away the hills. Huge mine. It's the entire backdrop of the city. So, instead of looking up into the hills, the residents look up at the mine. Nice.
Other than that, I'd say that Montana's rolling hills are pretty, but it's like an extended version of the Calgary foothills, without ever reaching the real mountains. (Sorry, Montana - Alberta does it better.) :-)
Then, at last, into Idaho. Except for the hills off in the distance, Idaho seems very much like Saskatchewan, but with better roads. We made it to Idaho Falls, checked in at a Super8 and wandered around for a bit. There's a river running through the city, which they've dammed and use for hydroelectric power. After that, we ate at Jack in the Box, just because we don't have those at home.
A few pics for ya! (Click on the pic to open the album.)
 |
| Roadtrip |
Tomorrow, it's on to Craters of the Moon national monument, and after that, Salt Lake City.
Comments
Post a Comment