To Storm or not to Storm
We were going to make it to Glasgow, MT on our first day, but were warned of a potentially hazardous storm whose biggest impact would be in Glasgow. We decided to stay further south in Miles City. We avoided any hail or big winds. There was just a little rain for about 15 minutes, and some massive clouds. Matt and dad met a storm chaser and it was fun to sit in the car and see them do so.
About Miles City
Also, Miles City was a coal-mining town. When the mine was done, they had to turn to other forms of revenue. Prohibition just set in, so they made a killing selling “cough syrup” around the area.
Driving
There was a lot of driving involved, but every inch of it was interesting. Subtle changes in the landscape revealed round rocks, rough rocks, rocks splitting in perfectly symmetrical ways. There were waves of grain, grazing cattle, and antelope. Dinosaur sculptures dotted the fields against a backdrop of expired homesteads, and lonely old trucks.
Glasgow
There’s a really big lake up there, and it’s cold, and blue and beautiful. Fort Peck Lake has more shoreline than the state of California. It’s vast. And I’m sure, also–freezing.
Matt’s cousin James lives in Glasgow and manages the local paper. He turned a washing machine into a cool outdoor fire pit. He also bought a giant old truck, which I presume makes him more approachable. And then there’s the box car, which beckons the curious and strange. Mary Francis
It wasn’t long after leaving Glasgow that we came to some construction. Being shuttled through the 1 lane road, we were suddenly blasted with tar from the spraying machine. I was really in shock when it happened. Do they do this here? Is it okay to totally blast tar all over the vehicles here? What the fuck. There’s black tarry spots ALL OVER the windshield, and the van!
Surely, this isn’t a case of intent. Perhaps the wind was just not in our favor. In any case, the tar was awful, and I could only imagine what it might have done to the airstream.
We drove another 20 miles peering through black speckles. I was finally able to pull over at the Supermarket in Chester, Montana. Dad followed.
I parked by the building, jumped up on the hood, and started scrubbing off the tar. Moments later an employee walks by. “I hope I don’t get in trouble for taking the bucket of window washing fluid from the gas pumps,” I think. We smile and say hi. Then she comes back and hands me a spray bottle and two rolls of paper towels. “This bug stuff works really well,” she said.
I thanked her, and she went in the store. When I had finished, (the stuff worked great) I tracked her down so that I could thank her directly. I found sweet Mary Francis at the check out and thanked her for her super awesome kindness. So many people just fill their job description, nothing more, nothing less. That’s okay, but when I run into folks like Mary Frances it makes my heart melt.
Halftime
We made to Glacier National Park–a beautiful, beautiful place. I was happy to find ourselves at Glacier Campground, a little pocket of glorious forest, flowers and striations. Both parties needed to do laundry so I took a walk to see how far away the facilities were. I didn’t think mom was ready for the hike, so I went to the office and asked if they had something with wheels that I could rent. Now comes more sweetness. Sweet, sweet Ruby offered to pick up my mom in the golf cart and take us to the laundry place. She said it was pure luck that I asked her during halftime.
Oh Montana. What a beautiful, strange place you are. Thanks for having us.
