Friday, November 11, 2005

A YEAR AGO

Last year I was in Bozeman, MT at my girlfriend's house for my birthday. We had elk steaks, courtesy of some hunters who left their frozen meat at the airport, because they were too cheap to pay the $150 cost of bringing it home. After going on a $10,000 hunt. Thanks guys, the steaks were outstanding. So were the elk fajitas the next day. I hear moose is even tastier.

I thought about going to get my mountain fix over Thanksgiving this year, until I checked the fares. Haaaaaaaaaa.

It costs around hundred and fifty dollars to get to Las Vegas, Salt Lake City or Denver and back from Chicago. Maybe $200. Not bad. Cheap, in fact, these days. But it's around five hundred dollars to get to Bozeman and back once you get to those cities.

Okay I'm exaggerating, but just a little. A big chunk of that $650+ dollar fare is for a distance you can drive. For instance, this time of year Jackson Hole has non stops from Chicago, so maybe I should just drive to Bozeman from there. It's about three and a half hours.

I only have to dodge all the hot pots in Yellowstone, avoid the the angry bison and the snorting buffalo, oh wait, they're the same thing, hide from the hungry grizzlies, and hope there's no snow yet. Or rent something with snowtires and an engine. Sounds like a plan to me.

Actually the plan is to go to Washington D.C. now and spend time with my cute little niece. My stomach will be filled with wonderful holiday food cooked by one of my brothers. 

My heart will be thinking about the view of the Bridger Mountains from the front steps of my friend's house at daybreak. Although our nation's capitol ain't shabby.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, freakin' WOW, what a view!

Stacy

Anonymous said...

I sat here and just stared at the second picture. I'm now begging my other half to promise we'll go there sometime lol I LOVE mountains.

~Lily

Anonymous said...

Wow, that's stunningly beautiful.  There's nothing quite like Big Sky Country.

Anonymous said...

That second picture is awesome.....Whatever way you plan goes I hope you have a good time....Ally

Anonymous said...

Those holiday fares are outrageous, although I've seen some decent fares on Expedia.com for the beginning of January.  Maybe you can get your mountain fix then?
~Kris

Anonymous said...

Great Pictures.

Carolyn
http://journals.aol.com/shelt28/MyLife

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous pics.  I'm going to Chicago for Thanksgiving, to see Alex and Chris; Anthony's staying here because Katharine and Brenden are cooking this year; Chris and Stephanie and Stephanie's parents are going to Austin to spend Thanksgiving with Stephanie's grandmother, and Mike is going to Bullhead, AZ to spend Thanksgiving with Sara and her family, so we're all over the place this Thanksgiving.

Judi

Anonymous said...

I LOVE YOUR PICS COME ON OVER FOR A FALL VISIT TO MY RANCH. HAPPY AND SAFE TRAVELING FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Anonymous said...

oh, the pictures make my heart soar
Marti

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for these glimpses...these are my hearts glimpses.  I am a South Dakota native and have had the good fortune to drive all over South Dakota, Wyoming, and through Montana up to Idaho.  I use the word "awesome" as much as the next person...but never really grasped the magnitude of that word until my drive through Montana.  It was already dark, and my kiddies were all sound asleep.  As I'm sure you've discovered, there can be vast stretches of time and interstate where you don't meet/pass another soul.  I pulled over to the side of the road and was able to stand there for about twenty minutes and just drink it all in uninterrupted by anything or anyone.  ::sigh:: ;)  C.  http://journals.aol.com/gdireneoe/thedailies

Anonymous said...

The view of the Tetons when you come around the bend on the road from Yellowstone is my most awesome view.  You come around the winding road and suddenly there's the most beautiful view in the country of one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world.   Mrs. L

Anonymous said...

I love this picture I want to live here!!
Donna In TEXAS