GREETINGS FROM RED LODGE,
Montana (MT), USA
Well, as expected from the forecast, this morning was cloudy and ordinary so we put Plan B into action and delayed our trip on the Beartooth Highway until tomorrow and re-organised our route. The weather forecast looks much better but tomorrow it’s go anyway as we don’t have time for Plan C – although Plan C could be try again sometime I suppose ?!
So today was again really a “point A to point B” driving day. Having said that, we still had quite an interest in our route along the interstate – I-90 – as we had to drive it in 2009 when our proposed exit route from Yellowstone was closed due to snow and we had to go all the way around the park. That time it was just a sea of white snow so this time we would actually see the scenery.
I-90 rest stop and the road ahead (below)
But with only a short, roughly 3 hour, drive to Red Lodge, Adrienne had mapped out the nearest mall and Costco locations so there would be plenty to keep us busy after breakfast for a while before we headed off.
It also gave us a bit of time to get our blogs up to date after the lack of wifi in the National Park.
The mall we visited was a bit dead and we managed to leave without spending a cent, despite Adrienne’s best efforts. Good old Costco didn’t disappoint though. The Bozeman store was about the size of all the Sydney stores put together. They even have a motor vehicle buying option ! Prices were equivalent in A$ but they had twice the range of goodies.
Back road to Red Lodge and the
Beartooth Mountains in the background
With time now becoming critical we left Bozeman, with it now raining again, and set off south east to Red Lodge. The traffic was reasonably busy as it is the Labour Day weekend in the US. So there are lots of caravans, motorhomes and winnebago’s up and down the interstate.
Most of the drive is undulating hills with the occasional larger range. In fact a lot of it skirts the Absaroka Range which is where the Beartooth Highway crosses at its highest point.
About two thirds of the way we stopped for a break at an interstate rest stop. They are very well equipped – in the colder climates they are heated – and there are vending machines available for refreshments. This one also had a dog walking yard – complete with fire hydrant in the middle !
For the last part of the drive, we left the interstate and took Montana 78 – a back road into Red Lodge. It was well worth it as it is very scenic with well pastured farming country and the high mountain scenery behind. Many of the farms have that classic “American barn” in their paddocks.
We arrived in Red Lodge a little after 4pm and checked into the Comfort Inn – the same one we stayed at 6 years ago. It hasn’t changed much but the surrounds have a bit. Next door was a vacant block of land which is now a new petrol station. And the main road through town is undergoing a big upgrade.
We set about doing some laundry and having coffee – most hotels provide free coffee and generally home made cookies and doing our blogs.
For dinner we went into the main part of town. It was very busy and most of the restaurants seemed to have people waiting outside. We parked the car and walked down the street and decided to see if we could get a seat at the Carbon County Steakhouse. Obviously we had no booking and they told us this (Labour Day weekend) was their busiest few days of the year. But they did find us a table outside – luckily under a nice heater as it was getting cold – and we enjoyed another great meal. For starters we shared Beartooth Beef Strips and Adrienne had a Beef Bolognese for her main and I had Italian Sausage & Fettuccine.
Tomorrow it’s the Beartooth and the Weather Channel has just broadcast a sunny day so we hope they are right !