The drive from Whitefish to Billing Montana was very much a reverse route of our previous ride, SO BEAUTIFUL! I encourage anyone who was not gone into Montana, do so, it’s well worth your time. You will decompress from your hectic day-to-day.
We had just a little trouble finding our hotel in Billings, and it was a very long drive. We found a grocery store, replenished our picnic-making supplies and decided on just a simple mixed veggie salad in our room.
I have always road tripped with my dollar store knife, flexible plastic cutting mat, disposable sea salt and black pepper grinders and garlic powder for just such an affair. Sometimes we will stay in and make a salad of whatever vegetables we can find, either in stores or farmer’s markets.
We aren’t stayin’ long here, so let’s get to it!
We knew that it was going to be another long day, so it was a fast breakfast in our hotel and then off to Pompey’s Pillar National Monument. What, you’ve never heard of that either, well time for another American History lesson.
Remember the Lewis & Clark expedition? This is the only physical evidence of their journey. Captain William Clark inscribed his name into this sandstone formation along the Yellowstone River. He named this tower, as he called it, after the son of Jean Baptiste Charbonneau and Sacagawea, whom he nicknamed Pompy.
We clambered to the top, as we were being attacked by mosquitoes the size of B52 boomers! Thank goodness I had a can of bug repellent with me at all times on this trip, we had use it on more than one occasion.
On to our next history lesson, Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument. I wasn’t expecting to be so taken aback, but to see all of these markers where men and horses too had fallen. We spent a good amount of time at the Visitor Center, watching the video and then the Ranger’s talk about the battle, fascinating. We drove the self guided loop road, stopping at the different placards.
That was another long day, so what’s for dinner?
I found Ciao Mambo again, here in Billings too, and not terribly far from our hotel. We shared another Caesar salad with those huge anchovies and a mushroom Pizza. We didn’t have too much luck with pizza on this trip. It was okay, but that’s all.
Tomorrow is another town though.
