Missoula

our next destination was Glacier National Park, but it was a pretty long trek from Snolquami, so we figured Missoula would be a good place to stop. on this trip we haven't been making reservations because we want to be spontaneous. which has worked out for the most part, but then there have been times it hasn't worked out for the best. Missoula was one of those.

arriving in town we were told there was literally only 1 hotel left with rooms. who would have thought Missoula would be so popular on a Thursday night? anyway, we didn't have much choice so we took it.

it actually wasn't that bad. i mean, it was bad, but it was more the area we were in that was bad (lots of adult stores and casinos).. i tried to talk kiki into going to one of the casinos but, to no avail. i knew in my heart that she wouldn't want to, but i still had to try, right?

this is either sometime before or after asking kiki to go to a sleezy casino




i was tempted to go to the casino by myself but figured that might not be a good idea. instead, i went to the liquor store and picked up some tasty local brew and watched some S.W.A.T show while kiki read Harry Potter.




in the morning we gassed up at the old Kum n Go



(i couldn't figure out if this place was a chain, or just something in the adult entertainment district we were staying in)


on the way to and out of Missoula we saw some good sights. it doesn't get any more America than it does around here. lots of "God Bless America" signs, and other god-related stuff.

this is - i shit you not - the driveway to someone's house:



think they're very patriotic?

lots of murals like this around



and lots of buffalo and moose stuff. we were moving out of log country and into moose territory.




other highlights:


on our way out of Missoula we saw a burning truck that was about to explode



i got a train to honk at me while racing them (even though kiki argues that they weren't honking at me, or racing me)




also, read about an upcoming festival in town called "The Testicle Festival" (which may account for the lack of hotel rooms).. it sounded pretty good. lots of wet t-shirt contests and contests having to do with eating Buffalo balls (and cow balls and chicken balls). also, some contest where they were giving away a "1980 Chevy truck". if you're in the area, check it out..