And we're driving, and driving, and driving....

Wish I could tell you we did all kinds of fun things today...but, alas, that it not the case. I guess then only real excitement was when we left I-90, who we had been going with for the last 700 miles, and took up with I-94.  We crossed the state line to North Dakota and it was fun, but not necessarily exciting, watching the topography change.  We are now in the happening town of Dickinson and, though they have a wonderful firework show, we will probably miss it.  Too tired and tomorrow, our plans are for an even longer day on the road!  Somehow the word "Road Trip" has lost some of it's allure!
 

And here's our real excitement for the day:  A rest stop in Montana!!!! Woohoo!

 

 

 

 

 

North Dakota apparently hasn't done away with the billboards yet.  It was pretty obvious when we came to the outskirts of a town... 

 

A floating golf green.... and then on to Montana!

So, the resort we were at has a golf course and outdoor pool… thing is, they are a 10 minute drive from the hotel or a 7 minute water taxi.  AND, this golf course has a floating green on one of the holes.  Since we were up early today, we decided to take the water taxi over and check it out before we left.  So nice to be on a Lake… and this one is gorgeous!  We stayed just a bit, took pics, & then took the boat back to our place and packed up to prepare for the next leg of our trip.

We had plans to see our friend Twyla on our way to Bozeman, but that feel through when she couldn't get off work (sniff sniff)… This morning Jerry suggested we contact another couple who live on Flathead Lake in Polson.  We called and they said lets meet in St Regis for lunch (that would about an hour ride for them)!  We had an extra 30 minutes to fill, so we stopped next to a sweet river running through Wallace and just enjoyed the river's cool air AND the butterflies that were hanging out. 

Met up with  M & G (I forgot to ask permission to post their names in my blog… dang) and at a “Jaspers”… so weird… Walked by the bar, and at the counter is a 7 year old little girl with her parents…. Laws are different here… 

The scenery is ever changing… and very beautiful.  A little cooler today… 97 degrees… and we arrived in Bozeman, Mt ready for some downtime!  My niece will be going to school here next year… Checked out the campus, and it’s gorgeous!  We see so many different places and I always think, “I could live there” and the same goes for Bozeman!

Water Taxi... and Jean was stuck with 'boat hair' the rest of the day....
 

I wonder how many golf balls are in the water... they have to hit the ball from the left side of the pic to the island on the right...

 

Found this sculpture while out looking for a geocache... 

Probably about 10 butterflies hanging out next to the water's edge on the gravel/rocks.

 

This train was carrying coal...

 

These look like ginormous Dandelions...They were about three inches in diameter!

 

 

And we are off and driving.... well, eventually!

We are off and going… well, almost… that’s how the morning went… Left earlier than planned, went my Jerry’s office to drop some paperwork off… Yikes, it was closed till ten… Decided we’d go to AAA and get a paper map and some tour books… but, on the way, we realized we life the Handicap Sticker (we use with Halley) at home so back by the house, then on to AAA. Killed enough time there so we got back to the office and Jerry could finish up his paper work…. Then, to the bank, and then… oh no, we forgot our apples at home and by now, we both needed the restroom. Egads… we’re useless sometimes!!!

Anyway, got on the road about 10:45 and things went smooth after that. Once we got over the Snoqualmie Pass, the temps blew up… was 100 degrees the rest of the trip. Fortunately, the air-conditioned minivan served us well. The vistas were gorgeous as we travelled through the Washington agricultural areas. We even took a detour to see what the Gorge Amphitheater was like. Neither of us have every been there. Sure it said “No Trespassing” but the locked gates were open, so in we went in our minivan... Spies or crooks we must have looked like I am sure. When we finally got to a spot where we could actually see the stage, this mean old hombre in a white pickup came charging after us and motioned we had to leave. I was able to snap a pic. Wow... It’s a gorgeous place, but, not sure if I would want to fight crowds at a concert that this area would have.

Got to our digs for the night: very pretty (and very warm)! Had a great dinner and then a walk around town and on the dock…. Had to call it quits early… “too darn hot” as the song says.

Tomorrow we hope to see the ‘floating’ tee that the golf course connected to this place is famous for and then get on the road. Then, back on the road!
(Just determined their network here won't let me upload pics.... pooh on them!!!)

We rented a minivan to carry the things from Jackie's Condo that we saved for Halley...

The Gorge

View from our room out to Lake Coeur d'Alene

Kids jumping off the rocks into the water... we could see this from our room...

We enjoyed a nice meal....

Evening Sun kissing the Horrizon!

Jerry picked this beauty up in town...a great little addition to our home... He fell in love instantly! 

Been so many years.... but we're going on a Road Trip!!!!

The Diva's check out Giggle Harbor... I mean Gig Harbor and a Class Reunion Meeting!

So much fun to wake up and have no one to take care of but yourself! We had a lazy morning that included a small walk, great brekky and then dolling ourselves up for our Class Reunion Committee Meeting at the Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor. Of course, this was topped off with some more shopping.

Our meeting was good and we have started the ground work for a great event (we hope!). Shopping nice too... but we are all realizing, we don't sometimes really 'need' anything... dang that bites!

Evening brought us back to Liz's. What a great hostess Liz is! And, I guess we need to thank Gary for 'getting out of Dodge' so we could enjoy just being with our Diva's. Anyway, got our dinner going and realized we didn't have a pic with all five of us in our new crowns. Set the camera up for taking a pic... ran to get into the pic... DANG JEAN... you forgot to put your Crown Glasses on!.... Okay, take two... all over again! Dang Jean, you have your Crown Glasses hanging on your nose... Oh well, better that than nothing!

Jean had to leave Saturday night... Her Cousin from NYC is in Seattle and they will spend Sunday together. Hope her Diva's have fun in Poulsbo today... Till our next getogether which we already have planned... Love you ladies!

 

A great group of folks... this will be fun! 

They said I had to be in the pic too, redo below!

Julie... a two fisted drinker... no the glass on the right is NOT water... her water is on the table between the two!

Jean.... WHERE YOUR CROWN?

Aha... better, other than you got it hanging down on your nose....!

 

Gary's Gone... so the Diva's are playing!

Watch out !  The Diva's are together this weekend...!  and they are having fun..!  We're staying at Liz's house while Gary is out of town in a class.  We started off with a great Lunch at McCormick Woods Clubhouse... Num Num... so good!   Spent the rest of the afternoon talking, talking, talking... And laughing at our clever jokes and best of all, wonderful Mandarin Martini's that Christy made....  
 

Tonight is an appetizer night!  All of them were so good... and, heck, who needs a dinner when we have such yummy hor'dourves.... 

Cyn making her Mango Juice for her Vodka/Mango refreshment!

Jean and Julie really didn't check with each other and coordinate their stripes!

 

 

Cyn brought us all back special crown glasses cuz we really are princesses in our own minds!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our new light up rings!

 

The Diva's now have crowns thanks to Cyn!