Day 3.5 Montana: We Were Slugs…

Nan here. Okay, maybe not entirely sluggish, but after we wandered around Big Sky for a couple of hours and had lunch at a very nice country club with a fantastic mountain view, we decided not to try to go up to Ousel Falls right then. Our plan was to take our tired, altitude-sick butts back to the condo and rest. Then change into our jeans and hiking shoes and go up to the falls.

Ummmm…not so much, cuddling up in blankets and reading and honestly, napping, it was after five when we both came back to the world. A brief discussion later and we were reminded we still have four days here. So we watched a movie on TV, then opened up the sofa bed so we could both stretch out legs, made a light supper of salads, cheese, warm comforting bread, and some fab pinot noir and ate there on sofa while we watched another movie and talked.

We have talked a lot, by the way. We take our mornings slow and easy with coffee (tea for Carol), small breakfasts, and conversation about everything. For me, it’s been lovely beyond words to learn to know Carol better and discover all the ways she truly is a kindred spirit. Liz and I, who are kindred spirits to the point that we can practically finish each other’s sentences, have often thought what a miracle it is to find new kindred spirits at our age. Carol is a gift.

Big Sky is definitely a tourist town–geared to winter sports and skiing. Most of the shops carry ski apparel and touristy kinds of things like postcards and tchotchkes, plus T-shirts and sweatshirts that are emblazoned with BIG SKY or MONTANA and usually bears or elks or bison. It’s charming and interestingly, a pretty new town–established in 1973. I’ve been married as long as Big Sky has been a town.

I think the most important thing that we’ve discovered here is how big the world is–Big Sky indeed! The mountains overwhelm us every time we go outside even though we are halfway up. We’ve both been surprised at being altitude sick–we weren’t anticipating that, although since we both live pretty close to sea level, I guess it should have occurred to us. Carol is rocking the twisty roads that wind up and down the mountains whenever we take off on an adventure, but it’s a different kind of driving for us.

I’m absorbing Montana and imagining the little town of Marietta in each place we visit. I’ve seen cattle ranches and guest dude ranches, so I can add some authenticity to my Juniper Falls Ranch stories. This area is not as cowboy-centric as I imagined it would be, but the vibe is definitely Western. It’s been such treat!

Today, Friday, we are headed to Virginia City and Ennis–two historical mining/Western towns that several people mentioned we should see. They are a couple of hours away, so we’ll find lunch there. Pictures and impressions tonight, we promise!

Until later…

Nan/Carol