Before we get into the biking stuff, I have to comment on a blog from my friend Danny regarding the Home Run Derby which you can read on his blog. Sounded like a boring start with a great finish, from his play by play, but from who I read was announcing it this year, gotta say I’m glad I didn’t have to watch in a bar where I wouldn’t have the option of muting the TV. Honestly, only Tim McCarver could have made a team with Joe Morgan and Boomer any worse. I could just picture myself having to put back beer after beer to make sure the terrible commentary didn’t sink into my mind, not to mention the A-Rod/Bonds segment. Thanks for documenting that online with some good commentary Danny, because I don’t think I would have been able to sit down to watch it.
Idaho is now complete, much to my disappointment. There was just so much to do in that state, between the readings, sleeping, and biking, and the occasional chain restaurant or truck stop. I don’t what I’ll do when we get to Iowa and beyond. Never thought that I would be looking forwards to states such as Iowa and Illinois for great excitement, but after coming through Idaho, with Wyoming and Nebraska on the way, boredom has taken on a new definition. How many games of cards and Yatzee can one play before going stir crazy? Great to see the States, don’t get me wrong, it’s something I’m glad to have done in my lifetime, but I don’t really see much reason to visit states like this again. Unless of course my children turn out to be annoying little Matt Roche-esque pains in my ass, in which case, under the guise of a nice family vacation, I can subtly punish them with such a tour during the summer. For those of you who don’t know what a Matt Roche-esque child would be, it is an over-active child who is easily bored, and likes to banish their boredom through the torture of others, usually through the physical/mental torture of those smaller and weaker. Nothing against the grown Matt Roche, who has turned out nicely, aside from the occasional blast from the past, but this kid wasn’t the most fun to grow up around for a brother 5 years younger and smaller, as more often than not I was the target of his boredom induced attacks. Not that I’m bitter. At all. Anyways, if they are good, maybe it will be a winter vacation, because there does appear that there would be some great skiing out here.
As a reward for completing Idaho, we decided to drive up to Yellowstone National Park in Montana, so that we could see that great park, as well as check off Montana from the states we’ve seen in our lifetimes. Upon arriving at the park, they hand out a brochure giving different details about the park. A major part of this brochure is in regards to the grizzly bears in the park. Apparently, they are somewhat famous around here for their grizzlies, which is a thrilling fact for me, having just seen my first wild bear a few months ago in Amherst. All muscle, that bear was, and it was only a small one. I’m kinda looking forward to setting our campfire and roasting some pork chops out here. It has been a few days since I last exercised, and a grizzly coming down to get the food would provide me some great incentive to sprint for a few miles, as there is nothing like running for your life. Granted, if it happens, I’ll most likely be lost in Yellowstone National Park without food or water, but hey, better than being mauled by a bear. And hey, at least we won’t be running into Rattlesnakes here, which for some reason worry me more than any grizzly bears. And as I’m writing this in the car, we just passed our first bear just off of the road, so scratch that last comment, don’t really know what I was thinking, potential unwanted death is potential unwanted death is potential wanted death, none are really any more or less attractive than any other.
Got to see some cool different sites on the drive up to Yellowstone. First, I got to see my first Dude Ranch. Still have no idea what goes on at a dude ranch, or what separates it from the standard ranches surrounding it. But hey, I can finally say I’ve seen a dude ranch. More importantly, we drove by the Grand Tetons. Absolutely beautiful mountains, all jagged rock, tall, still snow capped in ninety degree heat. Not to mention on the drive through the Teton national park to Yellowstone, we passed a massive lake that ran right up to some of the Teton mountain range. Just incredible, really, something that you will all have to see sometime if you ever wander out to Montana or Yellowstone. Another thing we ran across was Jackson (Hole), Wyoming. Right in the middle of the nothing that had been Wyoming to that point while driving up was an incredibly affluent looking community, full up with all kinds of nice shops, a Sotheby’s real estate store, and upscale grocery stores. Very nice spot, when I get rich, it will be a town I think that I may have to visit later in life, not just because it is so nice looking, but also because of the potential skiing in the area, with a few nice looking mountains. Just brings to mind some of the nicer things in life that working will give me. Or at least the illusion of being able to purchase such things, as my starting salary will most likely not afford me beautiful expensive vacations right away, unfortunate as that is to admit to myself. All the non-rent and car moneys will probably roll into other expenses such as tickets to various sporting events, fine establishments around Boston and the like. The nice side to the stress of a looming job search that I discussed in my last post. Anyways, I’m gonna get back to the sites as we drive into Yellowstone, so for now, I’m out.
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