My stay near Sheridan at TP had been idyllic.  It was one of those places where you know you could just hunker down indefinitely and be content for a long stretch.  Spending time with my friend and learning about her family’s legacy there made it all the more charming and personal, and provided two intangibles that make any place unique for me – community and connectivity.   Both of these almost always serve to create a place that’s loved hard by the people who call it home, or in this case, home away from home.  I eagerly anticipate a return at some point!  If you missed reading about our travels in Wyoming, check out Old Friends in New Places!

Moving Out

Leaving the Big Horns meant striking out on my own.  This day had been marked on my calendar for months as the day that the adventure part of my trip truly began.  I intended to slow the pace, open my eyes, and go around each bend with anticipation for the unknown.

The eventual destination for that evening was Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park near Three Forks, Montana, halfway between Bozeman and Butte, and 300 hundred highway miles away.  I confess to taking route 90 to Bozeman.  The terrain for most of the trip meant there were few road choices other than the highway, and I was eager to be get from A to B that morning.

Sometimes I underestimate how long a drive can be, especially out here where the twists and turns and climbs of the roads mean much slower drive times.  Couple that with a later start than planned, and a back-up plan was needed for the afternoon.  Big Sky, my original intended destination, would have to wait for a return trip and a bigger investment of time.

A New Plan

For the record, I really didn’t really have a Plan B, just the great desire to find a place for Lexi and I to hike in the mountains while still arriving at our campsite at a decent time.  After some Googling and consulting All Trails about five times, I settled on a hike to Upper Potosi Hot Springs near Pony, Montana.  It looked like a cool drive, the hike was fairly short (which I needed at that point), and it was easy distance to Lewis & Clark. 

This was one of those times that the hike itself will be the least memorable part of the day.  In the end the trail covered less than two miles through mostly meadow land to a small hot spring at the foot of the mountain.  It was beautiful, though Lexi was clearly confused by the temperature of the water. Ha! 

But the drive – almost 20 miles of dusty dirt (another shout-out to the All-Trails app – without it the signage and the general feeling of the drive would have caused me to turn around for sure).   The first few miles we meandered past sprawling ranches with cattle and horses dotting the hillsides.

Holy Cows

Okay, let’s pause here for a minute to state the obvious and say that the cattle population in both Wyoming and Montana is massive.  They are everywhere – in fields, woods, ponds, up in the steepest part of the mountains, grazing by the lakes – everywhere.  And the babies!  I love cows.  (And steak, and hamburger. Oops – That wasn’t my initial point.)  These guys are being fed well for sure!

Wild Wilderness

Back to the drive – deeper into wilderness (cell service long behind) – a winding road with increasingly higher mountains flanking both sides, very occasional houses with no obvious electricity, and a gorgeous rushing mountain stream on my left. 

Eventually I reached a very primitive-looking campground, with 2 or 3 sketchy RVs of sorts set up there.  One looked like it had grown there and was slowly decaying over time, as did its wizened resident who raised a hand in greeting as he trudged across the dusty grounds.  I asked him about the trail, and he pointed me across the stream.  I have to hand it to All Trails, as it was exactly as described and took me right to the spot.  I would also like to mention that under very few circumstances would I be willing to stay at this campground.  Just a bit too creepy for my taste.

The day was high-80s hot, and after a quick dip in the icy stream, Lexi and I hiked to the spring and back.  While it was fun to find a pool of hot water in the middle of nowhere, it was even better to go back to the icy stream and cool off afterwards.   But the views!  The completely pine-covered mountains provided wonderful scents from our valley vantage point of about 6,000 feet.   I don’t think I’ll ever forget that smell.

Great Gifts

In that moment I realized I had driven 2,000+ miles for this – sheer inclines of intimidating green mountains, unfiltered blue sky, water cold enough to freeze your toes in July, and clear as though looking through a glass.  I breathed deep, feeling blessed by the experience each sense provided.  This was the west I daydreamed about on those muggy damp days.  Lucky, lucky me.

Each day is a gift, and each experience memorable – yes, those stop-you-in-your-tracks amazing ones are obvious, but the small little pieces that weave together make their own magic as well.  In the end it’s all perspective.  In any case, this is the part where I have to open my ears and eyes to experience the wonder.

We left as we came, through the narrow road cut in the mountains, miles and miles until we reached a choice.  No cell service at this point left me puzzled with whether to go left or right.  My map didn’t show these back roads either, so I sat navigating in my mind for a minute or two, until a philosophical solution presented itself in the form of an friendly older guy and a dog in a pick-up.  I guess the PA license plate gave me away, but he sidled up next to me, put down the dog’s passenger side window and kindly asked, “Are you at the crossroads of life?”  To which I responded, “Possibly”. 

Lexi and I followed them across more dirt and ranching land until we reached a road that would connect to three more before we landed at Lewis & Clark Caverns.  A quick wave of thanks and we turned off of route 2 into the park.   I love these completely unexpected encounters. 

Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park

The campground proved to be wildly different than any other I’d been to at that point.  Wide open space spotted with sprawling shade trees, golden grasses and a river just beyond.  I thought it would be disconcerting to be out in the open, but the campground was rimmed with rolling hills and mountains that somehow made it all quite snug. 

The picnic table served as a perfect place to spread maps and notes and plan the days ahead.  Friendly campground hosts, neighborly RV’ers and a great sunset made for a sweet end to the day.  With the cool of the evening settling on us, we enjoyed the last light of day by the fire, and settled in. 

Am I at the crossroads of life?  Not any more.  It’s come and gone, and continue to choose and revel in the road less traveled.  It’s made all the difference!

Just Being Lexi

Today she made (to her) the wildly unexpected discovery of prairie dogs.   On our hike to the hot spring, their holes, constant chirping cacophony, and peeking heads were everywhere.  Lexi just couldn’t figure it out.  I think they are hilarious; all the more so as Lexi darted from one hole to the next, confused by the “now you see them now you don’t” experience.  It’s a little like Whack-a-Mole.

Parting Thought

I’ll have more to say later about Lewis & Clark – not the campground but the men who traipsed across the wilderness just over 200 years ago, seeing all this for the first time.  Their names are emblazoned on so many parts of the West.  I feel connected with them in such an odd way, though so much of my travels in 2021 would be unrecognizable to them. 

Please visit again for the next stop Around the Bend!

Come Along!

To stay up-to-date with our adventure, head over to Facebook and like Just Being Bing. I’ll post each update there as well as on my website.

As you can imagine, traveling for an extended period of time takes a lot of planning and preparation, and I love the planning!  Once we’re on the road though, there’s room for all kinds of twists and turns in our travel.  I love so many of the unexpected moments of our trips.

There’s also a ton of prayer involved – both as part of the planning, and when we are on the road.  If you’d like to pray for me (and Lexi!) while we are adventuring, we would be grateful.  I’ll share a few specfics in my updates.  Thank you!

Maybe we will see you Around the Bend!

Future Just Being Bing & Finding Freedom News

I’m excited to share the road with you!  If you’re keen to follow along on my Northwest Passage trip, check back on the home page of Just Being Bing, or follow me on Facebook or Instagram for all the updates, news and photos.  My ultimate goal is to inspire others to find their own freedom on the road!

To make sure you get all the upcoming news about my upcoming book, Finding Freedom:  A Girls’ Guide to the Open Road – join The Wander-Bings, a Facebook group for anyone looking to find and share the wonder in their travels.

Travel on!

Bing