Dec 6, 2024

Gorge Ous

Aug 3 -10, 2024 Emigrant, Montana - Seattle, Washington

I probably should have 2 posts for this last week, but you have patiently indulged me for the first 2, so I will wrap it up, although this final stretch has probably some of the most fun and exciting aspects of the trip. I'll pick some major highlights. After leaving Yellowstone through the north gate, a short drive about an hour and a bit, takes us into Emigrant, MT, to where we would be losing my sister and bro in law. They had to get home and I planned to get some r and r after a hectic week of moving and knowing there was more moving to follow this. The Mrs. and I pull into a stunning lodge literally in the middle of nowhere. The scenery was paramount, the room was better and the adventure really didn't let up. Not much r and r to be had when you're in god's country. Highlight # 1 was the first morning as we set out at 7 am on the Yellowstone River for some drift fly fishing. Holy fish. We had an amazing young guide who was not only super qualified and an excellent fisherman, but happened to be a huge music fan, well that didn't make the time "fly" or anything. The 3 of us didn't shut up and as a result he led us on to 2 iconic places. The Old Saloon and the Pine Creek Lodge. Both live music venues and some of the acts that come through there was beyond comprehensible. Now, we aren't talking Taylor Swift or the Stones, but if you are a country music fan, they happen to be notable stops. Pine Creek Lodge held a benefit a few years back for the flood that wiped out the school in Paradise Valley - well who has a ranch nearby, John Mayer, and who has John Mayer been playing with recently? Bob Weir. Didn't get to see them, but saw a country guy who's actually been to Toronto and all over and as they don't host music every night we were blessed to be among the most local of locals to basically some dude's backyard with a small stage. Check out the link below and you get the idea. Unfortunately, noone at the Old Saloon, but we went for a drink anyways as it was est. in 1902, so why not. Anyhoo, we toured on bikes around the property, we threw axes, we chilled, we relaxed, we ate, we slept and we loved everything. 3 nights there and then off through Livingston and Bozeman for lunch and off to Missoula to make camp for the night. Highlight # 2 was at Cracker Barrel the next morning on our way out of town, we meet a guy wearing a Calgary Stampede hat and I asked him if he was there, and he said he actually rode bareback in it and he was from Alberta. Remember the Daddy of 'em all? A week earlier? The Mrs. pulls out her phone and shows him the video of some riders and he says " that's me!" "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine", well sort of. We bought Clint and RC breakfast and talked for a while. We were fascinated with them, their commitment to their craft, their love of family and each other and their whirlwind lifestyle, and of course they loved the Mrs. who can dig deep sometimes! Great memory that we won't forget and off we go again along the 90 west to get to Coeur d'Alene, but not before a stop at the Sierra Silver mine in Wallace, ID. Out of a movie this town, in fact they shot some disaster movie there at one point, I forget which one, but another one of many fascinating stop along the route. Coeur d'Alene offers a great spot to relax and get out on the water and not much else, but a pretty spot along the way to somewhere. Gretzky, the Biebs and Clooney all have houses there, or used to and what the coolest part is that we drove through a time zone! Cool. Flying is one thing, not sure I have ever driven that far east-west. Still a kid a bit I guess. We found a great place on a hike around the lake and some rocks were calling our names, swam off the rocks for a bit and it was pure and priceless. Highlight #3 Time to get on the road for the final 2 stops, the big one in Quincy, Washington where we had a date with Bob and Wille and John and a super surprise guest Billy Strings. Yes, the Outlaw Music Festival at the Gorge. I had to make it special, so I booked a yurt at the Sagecliffe Resort which happens to be connected to the ampitheatre. Not sure perfect is the right word, maybe more like whole or complete or even unblemished, but certainly perfect. Seeing 2 of my favs at an amphitheater carved out of nothing overlooking a gorge in the middle of nowhere. What else does one need. Really. After 2 nights of splendidness, including 1 at the show, finally off to Seattle for a night and then flight home. Seattle was fun for the 20 hrs we were there, walked the market, saw the fish throwing guys, ate on the pier and went on the underground tour. No time for games. What a journey what an epic journey. Mattresses were great along the way and sleep was bountiful.

Some great stops along the way, including Frank's Diner in Spokane, WA and the hamburger stand in Livingston, MT

SET UP

Sage Lodge had a beautiful room overlooking this one range that changed every hour with the sun glistening on it - surreal. Missoula was just a place to crash on our long drive but found a great room from the car on the way at LOGE, Coeur D'Alene was a great 1 bedroom apartment with ample space to cook and dine in if you so chose. The yurt at Sagecliffe was special and almost too perfect and to top it off the room in Seattle at Hotel 1000 was in a perfect location with easy walking to everywhere you want to be in downtown.

Loge Missoula, One Lakeside in CD and Sage Lodge in MT.

MATTRESS

Sage Lodge - Beautyrest Black - the higher end of the Simmons hospitality line. This one was just right, medium to soft, cozy but not overly soft. Hit the right spots and conformed really nice. The Silver was at the LOGE in Missoula and it too had a beauty medium feel to it. Done right here by Simmons, really just a great overall choice for any hotel. Now we get to the fun stuff - Sagecliffe in the yurt had a mattress that was like the guys we saw in concert - quite frankly, old. It was musty and sort of gross, but we were in a yurt in the middle of nowhere and who really cared. They should though update these as it felt like a stone floor and I may have been better off on the floor! Luckily it had a zipper protector on it, as they all did, but I mentioned to the front desk that it was time for a change - as Bob says, "a complete unknown, like a rolling stone". Willie sang "Stay all night, stay a little longer", well if it wasn't for him, not sure how much longer I could stay on that mattress. The Sterns and Foster in Seattle turned things around, and was a great end to the trip. A beautifully constructed mattress with a plush pillowtop that really provides support and comfort at the same time. I've mentioned before that a common misconception in my industry is that a soft mattress doesn't have support and firmer is better. Fafafooey is what I say. There are plenty of soft and conforming mattresses on the market that will support you just as well. Sterns is great example of that.

OVERALL

When looking back at the 2 weeks, I feel we did so much because we did. Being present is a lovely thing. There was always something to see and do and no shortage of great conversation and laughs along the way. Road trips are under rated. I know there is so much beautiful country to see and no matter what route you choose, there is something lurking around the next corner. People are amazing and we should embrace everyone of us. Everyone has a story, and although you don't know what it is, it sure seems like we should. America is a fantastic place and I can't help to think what division there is right now and why. It's upsetting to me. It's upsetting that we can't put our differences aside and enjoy who we are, what we have and what one's life has to offer. Sometimes I feel like the devil is just looking for souls, yet there is so much good. I have come to realize in my latter years, that it is not what happens to me, but what happens for me. Good or bad. It's a chance to reset and focus on the important stuff like your health and family. I am grateful, blessed and appreciative of what has happened for me, good and bad. I wish for everyone to feel the same. 😍🚗🐎🪕🎶❤💑