Cool Towns and Windy Lands

Jogged around Spokane, WA this morning. Even in spite of nasty weather, a nicely sculpted downtown. Much of the area was beautified for the 1974 World's Fair (do they still have those any more?). Some very fine bookstores and bicycle shops, as well as a modern riverfront center. Reminds me somewhat of San Antonio -- a small town bisected by a river with some decent downtown planning.

I drove West out of Washington through Idaho in Montana. Missoula is the first town on the interstate. I expected a sleepy cowtown (remember, A River Runs Through It?) and was shocked to find first a row of modern Big Box retailers. My suppply of clean socks was replentished at Gart's Sports. Then, I cruised for the downtown area. It was actually very cool due mostly to the influence of the Univerisity of Montana. I remember seeing the Grizzlies at the NCAA basketball championships last Spring. They made it to the second round. My late lunch was had in a nice grocery/deli placed in an old brick building. The workers there were neo-hippie types. I guess if you spend Winters this close to Canada you have to do some sort of drugs to pass the time.

I trudged on through the night and finally stopped off the interstate, just north of Yellowstone. Unfortunately, I can't go through the park as it closed last week. Tomorrow, I'll need to get an early start to make it to Denver, CO.