Morning in Montana

Having freshly awoken from a bad dream, Mike makes the long walk across a Montana truck stop parking lot to use the restroom and grab a coffee, admiring the splendor of the mountains nearby.

Good morning, it’s a lovely Sunday morning, and this is Mike George doing a solo post. Matthew is still sleeping, but I woke up from a pretty bad dream — a real "cage-rattler" — so I needed to get some air and breathe a bit.

We are currently in western Montana, just outside of the "metropolis" of Missoula. Looking at Google Maps, it seems to be a major hub, maybe the second-largest city in the state. I'm standing in the parking lot of the truck stop where we stayed, and even though it's just a parking lot, the mountains in the distance are fantastic.

We rolled in late last night when it was pitch black, but now that it's daytime, it's just as beautiful as I expected. I’m currently conducting my daily ritual of waking up and realizing I suddenly have to pee. It’s about a half-mile trek over to the convenience store from the truck, so I’ve had to learn how to "budget my bladder" for the walk.

When we arrived last night, the Country Pride restaurant was already closed, so we had to resort to convenience store food. We spent about $20 on wings, fried mushrooms, taquitos, and a bowl of chili. These truck stops in the middle of nowhere really get you when they’re the only place open to eat.

I’m going to head into the store now. I won’t hold the camera up while I’m doing my business as that would be awkward, but I’ll keep talking so you can hear the sights and sounds. I’ll just stick the phone in my pocket for a second.

(Mike enters the store and finds the restrooms)

Okay, restrooms are this way. I’m going to put the phone away for a moment because I imagine trucker boys get a little peeved when you're recording in there.

(Sounds of the restroom)

Oh, that’s a really unfortunate toilet flusher. And it looks like someone spit chewing tobacco in the sink.

(Mike exits the restroom)

Alright, I have vacated the men's room. 2 out of the 3 urinals were covered up and non-functioning, as was one out of the two toilets. They definitely have some overdue maintenance to handle. Maybe they should take some money from that massive, bright LED sign you can see from 3 miles down the road and focus it on their basic amenities.

Now, I still need to get some coffee. While I walk, let's look at those mountains —majestic beauty at its finest!

I mentioned that dream earlier. It involved heights, which I don't usually mind, but this was about being precariously dangled 30 or 40 feet in the air on metal grates that weren't even affixed to the steel beams. In the dream, if you stepped on the edge of a grate, it would tip over. I had to look down to shout "watch out" to people below, and looking down is generally not a good idea when you're high in the air. It just rattled my cage a bit.

I’m going to head back into the store for that coffee. It is cold out here! Based on my "nipple thermometer," I’d venture to say it’s about 35F. I foolishly failed to wear gloves, and my hands are freezing. We’ve been traveling through different weather regions, going back and forth between winter and fall temperatures, and I’ve been caught with my gloves off this morning.

Matthew has updated me that he's actually already in the truck stop. Since video recording him right after he gets out of bed is even more hazardous to my survival than recording in a men's room, I’m going to sign off.

Coming to you live from Missoula, Montana — this is Mike George. Have a pleasant and safe Sunday morning out there!