Day 32 - Surprises and Big Timber

Being in Great Falls MT I had to see the great falls, right? So I did and lo and behold right next to the first one was the National Lewis and Clark Exposition and Interpretive Center. What a treat! Great Falls is considered the turning point of the trip - hardships overcome here would set the tone for the coming crossing of the Rockies. What a great surprise finding this place as it was a fantastic reliving that amazing journey. I am also always surprised at how some small towns have these unbelievably good restaurants. Today I visited two such places. First, in White Sulphur Springs MT (population 950) I stopped at The Corner Deli and it was a small piece of heaven. Organic, local, green with a hundred choices such as vegan, gluten-free, dairy free, etc. Best of all it was a complete surprise and it was delicious. Then tonight in Big Timber MT (population 1629) I had dinner with my friend Dave Noll (fellow Capricorn!) at the Grand Hotel that was as good a meal as I have had anywhere (I had the Rubbed Cowboy Montana Steak - in Montana - ha!! And yummmm!). The meal was great but of course catching up with Dave was so much fun. We sat at that table from 6 pm until closing time around 11 pm when we were kicked out at closing time. Have I told you how much I am loving this trip?? And I am now staying in a guest room Dave carved out in his barn. My favorite thing about this room is that he hired a local interior designer to help him and when they asked him for his preferred design direction he honest to God said "1890s whore house". And so that is where I am sleeping tonight, in a room in a barn on a farm in Montana that is reminiscent of an 1890s whore house. Did I tell you I am loving this trip?

ODO - 7458