It’s like I’ve wandered into a scene straight out of a snow globe, except this one’s missing the usual hustle and bustle. Thanks to COVID-19, Livingston, Montana, has transformed into a #ghosttown, wrapped in a thick blanket of snow. I checked out the Instagram link, and let me tell you, those snow-covered streets are both haunting and stunningly picturesque, as if Mother Nature decided to tuck the town in for a long winter’s nap.
What am I tried to accomplish? I hate living in wintry places. And I keep moving to the worst of them. Here is the rundown.
Born and raised in Roundup Montan. I thought that was winter. But now as we have lived in Livingston, and in our consistently scouring the map to see where the warmest and driest places in Montana are. We keep finding out that Roundup is the warmest and dryest place in the state.
Billings Montana. Same as above. But even more warm sometimes.
Upstate New York. While living there and racing my mountain bike I was in heaven. I considered the winter’s cold but short. Everybody around me thought they were horrible. I found them to last very short. So short in fact like a month or two. Other than that, it was always in transition and the summers were absolutely amazing. well, except for the humidity and ice.
Connecticut. Same as above but even better. I was able to ride my bike year-round. That’s when things started to turn for the worse. I decided to move back to Montana. I chose Missoula. Not only because of its art and culture but because along with the flathead corridor and the Bitterroots, it seemed to always be the warmer place in Montana. And most importantly next to the mountains. You know mountains are very very important to me. I cannot live anywhere without mountains and so Missoula seems to be the best place. And indeed the winters were not as short as New England, but MAYBE doable.
But then I started to get a little grouchy in Missoula because of the winters. YES, they were a little bit longer than New England, but the worst thing was inversion and clouds. I thought this place was not for me and then I lost track of everything. I moved to Bozeman.
I realized that was the coldest place I have ever lived. The winters seemed to last two to three months longer than even in Missoula. I mean, you only had like three months of summer and even then it wasn’t that warm. We escaped over the pass to Livingston two years ago.
And I thought I was in heaven. The summers are hot and the population was low. And this little town seems to be a lot like Missoula. But when the first winter hit it first seemed okay. A couple of snowstorms but it melted right away and the whole winter all the way up to March it was dry. I thought holy cow this is it.
This is awesome. The only problem was the wind. Now after surviving two. Well, I have to say I haven’t survived the second winter yet and this is the big problem. After a couple of early seasons snow storms indeed everything dried off. It was just cold and windy. Which in itself means winter and my body feels like it wintered.
And then as you go into March you think oh my god Spring is almost here and then it hits and it snows every day throughout the month and into April and May. And if this year is like last year, it will snow until June. So yeah. Livingston seems to be okay until you hit March, but then it’s winters are offset into when normal people would be experiencing spring.
My body’s very messed up. I need to be near the desert but in the mountains. This is not sounding like Montana at all.
Adventure starts with small seeds of curiosity. And maybe a sunny day.
“I wonder if we could get over there?”
She was pointing to the other side of the bay. Supposedly it was state lands, a state park. The bay looked frozen and we had our fat bikes. All the items necessary to go investigate. Four hours later we went on a wonderful adventure.
Just to ensure a respectable amount of energy to pedal a bike with massive tires we put down a couple of really strong coffees and then set ou.
That is when we left Montana. The bays were private so it seemed as if we were marooned on an island. Well, except for the snow and Ice. Other times we were biking the ice chunks of Lake Superior.
Then a crossing of the high plains to end the day. Followed by removing numerous cactus from our tires.
It’s all there folks. Just a little curiosity and sunshine. happens every time.
— Spectator at Togwotee Classic 2018
We arrived mid-day and found a lovely spot. After a much-needed project in the van, I decided to test it out by getting the bikes out of the back. We needed to go for a ride. The wind grabbed the back door and swung it around, smashing it into a picnic table. When I saw the dent I slammed the door shut and cussed my way back to the front. I jumped inside and Mo wondered what was the matter.
“I killed our baby”
The horror flushed over me, our brand new van, big dent, all my fault. I started the van and we pulled out of there. We needed a change of scenery.
We found a nice spot that in hindsight was better than the first. Better yet it was out of the wind.
The day got late and the depression increased. Mo knew I needed to get outside and work it out. We went out to survey the damage.
“It’s not so bad”
I knew she was just trying to make me feel better. I started to walk. And walk. Made it to the end of the peninsula and into a frozen bay. It was the sunset that brought relief. As soon and instinct kicked in. To reach into my pocket to grab the camera. To document the beauty or uniqueness. To share. And to appreciate with Mo the sunset. And I forgot.
Maybe I took a step back to see the big picture. The killing of our baby became a speckle. The world was right again.
What do I think about our trip into the desert for Christmas? It was great.
But really photos describe it better. Now that I’m looking through them and posting them I have to say I’m really impressed.
They just embody the word Adventure where there’s something different around Each corner and with each step. So check them out. They can be found over at my photo album 2019.
On this day in history, let’s take a stroll down memory lane with my captivating blog posts:
Dive into each link for a slice of adventures and reflections through the years!
Why am I out here?
What am I doing and where am I going? Well, it certainly is beautiful out here.
Although. My rickety old body doesn’t think so.
Distance five miles. Awesome. It amazes me. What something like a little juniper tree will do. In the winter out here. It makes a drift. So big that it stops all persons trying to cross the prairies. I’m on this carpet of gravel that weaves around all these drifts. Sometimes I have to dive into these corridors of snow where people have tried to bust through with their four-wheel drives. Through a monster drift.
Over the mountain pass and through some punks. Showing off by getting air over a couple of snow doubles. And now I am on a monster climb. What am I doing out here?
Does anybody else get excited when they cross the top of a hill? Like a puppy when it’s owner comes home. Like what’s up there? My cadence increases. I start working harder. I can’t wait to get up there. So exciting. And then to find out it is a false summit. You stupid; you’ve been out here a million times.
How come you thought that was the top? And yet when we get to the next one. Summit or not we’re gonna get excited. We’re gonna paint like a little puppy. I’m already excited about this. Where’s the next one? Why am I out here?
I’m getting tired because I stopped talking to myself. I’m no longer interested in a stimulating conversation. Why am I out this far?
Dive into these snapshots of life’s adventures, from musings on the simplicity of daily moments to the thrill of outdoor exploration. Each post is a testament to the journey of self-discovery and the ever-evolving adventure of life.
Buttons gets a fridge
Buttons gets a roof rack
Buttons gets trimmed
Buttons gets a solar panel
Buttons gets a ladder
The devil dust did come last week. And we did escape and go south until we found some more sun. And as I reflect on the season I must milk every last stitch of sunlight and dirt that I can. Long are the days of Enduro racing, which my favorite was Grand Targhee, but there is gravity and dirt still and I need to get out there and enjoy it.
This just in from Yellowstone National Park. Turn around and you never know what you will see. Mo got a picture of a grizzly bear when she saw everybody on the road pointing and yelling to turn around. Yeah, so I guess you never know what you will see. So this is the second day that I’ve went to the WordPress free plan and I am still testing to see whether or not I can upload media. I should be at the limit for uploads. Otherwise it is blizzarding right now and I am enjoying pictures of what the ground looks like without a covering of white. As you were. https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ZqYNRnGSJ/?igshid=5c2glt288dq2
Check out more photos at https://photos.app.goo.gl/LhrKPpKMWLw7u7Jg7
Today my personal plan expired here at WordPress. I am now on the free plan. I’m still in the same place just choosing to post pictures in various social media sites and share that way. I’m starting to get an itch to write something. Especially because my writing skills have really deteriorated.
It has been a long ride. I have had some great posts here and fun times have been spread to many. But recently I just have been posting images. I feel I need to move on.
Is this the real life?
Freddie Mercury
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see
I’m just a poor boy (Poor boy)
I need no sympathy
Because I’m easy come, easy go
Little high, little low
Any way the wind blows
Doesn’t really matter to me, to me …
Bohemian Rhapsody lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Maybe someday I will feel the need to write again. I need to get on on the bike more and let go of this obsession to keep something going just because it has a long history. I mean I suspect no one will even read this.
… Didn’t mean to make you cry
Freddie Mercury
If I’m not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters
Too late, my time has come
Sends shivers down my spine
Body’s aching all the time
Goodbye, everybody
I’ve got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
Bohemian Rhapsody lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Home can be an Adventure too. When was the last time that you took alleys and streets that you’ve never been on?
On this hill was Paul’s Last Stand. Weird reality crept up the hill and surrounded him. This is where he fought a brief battle but had to succumb.
Having lost the battle and upon leaving Yellowstone National Park we assembled at katabatic Brewery. But then we met another foe. The Brew that I wanted to introduce him to was no longer in rotation. Bummer.
From there we went next door to Gil’s Goods. This is where we meet are more stubborn foe. Incompetent wait staff that would lose our order and leave us sitting there for an hour. it was time to make another stand and Paul approached the cashier. In the end we got a free pizza but for me it was disappointing to try and show Paul the better Side of Livingston to only come a little short.
Just a typical day here in Livingston Montana. By the time I travel to Bozeman and work and then come back
… then back out to a trail to go mountain biking
… I kind of feel like I’ve been run over by a truck.
Boneshakerbike 