There are grander and more sublime landscapes – to me. There are more compelling cultures. But what appeals to me about central Montana is that the combination of landscape and lifestyle is the most compelling I’ve seen on this earth. Small mountain ranges and open prairie, and different weather, different light, all within a 360-degree view. Sam Abell
Non-Wandering Wanderer Memories
Yesterday I came across the journal I kept during my 30-day journey from Ogden to Alaska, most of which was driven on the Alaskan Highway. I thought I would blog about the trip this November as my time is precious – I’ve signed up to do NANO – that is write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. I’m writing a bird memoir, and when I did the Alaska trip, I was just beginning my late-blooming bird-watching passion.
On the first day of my 2001 Alaskan adventure, I drove from Ogden, Utah, to Dillon Montana. It was July 27.
Like Ogden, where my journey began, Dillon is a railroad town. It was founded in 1880 by Union Pacific Railroad President Sydney Dillon, hence its name. Its location was selected because of its close location to gold mines then in the area, the first of which was discovered in 1862. And because of its large sheep-ranching community, Dillon, which was incorporated in 1884 and has a current population of about 4,000, was once the largest exporter of sheep wool in Montana.
The odd fact I still recall, because of research I had done prior to my journey, is that a circus elephant named Old Pitt was struck by lightning in the town in 1943, and was buried at the fairgrounds.
While I don’t remember too much else about the town, where I slept that first day on the road, I still have memories of my excitement about the coming month. And of course the birds I was going to see along the way.
Bean Pat: Pit’s Fritztown News http://tinyurl.com/z64x46l One of my favorite bloggers, who writes from Fredericksburg, Texas. Today he’s talking about Day Zero of a road trip that appealed to me, and seemed to go with my Day 1 of my trip to Alaska, which of course started with my own Day Zero.
Good morning, Pat,
Thanks ever so much for mentioning my blog and my upcoming series on our recent “RailTrailRoadTrip”. 🙂 It’ll take quite a while, though, for me to finish it as each blog post takes a lot of time to write, and since there are many other things to do around the house and yard. But I’ll keep on it.
And it’ll be very interesting for me to read about your travelling to Alaska, a stae that is till on our bucket list. But very likely the Lower 48 will get preference. That’s enough of a distance to be covered.
Take care,
Pit
You’re welcome .. I had 9 years of full-time travel and while I saw a lot, thee are still places in the lower 48 I would love to visit. We truly live in a beautiful world.
I really enjoy “going on” the these trips with yoiu.. thanks for sharing then and now