Life in Whitefish...

View from summit looking at Glacier National Park

So I made it into Whitefish, MT about a week and a half ago and let me just say that life here is pretty good. The first day I was here I went up on the Mountain to hit the slopes. On my way through Wyoming, my cousin Sarah (who lives in Whitefish) called and said that she had just received an email from the resorts ski shop letting everyone know that they would be selling last seasons performance demo skis for $100 with bindings. Cha-Ching! I am not sure how I am going to get them to Salt Lake but they might fit in my car.

The mountain going into the clouds

On Saturday night, we decided to drive into the mountains to check out a local band. We went ahead and got a hotel room so we wouldn't have to drive back from this place in the middle of the night, drunk and swerving to avoid deer.

The next morning when I woke up I walked outside to steep mountains, wide flowing rivers and not a cloud in the sky. After we got back to Whitefish, I grabbed my fly fishing gear, bought a licenses and  headed straight back to where we were the night before.

Me fishing on the South Fork River

After about 2 hours of fishing, the game warden came to check my permit. He told me about another fishing hole and let me follow him there. Like a idiot, I assumed the the Accura could handle anything... I mean come on, it's got a Honda engine. I managed to get stuck for about 45 minuets until my beastly car got its act together and pulled me out of the tundra.

Game Warden - check out his freaking gun...

Monday (Valentine's day), I went skiing with Sarah and her boyfriend, Patrick. It was a "bluebird day" meaning there were blue sky's so the view from the summit was amazing. I wore my blaze orange Patagonia pullover that I picked up in Minneapolis, so there was no missing me!

Sarah and myself on the summit

On Thursday I put up my ski's and tried out snowboarding. As suspected, snowboarding is not my forte. I had told Sarah that I wanted to try it out and she told me about a deal the mountain has going on where you can learn to ski/snowboard and then you get 8 half priced lift tickets, after the 8th ticket you get a free season pass. I don't think I have been as terrified as I was standing at the top of the bunny hill with a single board strapping my feet together. I am glad I wore a helmet and I am very excited to be back on my ski's.

Cold!

As of right now it is 3 degrees here in town and -30 on the summit with a windchill of close to -50 so they closed all lifts that take you to the top of the mountain (frostbite warning). Tomorrow is supposed to be a good powder day but I have to be off the mountain by 1pm so I can drive to Big Sky, Montana to ski with my cousins Lee and Sarah for the weekend. We are also going to celebrate my birthday on Monday and what would have been my sisters 30th birthday tomorrow. After Big Sky I am heading down through Yellowstone and into the Grand Tetons to ski in Jackson Hole, WY with my friend Derick. I went to the Tetons a while back during the summer so I am pretty excited to see what they are like during the wintertime!

View of the sun through the trees in back yard

Found Jesus at the top of chair #2

Ohhh - Almost forgot... So the weather here is pretty crazy. The other day we got dumped on then right after it got really warm so all the snow melted on the road up to the mountain. Right after, there was a cold snap that refroze all the melted snow causing the road to ice down. All this happened over about an hour and a half so they couldn't get out and salt before it all refroze.This was taken from my car on the way down the mountain.

Sucks to be this dude...

From Deadwood to Whitefish

The road goes on forever...

After leaving Sioux Falls, I darted for the western side of South Dakota where I decided I was going to stay for the night. Heading west on I-90, I went through Badlands National Park and then head into Rapid City. The Badlands were pretty cool, the huge flat fields that define the midwest all the sudden turn into very jagged and dangerous terrain. Just south of Rapid City is Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse monument (which were pretty boring but worth seeing). On the drive down I kept thinking about Richie Rich and his mountain (which was the also the site of the Rich family vault) but when I arrived I was shocked at how small the carvings were that make the monument. Crazy Horse was about the same, cool but I wouldn't plan a weekend around it.

Badlands, SD

Mt. Rushmore

As the sun started to set, I raced north towards Deadwood, SD, where I would be bunking up. Deadwood is an old gold town located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. My cousins had given me the HBO series of Deadwood  a few years ago for  X-mas so when I found out I was going to get to go through Deadwood I was pretty excited.

When I checked in to my room they upgraded me to a suite with a balcony that looks out over main street, which is lined with Casinos where you can play single deck blackjack. I ended up winning about $50 bucks and then met a couple of Braves fans who had never been to Atlanta but thought it was the coolest thing that I was from Atlanta.

Famous Bullock Hotel (Used to be a Brothel)

The next morning I left Deadwood and headed out towards Sturgis, a famous town that hosts the largest motercycle festivle in the U.S.. Basically, Sturgis is a shithole. There are trailor parks everywhere and the entire town looks like a huge parking lot.

Sturgis, SD

After a quick drivethrough, I  headed west again and made it into Wyoming where I found the Devils Tower. Devils Tower was probably one of the coolest things I have seen so far. It's basically a huge rock that sticks up out of the ground really far. Have I ever mentioned that I am easily amused...

Me climbing the Devils Tower

The real deal

I ended up spending about an hour and a half at Devils Tower, then I made the increadibly long and uneventful drive towards Whitefish. After 12+ hours in the car I finally made it into Whitefish at 11:22 pm and for the first time on my trip... had found a place to wash my clothes.

Into Wyoming and on to Montana!

Siuox Falls... More like Sux Falls!

Three Days. I heard that Jesus had to spend three days in Hell once. I am not comparing myself but merely saying that when you have to spend three days in a undesirable place, you can learn to appreciate the big man even more.

Sioux Falls, SD - View from room #502

Sunday night before I left Minneapolis, I set out to find a bar to watch the Super Bowl in. Once I got to the “strip” I noticed a sign for a concert. The band sounded familiar but I needed to find out for sure before I blew off any potential Super Bowl Partying. I called my friend Barlar and asked if The Decemberists were something I would enjoy. Sure enough I went ahead and got a ticket and had a much better time than trying to talk football with a bunch of strangers.

The Decemberists @ State Theater Minneapolis, MN

The next morning I was headed west.  The last bit of advice I got before leaving town was from the bartender at Ike’s (an awesome little place in downtown Minneapolis). He said “Yee bra! Da last place I would be stoppin’ is Sioux Falls, if ya can go aheed and drive through I Betcha’ you would be much happier, Ya’Know!” God, I wish I had listened…

I-35 South From Minneapolis to Sioux Falls I-90 West

I pulled into Sioux Falls Monday night about 5:15PM. The roads were a little icy and I didn’t want to drive icy roads after dark. Wanting a larger city to stop, I pulled into Sioux Falls. I had made reservations over the phone via Hotwire.com and was going to stay at the Holiday Inn Center City (Fancy – I know).

Holiday Inn Center City - Sioux Falls (Blows), SD

So, the second I walked in I realized that I was in the middle of some Midwestern version of the Twilight Zone.  After I checked in I started to realize my surroundings, noticing that in 1982 this place would have been high class. The convention center attached to the hotel was having a speaker, one of those “Buy my book and I will teach you the secret to beating high blood pressure”.  As I make my way over to the elevator I see a large display welcoming the Maine semi-pro basketball team, in town for the big game against the Sioux Falls Team. After I drop some stuff off in my room I head down to my car to get the rest. When I walked up I saw it… someone had smashed my window. Luckily, they didn’t take anything.

My ride :(

Tuesday Morning: I wake up and start working on the window only to find out that the earliest that it can be fixed is Thursday morning. Panicked, I call every glass shop in town only to find out that Acura’s are uncommon in South Dakota. So here I sit, Three beautiful days in Sioux Falls, SD where the temp. is -22 with wind chill and setting your warm beer outside to cool down will make it freeze within a half hour.

I love seeing new places but I do not understand why people live here…

Chicago to Minneapolis

Chicago to Minneapolis

So the past few days have been crazy. After the storm we woke up and made breakfast then I hit the town to see what kind of damage was done. Though the city was under 3 feet of snow, it was still pretty cool. After a day of walking around and taking pictures, I went to a bar near the John Hancock building called Gibson’s.  The place was packed but there were a few seats at the bar so I went over to grab a drink. After a beer, I struck up a conversation with the lady sitting next to me. After a while, Chirico shows up and immediately starts to work his game on Kat, who he better call.

We had a great time drinking and hitting up pizza places and blues joints.

The trip from Chicago to Minneapolis was not bad at all. I did pass about 1 zillion signs for cheese when I was passing through Wisconsin. I was pretty excited when I rolled into the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport within 5 minuets of Underwood arriving. We headed straight for the mall of America where we visited the local Hooters, then bought bootleg wristbands from a hockey mom so we could ride the roller coasters. From there we visited the local thrift store, REI and of course Wal-Mart. Dinner was at Mike’s Bar – Home of the Jucy Lucy – a famous burger that Underwood had researched and wanted to try… it was pretty tasty!

The next morning we were off to Eddy’s, the finest resort on all of Lake Mille Lacs. The next few days were pretty uneventful as Ice Fishing usually is. We caught 5 fish, drank 2 cases of beer, 1 handle of Jack Daniels and lost close to $500 collectively at the Casino. Note: if ever at the Grand Casino Lake Mille Lacs – Do not eat the food! If you want to know why then you can ask me.
I was a little bit worried about driving my car over a lake.

Overall the fishing trip was a blast. I defiantly understand why the National Ice fishing Championship is not televised.

Let it snow?

So the past 48 Hours have been a little wacky! Sunday evening, we decided to go ahead and bottle the beer that Steve and I had brewed a few weeks before. We have decided to call it "Bendy's Brew" and its going to be delicious. I just hope that I make it back to Atlanta before my roommates guzzle it all down.

Monday - Departure day - After a stressful morning, I made it out of town with pretty much everything I own. My packing list includes, but is limtited too:
-Warm weather Clothes
-Cold weather Clothes
-Mandolin
-Guitar
-Point and Shoot Camera
-SLR Camera
-Tripod
-Map
-Headlamp
-12 guage shotgun
-Whole wheat goldfish
-12 Pack of Cherry Coke
-Complete series of The Sopranos
-Bible

I stopped in Brentwood to see a recent friend who just got engaged. I made it up to my first destination,  Lousiville,  KY.  Time with friends, is time well spent. Thanks to Brian and Kristen for letting me crash at the "T.A.D. Pad."  "T.A.D." is Brian's English bulldog and his name stands for "Totally Awesome Dude", which is pretty much true,  other than every time T.A.D. deficates, T.A.D.  has to have his ass wiped by Brian so he doesn't make his mark anywhere in the house.

6:30 A.M: I rub my eyes, reach for a cup of coffee to help jump-start my day. As I pack the car for the journey into the windy city, The Weather Channel warns travelers in and around the Chicago area to: "stay put & not leave the home unless absolutely necessary."

Icy roads? No problem - I made it in a record 4hrs & 56 minutues. Since this was my first time driving into Chicago, a personal record could have been set on a rickshaw, so don't be too impressed. Once I arrived, I set out to check out "Old Town" where Chirico lives.

Travel Tactic #1 - Instead of spending countless hours thumbing through travel books, find one unique store and go shopping. While there, inform the staff that you are on a mission, and ask where you should go next. Unless the staff totally sucks at life, you should find yourself on an unexpected adventure.

So, I find myself in a pretty cool cigar shop, where I picked up a few stoagies for my upcoming ice fishing trip. While there I told the guy helping me that it was my first time to Chicago and asked where I should go next? After a few seconds, he told me about a 60-year-old spice store located only a few blocks away, long story short - Roscoe got a new rub!

The Spice House, which is located in Chicago's "Old Town", was nothing short of surprising. After about an hour of sniffing and tasting, I left with a few new rub's to try out the next time I smoke a pork shoulder.

From there I was pointed towards the "Twin Anchors", a famous Chicago Rib House & Tavern that Frank Sinatra used to frequent. The rib's were ok... I didn't really expect much considering that I was more than 500 miles from Memphis.

After dinner, we were susposed to catch a show at the "Second City", a famous comedy joint where Dan Akroyd, Chris Farley, & John Belushi were discovered. Due to the storm, all shows were canceled - Sucks! Instead, Chirico and I decided to head towards Lake Michigan where 25 foot waves are apparently crashing into the shore which flooded Lake Shore Drive ( Check out the article ). This was an incredable idea until we encountered 60 m.p.h. winds about 100 yards from the lake. Around the same time the Chicago Police Department informed us that we would be arrested if we tried to go any closer to the lake. I was all about trying to catch a wave; but since Chirico is about to sit for the Illinois Bar, he was a bit skeptical about going against the officers orders.

They are calling it a "Snowpocalypse"- I just can't wait to get out and play with it tomorrow!

One last thing - After seeing my friend in Brentwood, I wrote a little something - Hope you enjoy!

      "Beauty is a thing that we all seek, some of us find it while others do not. One of the things that I am looking for during my time on the road is a better understanding of what beauty really is, what it means & how it works. After a delayed departure from Atlanta, I stopped to see a friend that recently became engaged. “Glowing” is the only word that I can use to describe her. Not only was se glowing but her mother was glowing as well. From the time I heard her voice on Friday night to when I saw her this afternoon I knew I would walk away with a piece of her enthusiasm. Not everyone really understands what beauty is… some cake on makeup, others wax their cars but few really take the time to stop and listen to the engine. Truth be told I rarely listen but am often looking. Where on my journey will realize that beauty cannot be found, but only translated from one medium to another. Thank you Libby for the translation." - James Roscoe High