My annual trip to western Montana took place in late October this year. The drive along I-90 from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, over the two mountain passes was particularly beautiful due to the fall colors. Bright yellow larch trees scattered among the dark evergreens were the main feature in the higher elevations, while deciduous trees also flaunted their colors in the Silver Valley. I couldn't always find a place to pull over and take a picture, but I do have a few. For this first one, I confess: I simply held my phone up while I was driving and poked the button to take a photo without looking at it. With a little editing later, it turned out remarkably well.
The next two were taken at the first exit after entering Montana. I've stopped there for photography sessions in the past.
Near Ninepipes Wildlife Refuge, one can admire this view of the Mission Mountain Range:
The next two were taken at the scenic turnout just south of Ronan, Montana. That's a view the rarely disappoints!
I spent four lovely days at my sister's house. As usual, we did knitting and crocheting, assembled a jigsaw puzzle, read books, and drank plenty of tea. I even learned how to crochet a gnome!
I took Hwy. 200 to return to Idaho. That, too, was a scenic drive, despite rain showers much of the way. I stopped for a treat at Ripples Ice Cream Parlor in Plains, MT. I don't remember how I first found out about this business, but it's one of my favorite places to take a break.
Their specialty is called a blend. It's a mixture of hard ice cream and add-ins of your choice, resulting in a creamy dessert the texture of soft ice cream. I wasn't in the mood for super sweet, so decided on chocolate ice cream with peanut butter.
More fall colors tempted me to stop repeatedly as I worked my way west.
The stretch of highway between Plains and Thompson Falls is well-known territory for Bighorn Sheep. These signs, and similar, were posted along the way. I didn't see any sheep this time.
I did see a deer several miles farther along my trip. It walked out onto the road directly in front of me. I slammed on my brakes so hard, it made my ankle hurt. Fortunately, the deer looked up at my vehicle and bolted on across the road. If it hadn't kept going, I could easily have struck it.
Other than that Close Encounter of the Cervidae kind, it was a very satisfactory road trip and a wonderful visit at my sister's house.
All photos taken on my Android phone.
