Road Trippin' The USA: Eight Weeks Across America, Part 5

You know, they call Montana the Big Sky State.  Montana has had a lot of nicknames over the years, but since 1962 it’s been Big Sky Country.  I now know why; because when you’re in Montana, even though you logically know that it’s the same sky as other states, it just looks like blue forever.

When I left Yellowstone, I found myself in Montana obeying the aforementioned “Reasonable and Prudent” daytime speed limit on my way to Billings.  I would be spending the night in Billings in the first of a long line of Motel 6 economy rooms. Economy or not, I was looking forward to a night of heat, a shower, and a telephone jack to get my laptop a-whirring.  Yes, it was wonderful.

After being refreshed by a good night’s sleep, I was off to do a little exploring.  My first stop was to Boot Hill Cemetery.  There are Boot Hill Cemeteries across America; they are the final resting places of those fallen soldiers who “died with their boots on”.  While the Boot Hill Cemetery just outside of Billings has a couple of famous dead folk, there are a lot of wooden crosses that just read “UNKNOWN”.  It's a strange feeling looking over all of those graves holding people whose families probably wondered what happened to them, but never knew.  I wandered briefly among the tombstones before heading onward towards Little Big Horn National Battlefield. 

At this point, my obsession with America’s National Parks has taken hold and I’m very much looking forward to this stop.  I headed east on Interstate 90 and easily found my way to the visitor center from the 212 exit.  With my new National Parks Passport in hand, I went eagerly in search for the Passport stamping station.  Then I looked for more information about the park.  At that point, I was a newbie in the National Park world, but I my system where I start off with any audio-visual presentations that the visitor center offers and then go exploring began right then and there at Little Big Horn.  On this particular day, I found a driving tour audio cassette for sale, which I decided to try out.  It takes a little longer than without it to enjoy the Battlefield, but if you have an opportunity to visit Little Big Horn you must take the audio tour.  You get so much knowledge and information about the battle there and what each of the landmarks represent.  It truly is amazing and I highly recommend a visit to this park.  I know most everyone is familiar with the Battle of LIttle Big Horn, but in 1876, thousands of Lakota and Cheyenne Indian warriors defended their homelands here, killing hundreds of US Soldiers, including General Custer.  It can be an emotional journey exploring our nations battlefields.  This is one truth I discovered on this cross-country experience.  Little Big Horn was only the first of several battlefield visits and I think each one tugged at my heart more than the one before.  When you’re done touring the park, you can also stroll through the rows of white tombstones at National Cemetery located there. 

I hadn’t expected to spend so much time at Little Big Horn, so I was running a little late for my next date.  I was heading to Wyoming and Devil’s Tower!  I might have made it to the park if I had taken I-90, but I wanted to travel the Blue Lanes, so instead I arrived after the visitor center had closed.  I was disappointed not to have the opportunity to see what type of audio-visual program they might have had and of course, no passport stamp, but I still got to stand before the Tower in all of it’s majesty.  Devil’s Tower, our first National Monument, is just this amazing and really weird thing, for lack of a better description.  Scientists still do not agree on what created the Tower, but it is a geological wonder.  I gave it the “Vacation Nod” and got on my way.  I did get to check out a lot of Prairie Dogs on my way to the highway and once, ON the highway, I had the pleasure of stopping in the middle of the road to photograph a family of deer who were crossing the road in front of me.  It was amazing to me that I could stop on a highway and have this beautiful experience without a single car coming by.  I loved it.

My plan was to make it to Hot Springs South Dakota to spend the night with Michael and Olivia who had made the crazy move from California to South Dakota!  I made it to their home by around 10pm and enjoyed catching up with them for the evening.  My big oops?  I locked my keys in my car right when I got there and had to call out the Auto Club.  That guy was not really so happy with me and my midnight call.  Say it again.  "Oops".

Links to previous posts in this series can be found at the bottom of this page!

Jennifer St.Antoine, Gather Travel Correspondent 

Jennifer's column, Road Trippin' The USA, published every other Friday, beginning February 9th to Gather Essentials: Travel, is a chronicle of her experiences traveling the Roads of America.  In addition to regular installments of Jennifer's eight week adventure across the country, Road Trippin' The USA will occasionally include her other experiences on America's roads, including recommendations and warning for places to see, stay and eat.

You can find all of Jennifer's Road Trippin' the USA articles at www.gather.com/roadtrippintheusa

You can keep up with all of Jennifer's articles and her other Gather activity by joining her Gather network. Just click here: ladyjadegd.gather.com and select the orange JOIN button on the left side of the page. 

You can find Jennifer and other Travel Enthusiasts at travel.gather.com

 ~Read Eight Weeks Across America, Part 1 HERE!

 ~Read Eight Weeks Across America, Part 2 HERE!

 ~Read Eight Weeks Across America, Part 3 HERE! 

 ~Read Eight Weeks Across America, Part 4 HERE!