The Bozone

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We are still in Bozeman (and more importantly, I will be caught up to present day life with this post!). Our plan is to head to Missoula this afternoon, to check out life and the breweries there. We’ve met so many great people while in Bozeman that it’s hard to leave, but I imagine we will be back someday.

Upon arrival here last Friday, Adam quickly began asking locals about good climbing and better beer. We were given great suggestions for both, so began our evening at one of the local breweries, the Bozeman Brewing Company. Conversations there quickly led to climbing, and Ryan, originally from Tennessee, was quick to make suggestions, even drawing us a map and offering his phone number in case we had questions. Saturday we went out to the farm where he works, Rocky Creek Farm, for a hay ride and pumpkins, and even got to pick some delicious cherry tomatoes. Thanks Pete and Nancy, for also letting us camp there that night!

Cow people once again!

Camping on the quiet farm was a nice change from our previous night in the WalMart parking lot where we woke up to EMTs and firemen helping an elderly woman out of her car and into an ambulance right next to us. Who needs an alarm at 8am when you have a few small barking dogs outside your door. The dogs were soon picked up by a relative of the woman, and we were finally able to get out of our van. [There is a culture of RV and van camping in WalMart parking lots, especially out west, where there are easily 10-15 RVs in one lot per evening.]

Sunday morning took us back to one of our favorite restaurants, Nova Cafe in downtown Bozeman. Our friends Jenn and Jason recommended it last year while we were in town, and we had to make a return visit for their “skillet-licking” good food. My only real request as we began this trip, especially as we try to eat very simply, was that we go out for brunch at least once a week. Nova was absolutely the first place I had in mind, and it didn’t disappoint, even with an hour wait. The Soup Shack on Main Street has also become a new favorite, with hearty soups and delicious corn bread for a reasonable price.

Exploring new places and meeting new people are certainly benefits of being on the road, and we’ve met some great people here, including the staff of both Northern Lights Trading Company locations who have provided expert advice, gear, and even a shower. Check them out if you’re ever in Bozeman.

The camping adventures, both at Rocky Creek Farm and in Hyalite Canyon, have been beautiful, although chilly. The hikes are fantastic, especially in this early fall with colors changing, and there are plenty of other outdoor adventures we could have found ourselves participating in easily. Ice climbing comes later in the year, however. The Hyalite Creek Trail, Palisades Falls, and the Sypes Canyon Trail have been among our favorites, complementing the easy-going culture of Bozeman. The full moon has made nights so beautiful and bright, you almost don’t need a headlamp at a campsite.

Part of the adventure of living on the road is figuring out where to do laundry. We found a great laundromat here and made the most of it, cooking noodles in the parking lot and eating them while our clothes spun, then making our bed with our freshly cleaned sheets as other people’s clothes spun too. We are also learning other effective habits of the road, like making the most of rest stops, and visiting hot springs to feel clean and fresh, even if it’s been a little while since your last shower. Norris Hot Springs was a cool stop for us, with live mandolin music as we lounged in the hot water.

Another part of the adventure is visiting with friends you haven’t seen in a while. We had the super fun opportunity to reconnect with a good friend of mine from college who happens to live in Bozeman. Visiting with Deia was definitely a highlight, catching up on they years since we’ve seen each other and hearing about the newest adventures. A wonderful treat, indeed. I’m glad I remembered she lived in Montana!

Cow people once again!

Snowed In in Bozeman

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There has actually been no snow since we arrived in Bozeman almost one week ago, we just like it here so have stayed around for a while. Rain has threatened a few times, but other than that the weather has been beautiful and sunny, with much of the haze from nearby forest fires moving on recently (apparently last week the smoke was thick enough to prevent seeing some of the nearby mountain ranges).

We arrived in Bozeman last Friday after our cow herding adventure at the end of the Montana State University homecoming pep rally downtown on Main Street. We have heard they like to shut Main Street down for whatever reason possible, so the homecoming parade on Saturday morning followed the Friday pep rally. My favorite part of the parade was the blue and yellow MSU fluffy headbands they were handing out. Adam enjoyed the high school marching band’s drumline. He swears they danced a bit as they played, although I missed that piece of entertainment.

Before the pep rally on Friday we walked into a coffee shop on Main Street with its doors open, although quickly found out they were still completing the finishing touches on the space before their soft opening the following Monday. They created a really inviting space with friendly owners (who are younger than we are) in a former shoe store, with local art on the wall and super tasty coffee (and I don’t love coffee). We have spent at least an hour at Zocalo Coffee House each morning since Monday, and I imagine will stop in again tomorrow before heading north to Missoula.

Opening day at Zocalo (via Facebook)

Also while in Bozeman we have visited all three local breweries to sample their wares, Bozeman Brewing, Madison River Brewing, and 406 Brewery. All have offered super tasty beer and insight into the local culture. Apparently in Montana there is a law that breweries can only serve 48 ounces of beer per day per person, so they keep track of what you have consumed on your very own little piece of paper. Our understanding is that this rule, plus the rule that they can only stay open until 8pm, is a result of the state tavern association’s dislike of local breweries. In my opinion, the taverns are missing out as these are some tasty local brews. A few breweries in Missoula have been highly recommended too, so we’ll be checking those out this weekend. This state knows how to make beer. They also know how to make fun pint glasses, so we have added a few to our collection, all with a story behind them.

This week we have also been exploring the areas just outside Bozeman including Bear Canyon and Hyalite Canyon. There’s a fair amount of rock climbing around here, so Adam has been excited to get outside and head to the cliffs. Monday we climbed at Practice Rock in Hyalite Canyon, an area swimming in the brilliant colors of fall. Beautiful views, friendly fellow climbers, and a good healthy challenge made this a great experience.

More from Bozeman tomorrow, including pictures! My cameraman has been slacking here, just enjoying the atmosphere. I really can’t blame him, though…