Overnight in Billings (Montana, not Missouri)...Or The First Pool

The Spring Blizzard of 2017 was affecting the Great Yellowstone Expedition of 2017. It was raging in the Big Horn Mountains to our west and had both of the main routes closed over the summits. So, our options were limited and keeping track of a large, evolving weather system while traveling had its concerns. However, the weather where we were was perfect. Heading north from the Tower from Northeast Wyoming into Montana followed some fantastic terrain, ranchlands and mountain scenery. We came across herds of Bison, a few Elk and some deer. Every so often a member of The Motel Squad would lift his head from the Cyber World and look out. Traveling is tough when you are part of the "connected generation".

If you've never been on Montana 212, I suggest you put it in your west travel plans. It is a scenic alternative to the Interstate system and a good road to consider. We planned to make it to Billings (Montana, not Missouri) that afternoon and bunk up for the night with visions of Yellowstone on the morrow.

Late afternoon  we made it into Billings and in search of a motel. You guessed it. One with a pool. A pool? That again? Since it was about 50 degrees outside the only pool option was an indoor one. The Travel Angel was smiling down on us though and an affordable accommodation was found complete with the blessed indoor pool. Now The Motel Squad perked up and started to come alive and I began to see the value of risk and reward. With hope on the horizon, we checked in. The lady at the desk asked how many pool passes we'd need. Slightly confused at the query, I said how many do you have? She said, you'll need one for each person that uses the pool. I thought to myself....duh. Ok, I'll need five. 3 for the Motel Squad, 1 for the lifeguard...aka Grandma and 1 for me cuz I paid for it.

You would have thought they were giving away free iphones and cheeseburgers as fast as the kiddos got pool ready. Dragging Grandma down the hall, they headed to the oasis they had waited for all trip. Two neo teens and one pre teen made short work of getting in, complete with 3 perfectly commissioned cannonballs to disrupt the serene, stillness of the aforementioned pool. All was right with the universe and I happen to think that this particular set of Grandparents were the coolest things on Earth about now... until the two teenaged girls showed up. I had forgotten the power of estrogen. The line from Forrest Gump comes to mind...Stupid is as stupid does. You thought I was gonna say, Life is a box of chocolates? Come on!

After two hours filled with teenaged antics, showing off, from both male and female, and making good use of the pool, it was time to retire. We headed for the room to change and worry about what we could find to eat. Eating was popular for The Motel Squad so very little prompting was needed. Cheeseburger plain was heard more than once on this trip. How can one kid eat so many plain cheeseburgers? He even tried to order a cheeseburger, plain, at Subway once.
Besides, the girls had left the pool. All was well again. So far the trip had panned out with sights and fun and a little bit of education. Traveling with 3 boys was an education for me too. Grandma has nerves of steel and took it all in stride. Worth every mile and smile.

With journals caught up, bellies full and the blessed pool behind us, we bedded down for the night with promises of Yellowstone Grandeur on the horizon. It turned out to be more than a promise...

Thanks for reading my blog and learning the stories behind the photos. More to follow...

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