Independence Day as only the West can do it

July 4

B woke everyone up at the crack of dawn (5:18 a.m.) on the 4^th of July to catch a beautiful Montana sunrise (5/18? That’s K’s birthday!). After taking a quick snapshot of the big sky country in the morning, we all returned to dreamland until a more appropriate hour arrived. When we were drawn out of sleep for a second time, it was to the delicious and unmistakable smell of sizzling bacon. Mmm… bacon. Now, the only thing keeping us from going downstairs was the fact that we were too comfortable to move, lying in REAL BEDS!

Breakfast was a smorgasbord of food compared to the meals we had been eating on the road (no offense to Chef C). Bacon, scrambled eggs, and delicious sticky buns – a treat on any occasion! We were introduced to the Montanan way of eating, which was to put more butter on everything! Of course, it seemed that the big sky people knew best and that spreading butter on top of your sticky bun really isn’t a crazy idea.

At noon we went into Red Lodge for the 4^th of July parade. We think it’s safe to say that this parade is unlike any you have ever seen. Every single business in Red Lodge, population 2,000, had a float to parade down the street and back. Though we didn’t see any axe-wielding firemen (go Hartwick!), we were mesmerized by the synchronized lawn mower drill team and belly-dancing cowgirls. What seemed to enthrall us most of all though was the tiny terrier straddling the rump of his larger equine friend.

When we had had our fill of the sousa bands and candy throwers, we packed up our lawn chairs and drove down to a little restaurant called the Red Boxcar. Built out of an old boxcar (just like the Boxcar Children!), this place served good ole American food on the edge of Rock Creek. After lunch, Robyn (C’s mom’s college roommate) took us on a tour of downtown Red Lodge so we could get up close and personal with a small Mid-Western town. Highlights include Bone Daddys (a Harley Davidson paraphernalia store), the Candy Emporium, and a store that sold items made entirely by Natives from the area.

At 3 o’clock, we followed lines of cars up to the top of a hill overlooking the town to experience our first mid-west small town rodeo! Our grandstand seats gave us the perfect view of the cattle roping, saddle bronc riding, bucking bulls, and everything in between. We got our fried dough fix and even tried some tasty fried strawberries! The rodeo provided quite the culture shock for us Cooperstown gals, and not just in the fact that people were continually jumping on the backs of wild animals only to be thrown off within a few seconds. The announcers’ comments, while uproariously funny to the majority of the crowd, kept the three of us on edge and K appropriately announced that she thought she might be a little too liberal for Montana.

At the Rodeo’s finale (a 2-minute wild Mustang round-up) we headed back to Franny’s for dinner and relaxation before the fireworks. Cole treated us to his delicious burgers accompanied with tasty potato and green salads. It was Franny’s dessert though that put us all into a stupor. Homemade chocolate sauce drizzled over vanilla ice cream and gooey brownies made from scratch.

When we finally had our fill, we retreated to the living room for our weekend pastime/slave work. We were helping Annie and Cole adorn ribbons to every possible wedding item while simultaneously filling out a crossword puzzle. This held our interest for a little while, until we were drawn outdoors by Cole’s much more interesting Independence Day activity. Outside we donned bows and arrows and shot at thick discs thrown high into the air. We all thought back to our middle school days of shooting at balloons in gym class… ah those balloon bunnies. It was easily the most badass (excuse me parents, “cool”) we all felt in a long time

As it got closer to ten we all drove back up to the bench, the lookout where the rodeo took place, for a good view of the fireworks show. Because they sell every kind of fireworks in Montana (including the “big, scary ones” as Cole so eloquently put it), we thought we were getting a show from every area of Red Lodge. B was also convinced that the firecrackers being set off just outside the car were intentional attempts to explode the vehicle. Luckily, the real show was much farther away, less frightening, and more full of oohs and ahs.

After an exhausting and patriotic day, our comfy beds were incredibly welcome.

Mileage to date:

States visited: Montana

Yellow car count:

C – 73

B – 73

K – 69

Highs and Lows:

Group High – Mid-Western 4^th of July

Group Low – Rainy fireworks

C High – Shooting arrows

C Low – Not finding cowboy boots

B High – Rodeo

B Low – Thinking I found stroopwafel. I didn’t

K High – Seeing the dog on the horse

K Low – Offensive jokes at the rodeo