On the road again.

Today is my last day in Gillette, Wyoming.
The weekend in Denver and a direct flight to GA is all that stands between me and home.
Gillette has been an amazing adventure.

Cowboy Up.

This week Gillette, Wy is hosting the National High School Rodeo Finals. My sister and the rest of the reporting staff are working double time to cover it all. I tagged along in true little sister fashion to the first round of events Sunday night.  I even wore Joy's cowboy hat part of the night, yea I did. I've never been to a rodeo and have decided this won't be my last one. It was absolutely fascinating. PETA however would have had a field day.

Joy told me to watch out for a certain rider- one of the best. His family owns a ranch out west. They spend half of the year living in a canvas tent moving cattle. He's one of the best because it's more than competing, it's his life. His older brother is just as talented and completes in the college level rodeos. I saw him complete and sure enough he made it look like a piece of cake.

In other news while Joy's new roommate Gabs was driving home a herd of antelope decided to cross the road in front of her. A whole herd. She didn't hit of them, but it was close call. She's decided she doesn't like antelope.

Montana. Boom.

July is wrapping up quickly, too quickly in my personal opinion. Someone should find a way to slow down the month of July. In just a matter of weeks I shall return to Georgia. Am I thrilled to see my family and friends? Yes. Am I thrilled about temperatures in the 100s and high humidity? No.

Two weekends ago Joy flew to a wedding for a friend. She flew from Rapid City, South Dakota because it's much cheaper that way. When I went back to pick her up I decided to get there a little early. I've always liked going to airports. Typically airports are the best places to people watch. So I parked and walked into the airport to find myself and 3 airport employees. Yeap.

This past weekend I ventured up to Missoula, Montana. I could have stayed there for the rest of my life. In Missoula one will find rivers, mountains, great music and great food. What more could I ask for? It took about 9ish hours to get to Missoula, but it was worth the drive. Missoula may have just captured a piece of my heart.

Working at a coffee shop has several advantages. One advantage is getting to talk with customers when things are quiet. I've loved hearing where everyone is from (most people weren't born and raised in Gillette) and sharing why I came to Gillette. Most people are surprised I'm from Ga, apparently I don't sound southern. I do try to use ya'll as much as I can.

I've been meaning to ride a bike around town for several weeks now and finally gave it a go last week. An old friend of Joy's left a bike here that no one was using. Another friend helped Joy and I get it fixed so it would actually move as it should. I've noticed people have a saying it's like riding a bike, implying one never forgets how to ride a bike. Let me tell you, that's not true. I can't remember the last time I rode a bike before last week and I'd almost forgotten how. It took several minutes to get the flow and not feel like I might tip over and be one with the pavement.

Heat Wave

It's supposed to reach a blistering 90 degrees today. Oh my word even 90 degrees in Wyoming feels like heaven to me ( no humidity here.... gasp....). I can't help but wonder what would happen if someone from Gillette where to visit Ga right now? Probably the same thing as if I were to visit Wy during the dead of winter.... it wouldn't be good. It hit me today that about this time last summer I was in Haiti, where hot is an understatement. Don't get me wrong Haiti stole a piece of my heart, but oh my how hot it was. This summer I'm in Wy, a place where jackets are worn each night. I'm getting spoiled by Wy's weather.

A road trip with the one and only Joy Lewis was in order last weekend. Our destination was to Billings, Montana. I've decided Montana is the prettiest state out West. My deepest apologies to the rest of the West. Joy didn't take too many pictures, but did manage to get a picture of me almost knocking over the welcome to Montana sign. Oops. For the record it was already leaning when I got to it but I guess trying to climb it probably left it leaning a little more. My bad. While in Montana we went to a pow wow. It was quite an experience. 

Not only have I learned how to make a variety of coffees, lattes, etc BUT I can now read a map. I'm not joking, I've always been directionally challenged. I've looked at more maps this summer and attempted to figure out which direction is correct. I'm improving. Success.

"You're 23? Well you're about to be an old maid."
Quote of the week from an older man who came into the coffee shop. He wasn't joking.

Home on the range.

Things I've seen in Wyoming.

More than 1 hail storm. I've decided a hail storm looks like the sky is raining white skittles and grapes. But these are evil skittles and grapes that ruin your car.

For some reason people like to pass through Gillette while biking across the country. Two people have stopped by the coffee shop who are pedaling quite a journey. One of these bikers stopped by on his way to Oregon. One week later I see the same guy biking up a mountain. No joke. Small world.

If the great state of Georgia finds out I'm saying this I may not be allowed back in. Regardless the Big Horn Mountains make the mountains back in Ga look like ant hills. If evidence is needed I'll have to find a picture. I do have a picture of something beautiful found within the mountains here. Boom. (also I didn't take this picture. Photo credit to Steve Remich)

Ironically I've seen a lot of snow this summer. If I were to combine all the snow I've seen in my 23 years it wouldn't come close to reaching how much snow I've seen in Wyoming in the past month. It's best to sleep with two pairs of socks when camping in the mountains where snow can still be found. And that it's really unfortunate when your only pair of socks get wet. It happened and it wasn't pleasant.

Bears are a real threat in the mountains. People kept warning me about the dangers of bears before I went to Yellowstone. However it wasn't until I was in my tent trying to fall asleep that it hit me that if a bear were to come it'd be game over. I had a dream about a bear that night and I really hope it was just a dream. For the record I saw a grizzly bear and two cubs the next morning, but it was from a healthy distance.

Can I get a whatwhat.

I love my job at the coffee shop. My addiction to coffee is rapidly increasing which could be a problem.
I've been exposed to lots of new things and will probably come back addicted to sprouts, npr and bluegrass music. My new favorite past time is camping. Wyoming has changed me.

" We're like catipillers. We'll get our wings soon. I just hope we don't fall off the tree and get squished by a hiker first. "
-Joy Lewis. Best quote of the summer.

sisters for life.