Leaving the Lake of the Laughing Stars

On Monday we were up early and packing the car. Dave and Janine have been boon travel companions. Just love the word "boon" it is just so ostentatious, or is it pretentious? Either way, I like it a lot. We said our goodbyes and closed the car doors, all set? Not quite. You see the drive way leading down to the house is steep, as in very steep. The directions we received before coming had told us that if it rained, only a four wheel drive vehicle would be able to climb the drive. You will recall it had rained all day on Sunday. Now there was a small ditch washed out of the center of the drive, the remainder consisted of loose gravel. As I made my initial attempt, I made it about 10 feet then the tires started to smoke as they spun out. I mean smoking like a forest fire, filled the cab of the car. I backed up, Dave was outside and helped me to get as far back as possible. He encouraged me to get a running start and then keep it going. The car rocketed forward (as much as a Honda 4 cylinder can rocket, which ain't much) tires spun, gripped, spun some more and we were out of the drive and on our way. Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Fire! Home is 3,000 miles away. I have been to Montana several times and leaving is always hard. There is something about the place that is special. This time as I leave, I doubt I will ever see it again. I am so glad that I came back. I have lived in Alaska,Colorado and Florida, I love them all, but Montana is somehow different, it really is "The Last Best Place."