Denver, CO with Miss Alex

We grabbed a muffin from the sub-par Kelly and hit the road before 08:00.  The Interstate access was very convenient and we headed ESE for Sheridan.  Stopped enroute at the Little Big Horn river and the battlefield where Custer last stood. Interesting military grave site with the typical white marble grave stones for the fallen US soldiers killed by Lakota Sioux warriors.  The price to fully inspect the memorial park was a bit too dear for me, so after K snapped a couple of photo’s we carried on.  The highway was notably bereft of traffic and bare and dry so we made good time with only brief pit stops all the way to Cheyenne.  Once we entered CO, we found the Interstate under constant construction and busy with hurried drivers making for a harrowing commute into Denver.  However, we did arrive at the more pleasing Wingate hotel at the DTC unscathed.  After freshening up, Alex picked us up and we headed over to the Cherry Creek neighbourhood where we enjoyed a most pleasing Mexican dinner at Sol.  A very nice restaurant with lovely decor and excellent food preparation.  Back at the Wingate, it was ETB.  Hopefully we beat the oncoming winter storm which seems to be following us, the latest forecast suggests we’ll make it to San Antonio with little time to spare.

Snowbirds bound for the Lone Star State

 And so, another adventure commences.  After a busy week saw K&I mostly getting packed and ready on Wednesday, and madly off in all directions Thursday and Friday, we departed on schedule Saturday morning with the obligatory stop at the Golden Arches for the classic road warrior’s b’fast.  The new T’su T’sina Trail which opened recently shortened the time to reach Midnapore and we were southbound worry free.  The first sign of trouble was just past Lethbridge where a small sign suggested that there might be some traffic leading up to Coutts.  That was understated.  More evidence started to emerge about 50 km north of Coutts as we began to notice vehicles adorned with Canadian and Albertan flags moving in both directions.  Then small groups on the roadside setting up what looked like tailgate parties here and there cheering on and lending their support to the demonstration.  Notably absent was any sign of the mainstream media, but perhaps there will be some coverage of this remarkable display.  Then the right lane started to back up with slow moving or stop and go heavy haul traffic and pick up trucks with more than flags - overt political messages of western discontent with “Sunny Ways”.  We were gobsmacked by the numbers taking their Saturday to travel towards the Coutts/Sweetgrass international border crossing to express their discontent.  As we approached the US homeland security depot, we ground to a halt and endured a two and a half hour delay while a single lane (out of a possible six) was open to land entrance to the USofA.  Unclear what was behind this deliberate obstruction (work to rule? Support for the protesters? Preserve agents to prepare for possible rioting?) but our interaction with the border agent we spoke to was pleasant and completely unexceptional.  The usual five questions plus “are you vaccinated” (no proof requested) and we were off after a quick pit stop at the very clean rest area.  This was a memorable experience and as I write here on Sunday morning, I don’t know if anything untoward happened as a consequence of this massive display of political displeasure (we heard that folks were even expressing their irritability in Lotus Land (Vancouver).  The “freedom convoy” to Ottawa looks to have touched a raw (very) nerve.  Sadly, the lost 2.5 hours left us reaching Great Falls at circa four o’clock and we left the Interstate to travel along undivided state highways.  The plan was to avoid driving after dark but we wound up traversing the last couple of hours on relatively narrow highways at night.  Fortunately, the weather was favourable with above freezing temperature and bare dry roads all the way to Billings. We reached the rather sketchy Kelly Inn & Suites just before 8 pm and checked in only to find most places to eat close at 8.  My plan to check out the award winning Burger Dive (recommended by Shane) landed in the dust bin of history and we wearily settled for the very conveniently located Cracker Barrel Old County Store next door. Salt of the Earth patrons enjoying American sized platters of country favourites.  Quickly filled the hole with some very good “Chicken Fried Chicken” and retired to our room at the Kelly (which turned out to be comfortable and clean).  We’ll be off to Denver once day breaks and anticipating an uneventful trek on Interstate the whole way, albeit another full day of driving.