We have been traveling east across Montana along US Route 2, which (if I have this right) is the counterpart to Route 1 (for all you DC-area folks) in that just as Route 1 is the easternmost north-south federal route, Route 2 is the northernmost east-west federal route.
So, this route is called the Hi-Line and it follows the railroad created by the Great Northern Railway way back when in the late 1800s (FGI). Basically, the road links the small towns which largely appear to exist as feeder depots shipping grain out of the area.
Every town has a structure much like this:
Although here and there, you see something like this:
The area is full of history unknown to me and probably other non-Montanans but evidently it still resonates with the Native Americans:
The wages of imperial aggression are ever thus; doesn’t reflect well on us that every generation must learn the lesson anew for themselves. Read more Santanaya people!
Outside of Shelby, I saw the longest coal train I’ve ever seen. The video is kind of crappy, but the enormity of the train was compelling – this is what anthropogenic global warming looks like:
And finally, here is a shot of my faithful mechanical steed which invariably ends each day’s ride in better shape than me:
Born in Baltimore and raised in Cincinnati, I have lived on both coasts and driven back and forth across the country a number of times. I now have the "midlife opportunity" to do so on two wheels.
Recent Comments