But you should hear the excuses I come up with to skip it for the day. Mostly, its that I'm in the middle of something and feel that I just don't have 1o minutes to spare. Or that its boring to just sit there and I don't want to endure the boredom. Many times, while trying to be zen and enlightened, my brain goes to "What will I wear tomorrow? I'm hungry. It would be better if I were sitting over there. How much longer do I have to sit here? Whatever happened to Jerry Springer?" But every once in a while, I'll have a little breakthrough of thought. It makes it worth it.
I think the last time that I wrote I was in Missoula, Montana. Instead of describing Missoula, I'm going to stick with the philosophy of "if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all." That should do the trick.
I headed north to Whitefish, Montana, after that, and paid a visit to Glacier National Park. As beautiful as the park is, I, unfortunately, timed my visit at an inopportune time. There is one road that cuts through the park, "Going to the Sun" road, and this is known to be one of the most beautiful drives in the U.S. Right now, though, there is construction in the main pass in the center of the park. That means to see the parts of the park that are currently open, one needs to drive 15 miles into the park from the west, turn the car around and drive the 15 miles back the same way, drive two hours around the park to the east entrance, drive 15 miles into the park from the east, turn the car around, drive the 15 miles back the same way, and then drive two hours around the park to the get back to Whitefish. Obviously, I don't mind driving for long periods of time, but I like to be going in one direction without the knowledge that I will be returning the same way in a half hour.
My great idea for how I'd cope with all of the circular driving was that I would go for a hike when I reached the east entrance. But we've already discussed my issues with that. I was going to muster up my courage, buck the system and count on the trail being fairly well populated, but I went about 500 feet and ran into this sign:
I happen to be a rule-follower in life. I've come to terms with this trait of mine and have learned to accept it. When a list of rules are posted letting me know that THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF MY SAFETY if I do not follow the rules and that hiking alone is NOT RECOMMENDED, I obey. I not only turned around but I became paranoid that a bear was watching me read the sign, ready to pounce because of the sheer irony that I was reading about how to not get attacked by a bear, so I did a fast walk back to my car.
Now, I'm sitting in comfortable 75 degree weather, in the sun, in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. There were two places on my trip that were imperative visits: Bar Harbor, Maine, and Coeur D'Alene. I think my desire to come here mostly came from the fact that I like to say the name Coeur D'Alene, but whatever gets me here, right? For me, the highlight of this city, is that there is a 40 mile paved walking/biking trail that starts somewhere beyond Coeur D'Alene to the east and continues to the Washington border, where it then continues another 20 miles. The chances of me making use of the entire trail is extremely slim and incredibly ludicrous, but I like the option that, if I were insane, I would have the option to safely walk/bike 60 miles.
Alright, beautiful day. Must make use of it. Will write later.
Random pic of me in Glacier National Park:
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