MONTANA DAY 3: The Beartooth Pass

At 10:00 in the morning, we started out on a road trip into Red Lodge, and ultimately up to the Beartooth Pass (which is a highway of switchbacks that go up the mountain). Many people say the Beartooth Highway is the most scenic route in the United States; but it is definitely not for the faint of heart! Here I got a picture of the mountain in the distance.

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We stopped two-thirds of the way up the mountain at Vista Point, and had a picnic lunch.

It was very windy up there (but Andrea likes that), and the air was thin; it was difficult to breathe if you walked too fast! But the scenery was awesome.

See the little white ribbons going back and forth up the side of the mountain? That's the highway we drove up on!

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There were some curious chipmunks keeping an eye on us, and we discovered that they like cheesies. :)) One came up and inspected Andrea quite closely!

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Our intention was to drive all the way to the top of the mountain and down the other side, but Mommy had some particularly nasty intestinal problems, so we headed back the way we came. Andrea was good throughout the trip; she chattered or slept the whole way home. Mommy was disappointed, but it was a good decision to leave--she got sick several times just after we got back to the house. :((

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In the evening, after Mommy had some medicine and a rest, we girls decided to go for a walk to the park. Andrea was fascinated by the new sights, and was waving hi to everyone, and everything! But we had the most fun at the baby swings. Grama and Andrea had a riot playing together. I have never heard Andrea laugh so much on the swings!

http://media.putfile.com/MT-Park-Swings-Grama

It was getting dark, so it was time to head home. But we weren't afraid; the people are SO NICE there! Even the "young punks" gave us friendly smiles as we passed by.

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After Andrea's bath, Andrea and Grama cuddled together in the chair; Grama helped her with her bottle, and then sang Andrea to sleep with songs from Mommy's babyhood--talk about poignant moments! Andrea was drifting off to sleep, but she would lift her head from Grama's chest once in a while and give her the sweetest smile: it was so beautiful. Then, Mommy and Grama layed her down in bed, and sat and watched her till she fell asleep. :))

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Mommy and Grama headed out to the hot-tub and had a nice, relaxing soak (about 2 hours!), and a great chat. When the guys came home (they had been visiting Grampa's brother) we all sat around the chiminea to enjoy one of Grama's special "fairy fires." She knows how to make the flames turn blue, green, aqua, violet, and pink. It's very pretty.