montanapalooza 2002

“Have a safe trip evryone. See you tommorrow!”

“Thanks Pepper!!!
What did I ever do to you!?!?





Oh, yeah, that......”

“Well, I'm outta here, too. I've going for a run, then a barbeque and then pack my pack. See you Montanapaloozers tommorrow!”

“TOMORROW!!!!!”

“Hey Team - Well, I made it into the USA, alright. And I was right... 4am is the best time to cross. I practically drove right through.

Bye the way.... I LOVE YOUR INTERSTATE HWYS !!! I was on the I-90 by 5:40 and hit Spokane at 10am. Lots of time left in the day, so I carried on, and rolled into Missoula around 2:30 MDT.

It was a fantastic and relaxing 10 hour drive. Man!... Ten hours on the Trans Canada, from Vancouver, and I'd just be arriving in Banff, with my last nerve frayed, and that's if I wasn't delayed by road work (which never happens)!

Did I mention that it's 107 friggin' degrees here, at 5pm.

Anyways, I guess I've shortened up the drive, for tomorrow, a bit. So, I should be wheeling into Billings by early afternoon.

Time to go hit the pool and grab a couple more beers”

“Okay, got my pack packed. It weighs about 26 lbs. or so. It does not include Om's 4 lb. tent or my 2 lbs. of food. I think I'm going to try sleeping under the stars, I don't think I can carry the tent too. I feel like I have way too many clothes, but I tried to include everything you people told me was essential. Pepper, I am sure we can find someplace in Red Lodge that sells beaded belts. Hodge, it was 108 in Billings at 5. The heat is awful. See all of you tomorrow. I'm super-duper excited. Does someone want to help me shop for food tomorrow?”

“Sound like you are in pretty good shape to me, Newgirl, even with the tent.

Somebody make sure Crazy Mike takes his medicine.”

“Sounds like the last, great pilgramage has started towards the mecca of Billings....all hail!!

My flight leaves Dallas at 5pm, which means I'll be on the road by 1:30 or sofrom home.

I'll be arriving at 10pm as long as I don't get hung up in Minneapolis. Aero - I have your cell # and you have mine. I'll call you between connections and check in for last minute orders.

I sure hope I'll be able to pick Y'all out in the airport in Billings...*big grin*

I'll be the vertically challenged blonde in khaki shorts and a white polo shirt. See if you can pick me out in a crowd!!

See Y'all in less than 24 hours!

Tex”

“-Windows boarded up- check
-Sharp objects put away- check
-Hide the women- check
-tables, chairs and barstools stacked- check
-liquor cabinet locked- check

Ok, I'm ready for you guys!!

Trip Notes:
Crazy Mike and SB called in a couple times from on the road. First time they called- stuck in Chicago rush hour. Next time about 8 pm almost to Minnesota border. Crazy Mike wants to know what the speed limit is through the Dakotas and Montana. I tell him 100mph. He says that's what he thought.
They tell me they'll give me a call during the middle of the night sometime to help keep them awake. I shut my phone ringer off and go to bed.

Stay tuned”

“ROFLMBO...good one areo!!

Less than 4.5 hours to go. I'm all packed, but am afraid to weigh my pack.

I think I'll mow the grass one more time before I leave so I don't have to harvest it when I get home.

Safe Travels, All. See ya tonight!”

“TX, we'll see you tonight. Hopefully it'll be cooled off a little by 10:00. Parts of our house were just brutal last night (no air cond), but the deck and back living room were really nice.

See ya later at the airport!”

“Aero, just arrived home from DBC. Going to grab a shower and head to WalMart.

Central air is purring like a kitten here.

Glad we don't have "aero-conditioning.

Will check back in later.

See you a 3”

“See you "at" 3”

“pepperDog signing off - will be in transit (after a big breakfast) soon. I will be wearing a bright blue t-shirt, khaki shorts and a big grin. See you at the aero-port!”

“i will be boarding the plane in 45 minutes, the atlanta airport is deserted...
see you uns tomorrow



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~”

“Rats! I had car trouble and missed my flight by 10 minutes. They had closed it out and no amount of pleading or cajoling would convince them to re-open it. Dagnabit!

So, here's my REVISED intinerary. I'm catching the 6 o'clock flight out of Dallas and will be in Billings at 10:15 am.

Gojo, if Y'all pick me up, I'll bring the Snickers headband you have been coveting for AGES! Puh-Lease?? ;-)

See Y'all (and Sarry belle) at 10:15 (I hope) In the thriving metropolis of Billings, MT tomorrow AM!!

That nice man at Northwest didn't even charge me for changing my flight and he could have take me for at least $75, if not $100 (no Saturday night stay now, ya know)

Thank you God!!

Tex”

“Not to rain on your parade, all, but check out this photo. Seems as if "the authorities" have gotten wind of your plan. Bummer....”

“You folks are sooooooooo Busted, LOL


Ya know, Tex... this reminds me so much of "Planes, Trains & Automobiles "! (without the trains, that is)


And a little "Continental Divide " on the side...”

“Well, 11 of us are here in billings. It wasa saturday night. Had a few drinks at the Irish Pub. Here's a pic of the first reported injury. Gojo succumbed to Evil Alcohol. (He's still out on my front porch and I'm worried that the paperboy might freak out!!

Gojo Bites the Dust”

“this is already looking like the party at bacpac's house.”

“Please refrain from posting the thong pics...”

“Must've been the jet-lag or something, <G>. How fast was he driving?”

“Okay, we are in Red Lodge. I am here in the one and only internet cafe. I'm w/ Tex, Crazy (oh my gawd) Mike, Gojo (less hungover), Hodgeman, and Naviguesser. We are great, they are great. We are waiting for the shuttle vehicles to get back from the trailhead on the out take. I'm frightened of Mike. Pepper might be the one to stick w/. We'll check in later.”

“Make sure mike takes his medicine and stays away from the booze. ;-)”

“just remember newgirl... it the quiet ones you have to worry about”

“Please refrain from posting the thong pics..." dirtyoldman

Might it depend on whose wearing the thong?”

“Might it depend on who is wearing the thong?"”

“It might would have been really funny if Gojo had been thonged while passed out on the front steps - really give that paperboy something to talk about (grin)

I really envy y'all - I wanted to go too but I just started a new job and it would not have been a good idea to start work and then immediately take a two-three week vacation (sigh)”

“crazy mike ain't nuthin!

look out fer GOJO! he's a NUT!!!!”

“I talked to Crazy Mike this morning..sounds like you all are having a blast..

NewGirl..I can tell you a certain spot on Mike that will change his whole being..Second thought..Ill keep all that for myself..

Have fun you all...”

“BLECH!!!”

“OH NOOO Rad...YUMMMMMMM”

“STOP! ACK!”

“You Guys ROCK!

(somebody had to say it)

8)”

“ok well if like newgirl is wearing it then ya can go ahead and post it but matt might censor the thread... :}”

“It's Monday morning, obviously, and I have survived the Montanapalooza Bar-B-Que / Kegger.

Me and a friend went over with Jerbear early yesterday. Met up at the Red Lodge Cafe where everyone got some (needed) breakfast.

Crazy Mike definitely earned his trail name. He is so psyched about the western mountains I think he's going to explode at some point.

We picked up the drivers from East Rosebud, got them back to Red Lodge, then on a tour up and over the Beartooth Pass. Stopped in Cooke City to meet up with Snownymph and Dude, but they weren't there yet. Went to Aero's cabin where the festivities really kicked in. Gojo handed out his surprise gifts to everyone. He had some cool patches made up for the trip.

Keg went dry around 8:30 so me and my friend headed back for Cody (~85 mi). We got in about 10:30 pm. I slept great.

I would expect Aero and the gang to show up at the Sinclair station to get their pic taken and posted on the web.

Aero and the gang, I know you're checking in this morning so to you I say:

"YOU GUYS ROCK!!! HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!!"

p.s. jerbear's new trail name is "Rolling Bear"

We went on a dayhike Saturday and...well...I'm just glad to see that jerbear made the trip, alive. I'll let him tell you about it.”

“Well, breakfast is behind us and so are the group Kodak moments!

yo bear!

Mike is still frightening.

We posted the group picture on the Sinclair web site, in Cooke City
Picture
Go to the 'Daily Picture'”

“Looks like the picture gets updated at 1000 mountain time, 1:20 minutes from now.”

“Check out the gang here!!!

See how many you can identify.....”

“oh, what a good picture!! they look like they're having fun already. hey, how come no one told me there was a Montana trip?!? heheeee!

okay, from pictures i've seen and powers of deduction, here's what i could come up with:

back row: Snow Nymph, ?, ?, newgirl, ?, Crazy Mike, Aero...

front row: ?, ?, OM, Gojo...”

“Would you let your son or daughter go on a date with any of these people?

:-)”

“oh oh

Steve hiker has a photo . .

Let the stalking begin.”

“standing: snow nymph,jerbear, ?, newgirl, pepperdog, crazy mike, aero, ?, txwoodswoman.

kneeling: ?, ?, om, gojo, ?, snowdude(?)”

“Geezr is on Aero's left”

“Back Row: Snownymph, Jerbear (aka Rolling Bear), Hodgeman of BC, newgirl (aka hottie), Pepper Dog, Crazy Mike, Aero, Geezr, TXWoodswoman

Bottom Row: SB, Briar Rabbit, OM, gojo, Naviguesser, Snowdude”

“I thought Montanpolooza was in August? Ü
Are those guys still out there cause I have a questions for Hodgeman..”

“They left the trailhead this morning and will be coming out on Friday afternoon. Then they will be shuttling from East Rosebud, through Red Lodge, to Cooke City, then back to Billings.

Jerbear will be staying Friday night in Red Lodge, Hodgeman will probably leave directly from Cooke City to BC, Snownymph and Snowdude will leave directly for the Winds, as will OM, gojo, I believe, will be heading to Idaho to see the friendly ranger.”

“I posted the Sinclair photo and a key to it on my Webshots page here.

Looks like interesting weather - already 86 degrees at 11 AM local time....”

“Gotta love today's technology. I just checked this thread cause I wasn't sure what day they were hitting the trailhead... and there was a photo of the group from just a few hours ago! That is so amazing!

Hope they are having a blast! What am I saying? Of course, they are!”

“Check out the latest images from space here.”