Second Jedediah Smith Trail 1824 — 1826

Day 14: September 4th, 2010 Billings — Missoula

Map Billings to Missoula

Just before seven I wake up and get myself ready. First, I drive over to Cracker Barrel. At the parking lot, I have the chance to briefly chat with a Harley rider about the weather before I enter the restaurant. Unexpectedly, I immediately receive a table without any waiting. When I am ready to pay, I also take one of these nice Worry Stones with me. However, this time, they don’t have any writing on the bag anymore about the meaning of every angel. But well, I take one that I like and pay.

I–90, Billings, MT

Then I drive on to the next gas station. All the insects on my windscreen are already pretty much burned in. So I have a hard time to get them off. Now I start the last leg to Missoula. The temperatures of 65 to 70 degrees are really pleasant.

I–90, MT

But before, I have another shopping stopover at the Montana Silversmith in Columbo. The employee from last year even remembers me. Only the attempt to show me my business card, which I left last year, didn’t work out. However, I was really surprised that she still remembers me.

Currently, she is training a new employee who will start soon as permanent employee. Also the shop is now way bigger. They have switched with the sporting goods store next to it. Now they have a much bigger selection and it takes me a while until I have found everything for my parents and my dance friends.

Casually, a young rapper stops by. Everyone knows him around here. He lives with the locals and it seems that he was adopted. All in all, we receive a free rapper show!

I–90, MT

I–90, MT

I–90, Yellowstone River, MT

Around half past twelve, I continue my journey. In the meantime, we already have 90 degrees!

I–90, MT

I–90, MT

With plenty of sunshine I drive through the mountains of Montana.

I–90, MT

I–90, MT

I–90, MT

Slowly it is getting cloudy and in the bad weather temperatures drop down to 50 degrees.

I–90, Continental Divide, MT

I–90, MT

I–90, Butte, MT

Finally I cross the Continental Divide and arrive in Butte, Montana. The incline to the Continental Divide is really tough. My truck barely makes 45mph with almost full throttle in third gear and unlocked transmission!

I–90, Butte, MT

In Butte I leave the Interstate to gas up. But what is this? The pump doesn’t accept my credit card! Also the second pump does not work! When asking the cashier, he tells me that the card is not accepted. Therefore I drive over to the next gas station. Maybe it is a problem because my credit card is not a US card. But there happens the same. So I have no other chance than to pay cash. I quickly type a text message to my parents in the hope, they are not asleep yet.

I–90, MT

I–90, MT

I–90, MT

I–90, Yellowstone River, MT

Then I continue on I–90 along the Yellowstone River.

When I arrive in Missoula, the temperatures are already back up to 75 degrees. Unfortunately, there is no answer from my parents until I arrive at the motel. There, the employee calls Mastercard and asks for an approval code. This works even when the card is blocked?! But she is also not able to tell my why the card is blocked. I should simply call the number on my card. This I haven’t realized yet. And indeed, there is a number for international calling.

Anyways, I will receive my room. She only must call them again, because the computer does not accept the approval code due to the previous decline. Hopefully, I will not have two payments on my card! When I am in my room, I immediately call Mastercard. This costs me $8 with my mobile phone, because I stay forever on hold. After more than 4 minutes I must learn, that she is currently not able to access the computer. But she will call me back on my US mobile phone! At least this works!

The callback really takes a while and I try to activate Murphy by going to the bathroom. This works — exactly when I want to sit down, my phone rings! My card was blocked because I have spent more than 1500€ in the US! In this case, I must give them a notice ahead. Then they release the card for this country. This is now new!

Great! It’s fantastic that no one mentioned this to me! But now the card should be working again! I check my video taping of today. Then I drive over to the Outback Steakhouse. Because it is already half past eight, I receive my table with only a short waiting. Then I drive over to Walmart and look for a rubber band first where I can fix my camera at the tripod better. But unfortunately, I am not able to find something suitable.

Then I continue to the CD area. There I do a bulk purchase of 22 CDs! Then I drive back to my motel. Now I must quickly download the pictures of today, do my backups and my bookkeeping. Finally, I write my diary.

Once again, it is already midnight when I am able to get ready for my bed. I am really wondering if I will be able to sleep late one day on this trip!

The next day is in preparation…