Special Agent Cooper Takes Montana

[CatskillsRunner]

Recovering fly rods

We broke down the raft and the cat and are almost completely packed for my trip east.

We are leaving the Missouri a day early to recover Tim's rods from Judith Landing, a 3 hour drive. He liked that option better than having the rods sent back to NY; and, besides, it only really added 2 hours to our trip to Billings on Thursday. We will try to find some dispersed camping on BLM land between Judith Landing and Billings.

I am really going to try to have some self control and avoid a hotel, because I already broke my no-hotel rule on Sunday night. But "my hair!" Anybody else love O Brother Where Art Thou?

Then I have to have the Hundy serviced at Lithia Toyota after Tim flies out. It'll be close to being due for its 5000 mile service at that point. And it desperately needs a good bath.

 

[Jhalko]

"He's bonified!"

Haha, my wife got us a nice hotel after camping through Utah, after washing our clothes in the tub it was apparent we were all due for showers and clean clothes.

We will find another time, and you and your husband are always welcome at our house here in Denver.

 

[CatskillsRunner]

I forgot that line!

While we were on that long last float my brother and I kept saying "accompany...accompanimen....accompanim..."

And at some point you have to give the Lebowski stuff a rest.

Yep, someday we'll hang out. We'll be out west again in 2018. God, 2018. That's terrible.

 

[fortel]

O Brother is one of my all time favorites, right up there with Raising Arizona. Safe travels to you on your trip.

 

[CatskillsRunner]

O Brother is one of my all time favorites, right up there with Raising Arizona. Safe travels to you on your trip.

Thank you!

 

[CatskillsRunner]

Cooper stays at the Radison

So, Tim found what he thought was some nice BLM land north of Billings, but while it was beautiful, it was completely overgrazed. What else is new? The prickly pear would have been impossible for Coop to avoid, and I've spent enough time with Montana vets this trip to not want to do it again.

So the dog is now stretched out in our bed at the Billings Radison.

I had Fuddruckers for dinner, and ate so much I feel sick. Not every day I get Fudd's. It's not 5 Guys, but it was worth it. It was a staple of my diet while I grew up in San Antonio.

The pictures are from the 90 miles of dirt road we had to take to go back to Judith Landing for the rods, and then to head south toward Billings. It was a beautiful drive, lots of side canyons and ranch land and free ranging cattle and dryland wheat. Just breathtaking, empty country. The best kind.

All the 100 Series guys know this already, but do you know what happens when you remove the rear spoiler on a Land Cruiser? The dirt and dust just accumulate and seem to multiply on the rear of the vehicle. It was so dirty today that a mud cake had developed between the rear hatch and the ladder.

So I come back to the Big City and find out...

1. Tim Duncan is retiring. Ok, I saw it coming last season, but I'm still not ready.

2. Kevin Durant is going to Golden State. I'm not even going to say what I think about that.

 

[CatskillsRunner]

Tim: the Very Pinnacle of Chivalry

Tim's idea of washing the Hundy is...

 

[CatskillsRunner]

Coop

Here you have my rearview mirror perspective when Coop needs a walkabout.

In the other one he is grilling a deer at the last campground.

 

[CatskillsRunner]

BLM land camping...almost

It was pretty.

Too bad it was starring Prickly Pear, Yucca, and Cow Paddies.

 

[planomateo]

If you have time, cruise up to the rims (the cliffs north of Billings, just south of the airport). Great view of the city, Zimmerman Trail (a road) will give you a different view on the way down.

Pictograph Cave is worth a visit too if you're looking for something to do in Billings, just a few miles southeast of Billings.

 

[CatskillsRunner]

If you have time, cruise up to the rims (the cliffs north of Billings, just south of the airport). Great view of the city, Zimmerman Trail (a road) will give you a different view on the way down.

Pictograph Cave is worth a visit too if you're looking for something to do in Billings, just a few miles southeast of Billings.

Thanks! Will definitely check out the pictographs.

I appreciate it!

 

[CatskillsRunner]

Waiting...

So much for pictographs. I've been waiting at Toyota forever!

 

[CatskillsRunner]

Longest. Oil change. Ever.

Ugh!

 

[unkamonkey]

I believe I understand. We spent two extra days in Las Vegas to get a fuel pump fixed in the car we drove out there in. We told them it was the fuel pump. Three days later they came back with "Oh, it's the fuel pump". Bang head on the table. The owner was about to sell them the car and buy another to get us the heck out of there.
Scratch Cooper for me.

 

[CatskillsRunner]

I believe I understand. We spent two extra days in Las Vegas to get a fuel pump fixed in the car we drove out there in. We told them it was the fuel pump. Three days later they came back with "Oh, it's the fuel pump". Bang head on the table. The owner was about to sell them the car and buy another to get us the heck out of there.
Scratch Cooper for me.

Yeah, this was a recent problem for someone in the 100 section of Mud. That stinks.

I'm just spoiled by ultra fast service which also happens to be great. Before I'm settled in with a book my service advisor tells me I'm good to go.