Listening to 'Mr. Jones' and Ascending Bear Tooth Highway

"Tim (Fractal Footwork)" (fractalfootwork)
07/10/2015 at 18:44 • Filed to: Traffic Jams, Mr. Jones, Counting Crows

I have always loved road trips, and my family always traveled out West during the summer months. That year we ventured to Montana and Wyoming to gaze at Buffalo, trying not to be eaten by Bears or swallowed by Geysers in the process.

My dad was meandering along !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , either leaving or entering Yellowstone National Park. It was Summer, over 80 degrees Fahrenheit as we ascended towards the pass.

We were climbing, slowly. Cliffs with surely fatal drops leapt up and surrounded us from all sides.

Then all of a sudden, the gray grass and rock was topped with snow!

We stopped for one reason or another, probably to look at one of the many historical markers my parents thought it wise to visit given their young, influential children; we never really had any of that and rolled our eyes upon their passing.

I was strapped into a Walkman rotating my brother’s copy of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Mr. Jones was playing; Adam Duritz was screeching on about gray guitars and the fact that she was, indeed, looking at me.

My sister got out of the car with my father; the two of them began pelting the windows of our Chevrolet Lumina with snow. I was still sitting in my middle seat primed to join them as soon as the song was over.

It’s just a small memory, but I love that song, I love that place.

I haven’t been back since, but I sure plan to. However, next time I do a run of Beartooth Highway, I surely won’t be meandering. ...Well, perhaps on the way back.

DISCUSSION (10)

JR1 > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
07/10/2015 at 19:55

I've been on a lot of beautiful roses but Bear Tooth is one of if not the greatest road I have ever been on. Super jealous you are there now. One day I will return with a performance car before descending into Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons

Tim (Fractal Footwork) > JR1
07/10/2015 at 20:17

Not there now, didn't mean that. Just telling the story, but I hope to go back soon.

JR1 > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
07/10/2015 at 21:30

I had a similar experience as you. Just wonderful family memories there and I hope to make some of mine own there again one day

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
07/10/2015 at 22:00

My dad is from Red Lodge, my aunt lives there now. I have spent lots of time up there. Great road.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
07/10/2015 at 23:29

I have a friend who moved from Ohio to Seattle in the fall and drove the Bear Tooth highway. It had a happy ending, but it also had an incident involving a hill, snow, a Toyota Camry with a Uhaul trailer and sliding backward down a said hill in an uncontrolled manner.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
07/11/2015 at 01:39

Yikes!

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
07/11/2015 at 01:56

i have to go to the Rockies.

Tim (Fractal Footwork) > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
07/11/2015 at 08:55

I would like to hear that story.

RaptorConner > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
07/13/2015 at 01:19

Thanks for the post. Theres so much of a connection for me between music and driving, the right song at the right time. I can really relate to your story.

Sindrone > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
07/13/2015 at 19:36

I live just east of the Bear Tooths in the Big Horn basin. Riding my 05 Buell XB12s on that road and listening to the Tron soundtrack is.... ..... hold that thought ill be back in a few hours.