Custer, Glacier and Flathead, OH MY!

Custer first.  Was he basically the first American Rock Star?  When he died, they said the "flower of the army" had been killed.  How charismatic must he have been to be a celebrity without Entertainment Tonight or Facebook?  My overall impression of the Battle of Little Big Horn is that it was so wasteful.  The US Government should not have been there at all.  Breaking a treaty after less than a decade should be the story, right?  Yet, in many history books, it's the ambush and the spectacular battle that takes center stage.  Oh well.  At least my kids know the real story now, and what a lesson it was.  If the chance arises to visit, do.  The bus tour, the talk by a ranger, all of it. It's impressive and moving.

Next was the Beartooth Mountains. Yes, it really does look like this.

Beartooth was an unexpected trip.  We had to stop for repairs (go figure) in Billings.  Man, what a difference an excellent mechanic makes. I was tempted to invite the guys at Top Tech along on our trip.  While we did have to hang out for three days, they gave us a car to use and lots of advice on what to see. We would never have gone to chipmunk paradise without their recommendation.  It was absolutely crazy.  Several, nay dozens, of fat little chipmunks swarm the humans at a vista pullover. We were forewarned: Bring sunflower seeds or be bereft.  Better advice, my daughter has never received.  She would have stayed there all day as the fat little beggars took the seeds straight from her hand.  These are not wild chipmunks any longer. We have spoilt them silly.  Their little cheeks were so full that they would vanish into holes, undoubtedly to spit some out, before running back for more.

The repairs done(ish), we moved on to Glacier National Park.  It's such a cliche, but around every curve was another breathtaking view.  If you're into scenery, this is your heaven.

It's just one spectacular view after another.  We attempted the shuttle to the top, but it was overcast and 40 degrees.  Yeah, not so much.  Back down the mountain we went.  And now we're at Flathead Lake.  I wish the beauty were easy to describe, but of course it isn't.  I don't have enough adjectives.  We will be in this adorable campground (Rollins, by the way - I highly recommend it) until Saturday when it's on to Idaho.  We have to cut Banff out of our journey this summer due to the time constraints.  We are Seattle-bound, after all. I don't have the slightest idea how it will feel after that, to have no further deadlines on our schedule.  I can't even grasp it.

So - are we adventuring now?  I think so, yes.   The kids are fighting.  I am using my Instant Pot, but we're still eating out more than we'd like.  We are homeschooling, more effectively when we have internet access.  And we are starting to see some really beautiful things.  We have made an appointment in Bellingham, WA for the RV, poor old thing.  I don't believe the previous owners did a thing toward maintaining her.  So she's getting the works with us.  Everywhere we stop, she gets a little TLC.  A new exhaust manifold in Shakopee. A new steering suspension in Alexandria.  New brake pads and axel in Billings.  And an air conditioning tune up in Bellingham.  Clever girl, choosing us as her new owners.