Stagecoach Stops

We are travelling across the state of Montana on highway 2, a two lane, perfectly paved and flat highway that follows the railroad. We see lots of trains and they are long ones mostly 100 cars or more, mostly hauling oil. Little two bit towns dot the highway; almost all of them have a Stagecoach Gas Station and a Lucky Lil’s Casino attached. The buildings are small and old and there are lots of weathered outhouses with the sliver moons and stars on the door! Most of the motels are closed down; you get the impression these towns were happening places “back in the day” but with all the abandoned farms and houses lots of people have moved into bigger places for more amenities and jobs. The towns feature signs inviting truckers to stop for a rest, a coffee or a shower. These Stagecoach towns are right out of the old western movies complete with the characters that you see ambling down the main street to check out the latest gossip. On to North Dakota – the clock goes forward 1 hour now so we keep motoring until the next Stagecoach Stop that calls our name. The weather is perfect and visibility is remarkable; we get out of the van a couple of times just to take it all in.