Thanks to WordPress and their honor of being chosen for their Freshly Pressed home page, I have a ton of new readers, followers and likes. Welcome and thank you! I was going to skip over my visits to Red Lodge and Great Falls, Montana, as there really isn’t much fun to report. But I want you to know that not every stop is miraculous, there are a few duds. So here you go, full disclosure…

I was on my way to Calgary and needed a halfway stop from Cody, WY, so I chose Great Falls, noticing that they are the home of the Montana State Fair. I figured I couldn’t go wrong with a town with a state fair! On my way there I stopped in Red Lodge, MT, a very quaint town with cute shops and sweet, friendly people. So much so that in an art gallery the owner followed me around for 10 minutes and practically begged me to spend the evening there and attend his wine and cheese event. But I am on a trajectory to Calgary and need to keep moving north, as charming as he was. I appreciated his enthusiasm but I was not to be swayed.

After checking into a hotel in Great Falls, I went to the state fair, looking forward to seeing pigs, cows, sheep, horses, as well as quaint arts and crafts, and eat fresh corn on the cob. I failed on all counts as the fair was a total flop. The animals had all gone home, I didn’t see any cute kid art, only some quilts, and there was not a corn kernel to be had! I walked the whole fair in 45 minutes and that was it.The big excitement was a young man trying to sell sunglass cleaner by offering me free hugs, not my idea of a good time. But I forced myself to stay and listen to two cheesy and lonely pianists sing and play to an audience of maybe 10. At least the lights of the midway were glistening with color.

Looking to redeem the evening I went across the street to J-T Roadhouse, a dance bar that was recommended to me. I could tell walking in that this was not quite my scene, but hey, I love to dance so I was willing to give it a chance. A muddy sounding rock and roll band played loudly while I surveyed the environment with a careful eye. I caught the gaze of a man and with a raise of my eyes and tilt of head asked if he would like to dance. He joined me on the dance floor and I was immediately sorry. He was all hands, all over me and I was virtually chased around the floor trying to stay away from him. Criminy! As soon as the song was over I avoided him like the plague and danced ALONE after that until a large sweaty man came and talked to me. He said he used to be a dancer but was out of shape. So I danced with him and was yanked around like I was in the arms of some mad puppet master. Though I appreciated the exercise, the men seemed desperate and I felt drooled over and left soon after.

So there you have it. The first stop on this four-month trip that has been less than stellar. I didn’t want you to think that it is always perfect!

Discoveries….

 A) I’m not a “hang-out-in-bars” kinda girl. I’m a dancer that has to go to bars to dance and depending on the bar, it’s a great time or a not so great time.

 B) Not all fairs are my vision of country charm.

 C) Some towns really struggle with self-worth, and leave me with the feeling of wanting to “wipe the dust off my feet.” But I can extend grace as the economy is raising havoc in so many ways.

 D) I find I am a spicy mix of country and city, angel and devil, slippery and catchable, simple and complex. I kind of like it that way.

A song came on as I was driving away, and I smiled to sing along with Love and Theft….

There’s a little bit of devil in her angel eyes

She’s a little bit of heaven with a wild side

Got a rebel heart a country mile wide

There’s a little bit of devil in her angel eyes