Mel here. Missoula seemed like a place we could hang for a day or two (thanks for the advice, Varner!) so we had a pint and post-hike bites at Tamarack Brewing before we checked into the Lap of Luxury (AKA the Holiday Inn) and started with a pint at Kettle House Brewery. After THE BEST SHOWER EVER (defined as not having to turn the water off and shiver while washing hair, soaping body, etc.) we grabbed a light dinner at Silk Road, followed by heavy dessert at Big Dipper ice cream shop (hot fudge sundae for me, double scoop waffle cone for Jeff—dipped of course). Can’t say Silk Road lived up to its reviews, but we got a tip from the bartender to go see Naive Melodies, a Talking Heads tribute band (!!!) the next night. So, kismet.
The next morning, we set our minds to burning off the many, many empty calories consumed at the ice cream stand the previous evening. Our methods often diverge on this front, and it was about time for a little “individual adventure time” anyway (only way to keep things sane when you’re together 24/7 for two months). So, I rode my bike across town to CrossFit Hellgate, and dropped in on a fun lunchtime partner WOD where I got my abs handed to me by coach Jake’s abtastic workout. Meanwhile…
Jeff here. While Mel CrossFitted her abs off, I took off to sample the local Missoula mountain bike trails, easily accessed five miles from town in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area (the one thing missing from Portland—close in mountain biking!). Some well-intentioned but confusing advice in the parking lot led to a wrong turn and a long climb up Stuart Peak on the Spring Gulch trail (beautiful and remote), followed by two flats that left a long walk back to the trail head where a good Samaritan donated an extra tube for the ride back to town. Revenge tomorrow…
A post-workout rest was in order since we planned to stay up past our usual “move with the sun” bedtime. After a nap, we took a recommendation from Jess who I met at CrossFit, and hit up Biga Pizza. YUM with leftovers to boot. Then to the Top Hat Lounge to see Naive Melodies, who surprised be a bit by being not at all cheesy; rather, they are talented, highly entertaining, and clearly have a healthy respect for the genius that is Talking Heads (which occupies one of the top spots on my Desert Island list, thanks to Mom’s early fandom).
Good times were had by all.
Days’ lessons, in no particular order: CrossFit truly is a community, and I’m glad to have found it. Hot fudge sundaes rule. Put more Talking Heads on our GTV music devices .Carry bear spray on mountain bike rides in Montana.
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