Montana!! (From my Journal)

Big Sky doesn't do Montana justice, this is the place of endless sky. Before coming here I didn't get the whole Big Sky thing, I mean the sky is the same size everywhere right? No! Here the sky feels enormous, only broken by the mountains that surround Missoula. The landscape here is truly breathtaking, it makes me wish I was a better photographer because I just can't seem to do it justice. 

The landscape is breathtaking, awe-inspiring, beautiful in a way like nothing I've ever seen. I know that Montana will forever hold a place in my heart, I fell in love here, with this landscape, with this Forever Sky and the laid-back people. I sincerely hope that I get a chance to come back here some day, but if I don't, this landscape is forever burned in my soul. 

Waking up here on the morning after our epic journey, I opened my curtains and saw the mountains for the first time. 

I was so surprised!! Driving in the night before in the darkness, all I had seen was the flatness of the plain Missoula sits on. This surprise led to my FB status "It's amazing what a good nights sleep can do. I woke up this morning and there's mountains!" This became one of the in-jokes of the trip, that I could create mountains by sleeping. ;) 

So, whilst the more athletic of the group went to climb a mountain (or walk the M as the locals call it)

the rest of us headed to the Mall. We did some shopping, then headed into Downtown Missoula. We were taken aback by the cleanliness of the place, and by the ever present backdrop of snow-tipped mountains. 

(This river runs through Missoula, separating the city centre from the University campus, compare this to the Canal in Manchester!!)

Michael turned out to be quite the comedian and what sticks with me most about that day (and the rest of the trip) is the laughter. We spent the day in fits of hysteria, giggling like school children.

Eventually we arrived at the University of Montana campus, which like everything else here is just beautiful. There's squirrels running around in the grass by the paths, They're pretty tame and very cute! This one was even kind enough to pose for my camera.

                         

Our first day ended in a bar, with more laughter and silliness courtesy of Michael.