I’ve just driven 712 miles (11 hours including gas, food, and coffee stops) from Port Orchard, WA to Bozeman, MT.  I’m exhausted and my butt hurts.  Here are some thoughts:

• Idaho is gorgeous, and the roads are as curvy as Kim Kardashian. 
• Montana is also beautiful, the roads are also pretty curvy in places, and REEEEALLY not recommended for night driving.
• Montana needs to invest in more reflective paint for their road lines or whatever you call them.  I’d personally like to know where my lane begins and ends, for instance, when I’m on a mountain pass with 5 semi trucks.
• I didn’t realize that there were more passes to get through after Snoqualmie pass. There are at least 4 through Idaho and Montana.  Not nearly as high up as Snoqualmie though, I don’t think.
• Caffeine is very important
• A good soundtrack is important
• The “Stuff You Should Know” podcast is fantastic for both long walks and long drives (tested and proven)
• The Bozeman Fairfield Inn has enough little letters to spell my mom’s 12-letter last name… AND it’s a pretty high honor to be the Guest of the Day here - special parking spot wooooo!!
• You know the midwest won’t be all bad when you start finding Taco John’s more often than Taco Bell (YUM!)
• Good thing I didn’t try to get to Billings today (original plan) because I am pretty sick of driving in this state in the dark.
• Bed time.