Riding Shotgun

Typical Montana scene of arid fields with irrigation and mountains in the background

 

 Spencer gas station and (locally mined) opal vendor.

 We passed through Montana today and I learned the origin of the term "riding shotgun". It appears that most of the travelling public has a shotgun in the back window of their pickup trucks. And get this: we stopped for gas in Dillon and we had a GREAT selection of guns at the gas station, along with silver (not to be confused with silver coloured) belt buckles that said "Cowboy Up". Now, I don't want you to assume that these are rednecks down here. Only fine, long guns were for sale at the gas station. NO HANDGUNS. At least, none that I could see in the counter.

  Les handling the wheel and ejnoying a movie for some diversion. 

The drive from Lethbridge to Idaho Falls is long - eight hours not including stops - so we are doing everything possible to pass the time: singing songs, playing games of "I Spy" and making up stories. Well, at least the last part is true.

Then we stopped at Spencer Idaho and had a look at some of the opals for sale, which are mined locally. This is the gas station/opal store in Spencer, Idaho. It was actually quite quaint; the place was decorated with years of posters from the Calgary Stampede, which made us all have a little homesick cry. Tom bought a ring with an opal in it. There appeared to be several opal stores in town, all with signs indicating the opals came "directly from the mine". It wasn't quite clear what was the alternative.

NoNo exploring Spencer.

At the Idaho Falls Flea Bag: Tom riding his bike off the truck. Thunderbirds are go!