Billings, MT

2 Aug 2013               Billings, MT

            Our friend Angela got married in Hawaii a few weeks ago and was having a wedding party in Billings.  This stop in Montana fit into our trip nicely.  Angela is a music teacher pal from Las Vegas.  When Katherine and I started in Vegas, she was right there with us as a new teacher.  We even took a long semester class with her, and both ended up working at the same school with her for a year.  Ever since then we have kept in touch.  Angela has been in Chile teaching at an International School and has loved every moment of it.  Even the earthquake that hit Santiago a while back!  It wrecked her music room.  She met Corbet in Chile and has been in love ever since.  How great!  At the wedding party, they played quite a few songs together and even showed off some original tunes.  For those of you that don’t know, Angela tears it up on the flute, and Corbet does the same damage on the guitar.  They are awesome, and a treat to listen to. 

           

            Our friend Steve, another music teacher from Vegas made the journey to Billings also.  He met up with us at a campground in Billings with his sister Carla that was traveling with him.  We all had a great time that evening, but the time flew by too fast.  Steve has been mountain biking all summer and was heading up to Glacier, so we traded stories about what we had just seen up there.  He was then going to head to Portland.  He was pretty much doing our trip, but in reverse.  How sweet! 

            Camping in the Billing KOA has to be mentioned here.  Once we pulled into the campground, and got our site, we noticed a mini residence built in the site next to us.  These campers looked more like drifters and not your average traveling folks.  The site had a full kitchen and different people kept coming in and out of the massive tent.  They looked like drug addicts, but the conversations were mostly intelligible, so I was wondering.  After observing them for 3 nights, I am guessing that they were high school dropouts living in a campground, and had maybe been kicked out of the house?  Also, cars kept coming by with different people, so I thought drug dealers?  Who knows?  I kept a close eye on my gear and on them. 

            Motorcycles were everywhere once again!  The Sturgis, South Dakota rally was going on and many bikers pass through Billing on their way to Mecca.  At about 5pm, the bikers start showing up and fill the campground.  They really are a nice bunch of people and are enthralled to tell you all about their bikes.  It’s quite entertaining.  We have been seeing these guys in huge numbers all across the West.  I think my father needs to get on one of these “Hogs” in Virginia and get out there.  He would love it.  They all carry a little tent and minimal supplies.  How fun!

            Angela has recently posted on Facebook that she has left to go to Tunisia with Corbet.  This is for another teaching position in a far off land.  I can’t wait to hear what it’s like there.  Hopefully, someday Katherine and I will be able to make it there to visit.  North Africa must be WAY cool with so much to see.  I wish the newlyweds the very best on their new journey.  I also can’t wait to hear new music that they will be creating.  Go guys!