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Shamrock Tour®: Kalispell, Montana
I know my number is up when the patrol car's lights come on: another speeding ticket. Apparently, I was going 80 in a 70. But I'm not prepared for what happens next. The trooper tells me I can avoid a court appearance by giving him $20 cash. Wait a minute. Am I still in Montana, or is this Mexico?
It's just Montana's idea of summary justice. The $20 is a bail bond that's forfeit if you're a no-show in court. A de facto fine. And, yes, the trooper gave me a receipt.
Sprawled just north of Flathead Lake in northwest Montana, Kalispell is a terrific spot for a shamrock base: To the east, you have the magnificent Rockies and Glacier National Park; north and west, the rambling peaks of the Salish and Cabinet Ranges; and then the 28-by-15-mile lake and the Mission Range to the south. Mountains, lakes, and great roads – what's not to like?
With my "welcome to Montana" ticket in my $20-lighter pocket, I park the Sprint at the La Quinta Inn on US 2 and settle in. Four days, four leaves of the Shamrock.
Tour 1: "To Yaak and back"
A saying in these parts, "to Yaak and back," means a long journey although Yaak is less than 100 miles from Kalispell. I'm meeting Skip, Maggie and Sasha at the Buffalo Café in Whitefish for breakfast, but what we've all forgotten is, it's Labor Day. The Buffalo is closed, and we have to relocate to another eatery around the corner. ...
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