Missoula to Salt Lake City

I woke up this morning buzzing with mixed emotions.  I was sad to leave Montana, as I always seem to be with this magical state.  And I was also excited because today was the day I ventured into new territory.  After a month on the road, I was finally going to enter states I hadn't ever visited before.

As I was packing my things to leave the friendly Missoula house, Theo said, "Hey wanna go to our friend's farm for breakfast on your way out of town?  We're about to head over."

Well yes, Theo.  Yes I do.

The only thing I didn't get to do on my morning, before-I-leave-Missoula checklist was find a host in Salt Lake City, where I would be staying tonight.  I had a backup place that would cost $15, but I hadn't yet paid one cent for accommodation, and didn't want to start now.  But if I wanted to make breakfast on the farm, I would have to skip the internet couch surfing search.  I threw everything in my bag and left, trusting the travel gods to work things out the way they usually do.

The farm turned out to be beautiful and full of even more friendly Missoula people.  The PEAS farm is a teaching farm sponsored by the University of Montana.  Students use it to learn about permaculture, and most of the food is donated to local food banks.  A friend of my hosts, Bo, is the caretaker there, which is how I ended up there this morning.

Here are a few shots from my glorious visit:

Ethan's son on the hay bale tower

Oink.

View of one of the greenhouses and lettuce beds

The Missoula gang (left to right):
me, Kelsey, Bo, Ethan, Theo, Emily

Over breakfast, I met a new friend, Emily.  When she heard I was headed to Salt Lake City tonight, she immediately offered for me to stay with her parents.  She called them, they gladly agreed, and I had a free place for the night.

The eight hour drive was gorgeous.  The rolling hills of southeastern Montana faded into the jagged mountains of Idaho, which faded into the red mountains of Utah.  All day I saw cattle, horses, donkeys, sheep, emu, and llamas.  The sun never stopped shining its bounty on me.

I am now in Salt Lake City with Emily's delightful family - (which also includes a 22 year-old cousin who happens to be a home beer-brewing genius.  He gave me a bottle of his Belgian style with lemon & lime zest and coriander. Mmmmmmm.)  

Tomorrow I leave for several days of solo tramping and camping in Zion National Park and The Grand Canyon, so I'll probably be scarce on the inter webs until I hit civilization again.  Not sure when or where that will be!  Peace for now, my beloveds.