Having reached the halfway point of my vacation, I felt it was time for some well-deserved rest. How about that, a vacation you have to get away from!

I decided to let myself be lazy for the day. I had made reservations in northern Montana for the evening so I didn't have to push it to get to my next destination.

Flathead Lake (Big Arm, MT)

I took advantage of the rooms amenities and lounged on the couch while watching two movies on the tube. One was Chocolat and the other was Mr. Destiny, I believe. During Chocolat, I began working on answering emails and sizing pictures down for the website. By 10 am I cleaned up and made my way to the front desk to check out.

The drive across Montana was pleasant. I always had a nice view of the mountains to the south and a range to the north as I passed through Butte and Deer Lodge on my way to Missoula.

When I arrived in Missoula I was overwhelmed by the traffic in town. For a not so large town, it had a bustling community. I made my way past a hundred oil and lube places so it seemed. I was hoping that wasn't a bad omen. I passed through town on the way to Lolo...and steak. I was highly disappointed when I found out the place was closed for lunch. I ate at a local mom and pop diner that was attached to a gas station and had some very good meatloaf and potatoes. I would have ordered a burger, but the size I wanted was called Mama Bear or something whimpy...so thought it better to go with something a little more masculine. You know, I brag that I'm comfortable in my masculinity, but it's episodes like that that make me think.

House on the hill (Flathead Lake, MT)

I stopped at the Southgate Mall on the way back through Missoula to find a University of Montana sweatshirt. After my successful visit I followed US-93 into a traffic jam. After some irritation I made it north of I-90 where the traffic subsided.

I passed the National Bison Range and discovered my first glacial lake of the trip. Flathead Lake is a 30-mile lake that has plenty of resorts and even more glistening beauty. I easily could have spent the day just staring at this incredible teal and turquoise lake for days. Because of its length, I was able to see it for more than a half hour on my way to Kalispell.

When I arrived at my hotel, I asked the woman at the desk it Lake McDonald was close enough for me to make an easy drive to it that evening. She said it takes 45 minutes just to get there and it was around 6 pm, so I packed it in for the evening.

I wandered next door to the local Mexican restaurant. It was apparently a local favorite as it was hustling and bustling. I enjoyed a Chili Relino, a Corona and made my way back to the hotel room to watch the Stanley Cup finals.

Next up, my early morning tour into Canada.

> Day 10