Remember back in school and everyone would come back after the long summer break? Some classmates you hung out with and others you didn't see at all. The teacher would go around the room and ask everyone for a brief update on what you did over the summer break. Well, this is what I did.
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| Day 1: Mackenzie River Pizza. L to R: Max Reeve, Michael Olson, Frank Bodden, Scott Nelson. |
I have a close group of buddies and we go hunting around battlefields, forts, and other historic sites. We also look for decent food and beer along the way. We typically try to go every other year but Covid-19 threw a monkey wrench into those plans. Our last trip was back in 2018. 2020 was to be our next but we all know what happened. 2021 wasn't any better so that was also scrapped. When 2022 rolled around we were determined to make a go of it. Unfortunately, one of us couldn't make it. That changed the whole dynamic and feel of the trip so we are setting our sights on 2023 to have all of us together and try and get things back to some form of normal.
We call our trips and group "Montana Mayhem." We all met on the internet and since our first trip we have been going strong. When we are not traveling together we keep in contact by phone calls, email, text messages, and our own private Facebook group. We're not always discussing Custer, the Little Big Horn battle, the Plains Indian wars, etc. There is lots of talk about football, beer, movies, etc. Just normal everyday stuff.
Our 2022 trip was a wide ranging trip. We all met up in Billings on June 14. From there we branched out and hit Hardin, Sheridan, Cody, Bozeman, and eventually back to Billings. We hit the Little Big Horn Battlefield, Fort Phil Kearny, the Buffalo Bill Museum of the West, the Museum of the Rockies, Big Hole Battlefield, and other points in-between. There are many small, but extremely interesting and valuable, museums and historical sites spread throughout the area. We try to visit as many as we can. And don't forget about the food and beer aspects either. Looking for the ever elusive and excellently prepared bison steak.
We are already throwing around ideas for our 2023 trip. After all, half the fun is in the planning.
Montana Mayhem 2022 Photo Album
It's great seeing you guys again! I need to dig out the photo taken in the bar when you crashed the LBHA conference in Rapid City so many years ago. I enjoyed seeing you with Fred in 2016 at the battlefield. I hope to make it back there one of these years. . . .
ReplyDeleteHope to see you out there soon! We're looking at going back in 2023.
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