"God shed his grace on thee..."

Day 12

Bonner, MT to Ketchum, ID (288 miles, 3,035 total) 

We survived the night with minimal frostbite damage and were rewarded with this view overlooking the Blackfoot River before we packed up the RV and set out for our next state.


As we drove along 93, Jon slammed on the brakes and insisted we turn around to pay a visit to Hamilton Packing Co. While I was dismayed to be stopping so early into our day's travels, I'm so glad that I was overruled so we could indulge in this unique piece of America that we certainly don't get to experience in the Tri-State Area.

With shotgun season having opened on Saturday, the trucks were lined up around the building with "drop-offs" from the weekend's hunt, bringing "locally sourced" to an entirely different level.

                  

Once inside, we went a bit overboard and stocked up on all the bison ribeyes, elk burgers, jerky, and other Montana game that we would need to keep us in meat for the balance of the trip.


                                                

Fully loaded with what would surely result in gout for us both by November, we got back on 93 and eventually on 75. Though the rest of the day was simply driving, we were treated to hour upon hour of some of the most beautiful landscapes that either of us had ever seen. We were filled with a sense of awe at the majesty around us, greatly humbled and grateful to have been born into a country in which this is our heritage. 






















Finally pulling into Ketchum after dark, we unlocked the door to our Airbnb to find this dry erase board hanging in the entryway. Words to live by for not only the rest of the week, but for the rest of this trip!


We wrapped up the evening with a momentous event - our first indoor dining experience since March. With the only other soul in the restaurant being the gent pictured below, I felt entirely fine about the experience (particularly as it was accompanied by bourbon).






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