10.20

It felt great to drive through Wyoming. Wyoming is even emptier than South Dakota.

As I left this morning there was fog in Rapid City. It cleared as I climbed up into the Rockies. It felt like I was really up high because the clouds were very low in the sky. It started snowing when I dipped into the valleys throughout Wyoming and every 100 miles or so I would stop to pee on the side of the highway then climb up on top the Uhaul and look around.

I went passed Pierre, South Dakota yesterday, which is where Ben died. I’m glad that if he had to die he died in a place like Pierre. When I saw the sign for the turn off I felt my chest tense up. I had almost rerouted through North Dakota to avoid Pierre, but didn’t. After that initial chest-tightening, I felt fine though and didn’t think about it.

Also yesterday, I detoured through the Badlands. They come out of nowhere – just like the Grand Canyon does. Unexpected. The first big outcropping I saw – you come around a turn and see the pink and tan marshmallow formations cut into the empty plain – I grasped.

There was construction on the driving route through the park grounds. I was stopped by a flagger so that a digger could slowly make its way in front of me. The Flagger came to my window to chat with me while we waited. She was Native. I’ve seen Natives all day. Natives and the badlands. It makes you think about what the Country might be otherwise.

I’m drinking a bit of beer as I type and it’s gone straight to my head. I’m in an Applebee’s and I haven’t eaten since breakfast. The car broke down in Billings, Montana and it took all afternoon and evening to sort out a mechanic and a hotel. I’m paying through the nose for the hotel, but I can walk to the shop from there.

The Applebee’s is across the street from the hotel. My waiter has an accent like a cowboy. He seems apologetic when he says anything. “I’ll take your order.” Hangdog cowboy.