We chose to visit Missoula for the purpose of scoping out the University and getting a feel for the city. Meredith was considering attending graduate school here. We stayed at the swanky Bel Aire Motel on Broadway, near the drag of funky boutiques, bars and coffee shops. The days were grey and cold. Montana had certainly seen the arrival of autumn, and piles of leaves lined every sidewalk in town.

We celebrated Halloween here at the Iron Horse, a cozy bar downtown. College students flocked here by the dozens. Costumes galore. The guy dressed as a toilet was the most, in our opinion, should have won some kind of prize for Most Inventive Costume.

The city’s charming neighborhoods, tasty food, and stylish shops were impressive, as were the bald and rounded mountains that surrounded it. But Missoula lacked diversity. Diversity, we decided, is important.

After pastries and coffee at a local’s café, errands were run. Meredith bought a new down sleeping bag. Tyson visited camera stores in search of sensor cleanser for his camera. And after buying these and other new items, we sent a big box back home full of things we may not of needed after all.

We left by noon, and headed west for Seattle.