![\"STW2](\"http:\/\/www.ourwanderyears.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/STW2-Hop-9.jpg\")
<\/a>STW2 Hop 9<\/p><\/div>197 miles via I-90, US 212, US 310, MT 72 and US 14\/16\/20 with stops in Billings MT and Laurel MT. Cumulative tow miles: 1624. Truck miles: 237. Cumulative truck miles: 2166.<\/p>\n
This hop was unusual in that we made two stops, not for refueling but for shopping. The first stop was at the Cracker Barrel<\/a> in Billings MT, to return our audiobook. Cracker Barrel rents audiobooks and we thought we would give it a try. The rate is 50 cents per day, which is reasonable. The problem is that Cracker Barrel locations are few and far between in some portions of the US. We actually finished the audiobook 11 days ago, in Minnesota, but couldn’t return it until we got to Billings. An annoying waste of about 5 bucks. No big deal, though, and we took the opportunity to get a takeout lunch from Cracker Barrel.<\/p>\n The second stop was at a Walmart in Laurel MT which happened to be adjacent to an AutoZone. We bought another Keurig coffeemaker at Walmart. Our old one failed in SD and we bought a new one there, but it, too, failed. We will return that one for credit later.<\/p>\n Why is it so hard to produce a coffeemaker that actually makes coffee?<\/p>\n The AutoZone was needed because a rear turn signal bulb on the GMC truck failed a couple of days ago. Got a bulb and replaced it last night.<\/p>\n The hop? Easy navigation (except at the Walmart where there was construction), little traffic, good roads and absolutely gorgeous scenery. Montana was beautiful and Wyoming, as we approached and passed through Cody, was spectacular. I don’t think I would enjoy winter here, but summer is glorious.<\/p>\n Our home in Garryowen MT was the 7th Ranch RV Camp<\/a>. This is an actual working ranch that also has a medium-sized RV park (about 100 sites). It is adjacent to the Little Bighorn Battlefield, which I have already described, and has the same rolling hills and golden grassland that you find there. Just beautiful. And beautiful sunsets, too. Rusty loved it because he could take walks off the leash. We would absolutely return here. And we were able to add another state to our map.<\/p>\n Sunset day 2<\/p><\/div>\n Cowboy horses at 7th Ranch<\/p><\/div>\n Golden grassland<\/p><\/div>\n Our site<\/p><\/div>\n Sunset day 1<\/p><\/div>\n Rusty roaming free<\/p><\/div>\n #41 – Montana<\/p><\/div>\n On US 20<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 197 miles via I-90, US 212, US 310, MT 72 and US 14\/16\/20 with stops in Billings MT and Laurel MT. Cumulative tow miles: 1624. Truck miles: 237. Cumulative truck miles: 2166. This hop was unusual in that we made two stops, not for refueling but for shopping. The first stop was at the Cracker … Continue reading <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>