On a road trip like the one we were on, you can be just zooming along the highway enjoying the sights. Which is really pretty special when you’re driving through country you’ve never seen before.

You expect certain things, like mountains, and rivers and changing scenery. But then suddenly, the unexpected can hit you just like that, and though it may only last for a few seconds, your heart just leaps up within you. Not necessarily because the unexpected is this ginormous big deal, but because… well… because it’s unexpected.

That’s what happened with Nolemana and I on this next leg of the trip. What we saw was just a normal day’s work to the people we photographed, but to me it was one of those fabulous serendipitous moments that we got to participate in, if only through the lens of our camera. When we took these photos, I was so excited because I knew it would be special to AFK… who’s a pretty special person in my life.

One minute, we saw this beautiful tree.

And the next?

Try look! A Montana paniolo! On a beautiful Palomino! I knew my dear sistah Kikue would love that horse!

But why is he there? What’s he doing?

Try look now! It’s a pīpī drive! Right next to the freeway!

And here are the rest of nā paniolo!

Nine seconds. That’s all there was, and we’d whooshed by them. If I’d been able to turn around, I would’ve, so that I could have watched them a lot longer.

Sometimes we have to be content with extremely short moments of serendipity, yeah?

We continued on our way, talking about how great it was that we got to participate in something so special (to us), but probably just hard work to nā paniolo.

This is in Powell County. Big Sky country for sure.

Wonderful old barn in Powell County.

Nolemana really did a great job catching that shot, shooting right past me. Usually the photo-taking went like this:

Me: “Oh, look at that! Quick, can you take a photo?”

Nolemana is silent, because he’s frantically trying to focus in on what I want as we zoom down the freeway at 75 mph. Click!

Me: “Did you get it?”

Nolemana: “I think so; I’ll check”. Then he has to write down where we were and the frame number but before he can finish:

Me: “Oh, look at that! Quick, can you take a photo?”

Nolemana is silent, because he’s frantically trying to focus in on what I want as we zoom down the freeway at 75 mph. Click!

Me: “Did you get it?”

Heh heh.

Some round hay bales.

This is Milepost 167, makai of Garrison Junction. It’s now about 1:45 p.m.

Another little bit of fall color.

We’re almost at the turnoff for Helena. Will we take it? Will we continue on I-90?

Just before the junction, we see this sign for a car museum. My dad and my brother Kaniela taught me to love cars, and this would’ve been a fun stop.

Hmmm… which way are we going?

We take the turnoff for Helena, Montana’s capital. Try look the snow on the mountains.

This is just past Garrison Junction on Highway 12.

Oh, wat? U like see on one map? Okay.

Heading East on Highway 12.

We’re now about a mile past the junction.

Mālama pono! No let da pōhaku fall on you!

Near Beck Hill Road, not too far from the junction.

This is just past Dana Lane, and we’re starting to climb into the hills.

Railroad tracks. Oh? Really?

Now this is something that I really like, and I wonder why more states don’t do it. We used to see them when we lived in Idaho, but we haven’t seen them in any other states but Idaho and Montana. These signs are on the opposite side of the highway, so that they really catch the eye of the driver. I think it’s a great idea.

Remember those huge round hay bales we saw before? Well, we also saw hay like this, just piled loosely and surrounded by a fence. We don’t know why different ranchers or farmers would use one method but not the other.  Edit: This is a haystack made with the beaverslide method. Iʻve watched videos and seen TV programs about this method of stacking hay; itʻs absolutely fascinating!  Thanks to Patti for the info!

Another old barn along the highway.

And some aspen just starting to color up.

It’s really starting to get cold now, a far cry from where we started out this morning. This is near Elliston, Montana. We’re at about 5059′ in elevation.

This is Mullan Pass, 5932′ up.

Near Mullan Pass.

Mullan Pass. Now we’re getting snow on the nearby ground.

The temperature was still dropping, and it looks really cold outside. Our car windows were cold! Sure was pretty!

Pau Numbah Ten leg of the journey. Sure hope you enjoyed it!