Dear Missoula

I was up early, before the beginning of the Saturday book festival morning sessions, and walked a block to what I regard as Missoula's center, the Higgins Avenue Bridge over the Clark Fork of the Columbia River. It's a city of 60,000, a regional center and a university town, in a state with less than a million total population. I suppose there must be better instances of blend between the natural and the built. I haven't found any yet. Beautiful place, beautiful people.... We have to get back there...

Down-river from the bridge...Brennan's Wave, an artificial
wave built to honor a world-class Missoula kayaker who
died in Chile some years ago

The "historic" Wilma Theatre; where the book festival's
larger events are held; and, beyond, the art deco Florence
Hotel, where Rachel and Will had their wedding reception;
from the bridge

Also from the bridge, the Saturday morning farmers' market,
west annex (the larger and older market is by the Xs, three
blocks away) 

Other side of the bridge, Caras Park, one of several civic
centers

Other side still, old Milwaukee Station, now home of the
Boone and Crockett Club (yes, that Boone, that Crockett);
founded by Teddy Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, William
Tecumseh Sherman, and other conservation-minded pals

A block up-river, Mount Sentinel above the University of
Montana campus

Of all the places we have lived, it is the best; but there
is this one draw-back, starting always in October...up
high...

Taking off from Missoula Sunday afternoon; the Mission
Mountains, pretty much the view from our front porch for
ten years...