Tickets and Warnings

Well, lets start with last night... Driving through Montana we searched frantically for a movie theater that wasn't sold out of Harry Potter 7 tickets. We finally found one on our route and rushed to reserve our spots. We got to Polson, MT at around 8 pm and we got our tickets. After that, we headed to a Walmart parking lot and I took a nap while Sierra posted the blog. The town of Polson was an interesting town...at first it looks charming, then you notice an abundance of liquor stores and casinos...

We rolled into the movie theater at 10:30 pm and snagged a perfect parking spot allowing for a quick escape. We watched from the van as people lined up. Everybody in line acted obnoxious. Little girls were dirty dancing and yelling, adults were yelling as if drunk, and everybody knew everybody...therefore they all just stared at us in our 85 Vanagon from Maine. When we finally got into the theater at about 11:15 pm, we couldn't help but laugh at the size of it...The building had two theaters that together wouldn't match the size of one of our theaters in Waterville... We sat in the way back, near the wheel chair spot so that we had the only two seats in the row...As we sat there...I told Sierra not to show fear...

The locals continued to be obnoxious up until the start of the movie at 12:05 am. Adults were yelling across the aisles...only about 10 feet...to other adults and holding loud obnoxious conversations so that everyone had to listen. It was a special experience....Good movie though.

After the movie I drove for about another 100 miles to Missoula MT and we set up camp for the night in a Walmart parking lot. (Fell asleep about 4:30 am)

This morning we got on the road at 11ish and soon crossed into Idaho. Soon after that, we crossed into Washington which is where we are now. I am sitting while Sierra drives...it's interesting to say the least...We got off I-90 an hour or so ago to bypass some construction, (the van doesn't like stop and go traffic). On one of the back roads we caught a sheriffs attention. I could tell he made the decision to pull us over, later than normal. I was confused because I was doing 55 in a 45. An old timer came up to the window, he said hello and spent 15 seconds looking into the back of the van.  I gave him my license and registration and he said,"I've gotta say I've never pulled over a vehicle from Maine before", to which I replied, "Well, I've never been to Washington before either so..." He then asked where we were headed. I said, "California and then back to Maine." He said, "so what are you doing on this road?" I wanted to reply, "what does it matter?" but decided, "traffic on 90 was pissing me off", was a safer bet. He asked if I knew what I got pulled over for. I told him I didn't know, and that I was going 55. He said, "I got you at 58 and its a 45." I said, "Ok."

When he came back to the car he spent another few moments looking into the back of the van, and then said, "I forgot to ask...did you want a ticket?". I of course said, "no....?" and he goes, "you sure? It will only take me a few minutes". I said, "yea I'm sure." Him: "One hundred percent?" Me: "One hundred percent!" Now, considering I plan on being a cop, and have spent a lot of time around them, I'm usually pretty pro-law enforcement...but this guy was irritating. Next, apparently assuming we were just lazy hippies, he said, "So what are you guys just traveling the country?" I said, "yep." He goes, "shouldn't you be working or something?". I was surprised and now getting angry. I wanted to say, "shouldn't you be retired or something old timer?"...once again held my tongue. I instead said, "Well, I go to college full time for criminal justice, and I just spent the last six months going to school full time, working 30-40 hours a week, and doing an internship at a police department 20 hours a week. And since I haven't had a summer off since junior high, I decided I deserve some time off." (I held back the, "if that's okay with you."

He then turned off the arrogant attitude and put on the big brother cop attitude and tried to give me some advice. I listened as if I cared, and then he said good bye.

Now we drive towards Oregon and hope to be in Northern California at the end of the day tomorrow. We are also now on pacific time, which is 3 hours behind eastern time.

-Adam