Does it ever seem that the easy availability of stuff on the interweb makes consumption boring? Although I think I'm lazier than average, I find that I enjoy things more when acquisition is complicated. For example, is it really that much fun to read about a fabulous product, find it on the internet and have it delivered within days? Yes, if the product is a replacement dishwasher detergent dispensing door spring. No, if it is something I really desire.
That's why, when I started reading about a fabulous yarn, Beaverslide, from the area of Montana where I grew up, I looked it up on the internet, but made excuses NOT to order any. I reminded myself that I often get the wrong color or quantity when I order online. Plus, I have enough yarn. But I was intrigued, because the only products that I have ever seen from my part of the world are food, gems and truck toppers. This is actually a pretty huge geographic area west of the Rockies. Most of it looks a lot like this:
Quite empty--not a lot of yarn.
So when I was planning our Montana trip and saw that our family had to drive through this area to get from the west side of Glacier National Park to the Great Falls Airport, I actually got excited because I saw that the tiny town of Dupuyer--the home of Beaverslide Dry Goods--was on our route!
Although there is no mention of a retail outlet on the Beaverslide site (after all in a town with a population of about 40, it's rare to find a yarn store), I e-mailed the owner, Leanne, and asked if it would be possible visit her and her yarn when passing through. She replied that the town's convenience store, The Cache, is owned by her sister-in-law and carries some yarn. It is open from Wednesday through Saturday, from 10 to 5, and she gave the phone number. Problem was, we were coming through on a Monday. So, while I still had internet access, I emailed back telling her when I would be passing by, hoping, just maybe, the store just might be open then.
That day we had to drive over the continental divide, into the east side of Glacier Park, and then down the high plains on the east side of the Rockies. We stopped a lot. I was torn all day between wanting to enjoy the amazing places along the way, and the irrational desire to hurry to Dupuyer just in case the store was open. I tried calling the store to see if it was open. I left messages. I even drove over the speed limit--which is 75 mph. (All difficult for me as I have a mild phone phobia when making phone calls to people I don't know well; I hate leaving phone messages; and I don't like to drive fast.)
Finally I saw this along the road:
Pop, groceries, beer, yarn ?
And we drove down into a small draw filled with greener grass, some trees and a few houses. The highway turned into Dupuyer's main street. There was the Cache: closed.
I slowly drove on and we were immediately on the edge of the village. "Too bad," I sighed.
My Husband: "That's it? You're just driving on?"
Me: "Well, it's closed."
Him: "Turn around. I think you need to double check."
I turned around drove past Pierre's Cafe and a car repair shop and parked in front of the Cache. Definitely closed. There were some signs of life, though: men were fixing a big truck next door. My husband said this was obviously a small town where everybody knew each other so I should just go over and ask the men where Leanne lived.
"No! Why? What good would that do?"
"Then you could drive to her house and ask her to come open the store."
"I couldn't do that. That's ridiculous. That would be like . . yarn stalking."
"Okay, If you won't I will."
The kids and I slid down in our seats, cheeks burning, while my husband had a friendly chat with the guys. Then he hopped in the car and told me where to go. I drove while explaining why he would have to go knock on the door and explain what I wanted. He was amazed that I was ready to abandon the mission at this point, just because I was completely overcome with shyness.
I wasn't surprised that the owners seemed to waiting for my husband when he walked up the gorgeously landscaped path to their house. (I grew up on a ranch too, and we had our ways of knowing whenever someone came up the road.) I heard some talking and Leanne's husband laughing. I supposed he was laughing at the crazy yarn lady. Me. But, as I drove back to the Cache with Leanne in her car behind me, my husband assured me they hadn't thought it so strange--and he enjoyed having an exciting mission.
So the quest ended with the boys getting pop and candy from the store, while my husband talked with Leanne about sheep ranching with grizzly bears about. Some locals came in. I wasn't really aware of much being said though, because there was more than "some yarn" at the cache. There is an entire yarn annex at the Cache.
A wall of yarn, there's more around the corner
If you ask me, this has to be the best convenience store in the world.
(And I guess my husband and I are a pretty good match.)
So has anyone else been on a good quest lately?
