The quickest way to learn your way around a town – become a courier. My friend Eva is the director of the Missoula marathon this weekend. Given I have some time on my hands I volunteered to help. My job: distribute posters to a list of downtown businesses. So I borrowed a messenger bag from Jenny and set out on my bike. It was fun finding my way around town, going into the shops to hang the posters I had a chance to look around, peruse the merchandise and menus, and get a feel for what local businesses offered in Missoula.
After I dropped off the last of the posters I headed back to one of the coffee shops and made plans to meet Scott at a taqueria for lunch. Afterwards we headed to the grocery store. This trip has instilled a new appreciation for grocery stores and Missoula has some good ones. Grocery shopping used to feel like such a chore, but now that we have a more intimate connection with our food, it’s a much more rewarding experience. One grocery in particular, Good Food Store, is quickly becoming my favorite, from the beautiful produce (much of which is locally grown) to the yogurt made with whole milk and all variety of things sold in bulk.
Something else I am loving about Missoula is the bike culture. Bikes are everywhere! Biking is more than a sport or a way to recreate. It’s a mode of transportation. And that’s normal here. I’ve lived in too many places where it’s not. Add that to the list of “must haves” for the next place we live.