Close Encounters at Devils Tower National Monument Road Trip Day 3 Episode 3

[robertpaulsen]

Seeing Devils Tower is amazing. Neek, Sar and I experienced something other-worldly about seeing, in the midst of the rolling forest and hills, this humungous geological formation raised so tall above everything around it. Seriously, if you haven’t been, put this on your bucket list. It is like nothing else on Earth!

[Staph]

1. I had been by Devil's Tower many times as a kid,

on the way from West Virginia to visit relatives in Montana.

When Close Encounters of the Third Kind first came out, and Richard Dreyfuss uses the fork to mark lines in the mashed potatoes, I said "I've seen this before. Why do I know that shape?" When he built the six foot tall sculpture, I literally gasped out loud!

[robertpaulsen]

2. That movie was my introduction to the natural wonder.

I've seen Close Encounters so many times, but seeing it up close was like seeing it for the first time. Just too amazing!

Have you seen it since you were a kid, Staph? It really is a remarkable place to hike around.

[Staph]

5. The family made our last trip west about 10 years ago.

Hardly any of the Montana relatives are still alive (or still in Montana). We didn't hike the area, as Mom was in her mid-80s and not up to that kind of walk.

That said, it is still a chill-up-the-spine to look in the distance over the rolling hills and spot that unique pile of rocks aiming for the sky.

One advantage of having seen the Tower, when watching the movie, is realizing the enormous size of the visiting space ship. It's wider than the top of the Tower!

[robertpaulsen]

6. That's a good point, Staph!

I never really thought about that before, but now that I've seen up close just how massive Devils Tower is, that space ship was truly gargantuan! I'm going to have to watch that movie again soon.

That's true, just driving by and seeing it in the distance does create a chill-up-the-spine feel. There definitely is a spiritual dimension to that place!

[The Blue Flower]

3. Wow, 40 year anniversary of Close Encounters

I never miss is when it's on tv. One of my all-time favorites. Thanks for sharing this.

[robertpaulsen]

4. You're welcome, The Blue Flower!

Have you ever seen Close Encounters on the big screen? I had seen it a few times on TV when I saw it about 10 years ago on the big screen, I think at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Wow, what a cool experience! Certain sci-fi films, like Close Encounters and 2001, just have an added magnificence on the big screen. But like you, whenever it's on tv, I watch it too!

[catbyte]

7. Makes me want to watch Close Encounters again! My late hubby & I went there on our

honeymoon, almost 33 years to the day. Actually, it will be the 33rd anniversary on the 17th. We were married on Bastille Day 1984. I lost him in December, 2014 to complications of having Type I DM for 55 years. We drove from Michigan to Glacier National Park & saw almost everything in between for 2 weeks. What a great trip. Thanks so much for sharing your video! It brought back some great memories.

[robertpaulsen]

8. I'm glad the place has so many wonderful memories for you!

So sorry to hear about your loss. It sounds like you and your husband had a fantastic trip together! I'm very glad you enjoyed our video. And yes, I want to see Close Encounters again too!