Jul 07 - Day 05 2015 Tour - Great Falls, MT

Got a fairly late start this morning, mostly due to catching up with yesterday's blog report. Sure felt good to crash early last night though so it was worth it.It was almost ten o'clock before I was loaded up and back on the road. zzzzzzzz  zzzzzzzzzz  zzzzzzzzzz

First stop was to gander at one of the biggest lumber operations I've seen so far on this trip. Montana seems to be very conscientious about timber management and it looks it while you're traveling through.

 

Today's ride would take me along MT 200, another scenic road running along the Blackfoot river and through some beautiful range country.

Blackfoot River

Montana ranches must be among the most beautiful in the world, all lush and looking well tended, even the smaller spreads.

Some of their houses look like they might belong to a Hobbit or two

While riding along the Blackfoot I spotted a sign directing tourists to the ghost town of Garnet. I was hooked even though it was an eleven-mile drive, the first half paved and the rest gravel. Dusty gravel. Real dusty gravel...cough cough!

 First stop was to look at the tiny cemetery where five miners were buried.

Next was a way-point cabin where travelers could find shelter and emergency rations. It's still in use today.

You might have to share your space with cirtters

Today's fare included two cans of fruit cocktail & a filtered smoke

Arriving at Garnet you're impressed with how orderly everything is. Very friendly people working there.

This is a marvelous place to spend a few hours. It's easy to imagine what living here must have been like.

Kitchen in the hotel

Hotel dining room

Ghostly person with big ol' belly looking for food

Newlyweds cabin 

Free rent for newlyweds -wotta deal!

I probably spent way too much time wandering around Garnet but it was sooo interesting. After getting back on the road and not having any luck scrounging for food in the old hotel dining room I was ready for lunch.

Not too far down the road I came across Trixi's Antler Saloon which from the outside looked like a rough biker bar. Hey, I'm a biker right? 

Trixi's  Antlered Saloon, home of the porky sandwich 

These be antlers. Montanans  know what art's all about

So you didn't believe me about the Porky sandwich, eh?

Done with the Porky it was time to move along. I'd planned on making better time but the ghost town had really held things up so my day was pretty well shot. I stopped for a quick photo of the Continental Divide sign and a looksee at the Fort Shaw sign, then hightailed it on into Great Falls to look for lodging. Love my GPS, it found the Comfort Inn right next to a Wendy's so I'm in for the night.

So there we be boys & girls, a grande day spent chasing ghosts in the Montana hinterlands. The only wild life I saw was an eagle souring overhead but too far away to photograph. Still a great day all told and I'm ready for a lie-down. Even did me laundry! 

Today's miserable mileage a meager 204.

LL

Jul 06 - Day 04 2015 Tour - Missoula, MT

I love old buildings...how weird izzat?

Leaving Kenniwick early I planned to ride highway 12 all the way to Missoula, MT. The route I chose avoided major highways and followed pristine rivers through forests in a general eastern direction. It was going to be hot again so I'd be taking it easy enjoying the slower pace.

I reached Walla Walla by mid-morning and stopped for breakfast, then back-tracked a couple of miles to see an historic site commemorating a major battle between the locals - Native Americans versus the US Army. Eventually the Army won.

Small digs for a family

With Walla Walla behind me I rode through miles & miles of Washington's grain fields. Well, maybe not actually through the fields, that would be dumb wouldn't it? More like next to them. On pavement. See?

Pomeroy seemed like a welcome rest stop & photo op. I sat on a bench in front of  the local agra-biz  office and gulped down a cold can of designer drink. Been consuming a lot of that type of stuff lately, gotta keep the electrolytes up to speed. Whatever those things are. Ask Linda....

If I lived in Pomeroy this is the house I'd want. Wot?

Hot Dogs!

Note the temperature reading....Phew!

Shortly after leaving Pomeroy I reached the scenic drive that follows a meandering river nearly all the way to Missoula. Sidecar pilots take note, the sign says it all.

This would be a major workout

My bike's outfitted with an electronic deer whistle and today I saw it in action. The first doe I encountered looked up, then ran upwards through the brush and away from the sound. The next one I saw was several miles down the road; she stood her ground but shook her ears and stamped her front foot. Beats heck out of having them jump in front of me.

I also saw moose on two occasions, the first one was standing in water eating the tender greens and the next was busy snacking on whatever moose snack on when not in water. Eh? 

Road side snack time

I arrived in Missoula right at 7:00 pm mountain time which made me an hour later than I expected. Not a 

problem though, I scored a nice room at the local Super 8, had a small pizza at the Pizza Hut next door, and crashed for the night.  

Today's mileage was 385, tomorrow's a whole new day. This ain't so bad.

LL