Aug 01, 2014

 

Thumbnail is a shot of what we have seen hundreds and hundreds of and let me tell you they don't hold anyone up, just about the only vehicles which travel faster are the yellow school buses!

 

We had decided to head for the #89 highway again so we could travel through the Lewis and Clark National Forest which was a real treat. We had a big day ahead of us as my bike was booked in at a shop in Billings to get a rear tyre fitted at 2pm so we headed off just after 7am and as it turned out that was a good thing because it got into the high 90's this afternoon. But, to our ride south on 89 to Interstate 191. It was an absolute treat and once we headed down 89 we started to climb through the Belt Creek / River Canyon (cannot remember if it was a creek or river) but later we saw a sign to the Big Belt Mountain Range. Not sure which direction as we were surrounded by mountains all round. In any case this was near the beginning of the canyon.

 

We came across a big number of deer still grazing near the edge of the road...and enjoying the warmth of the tarmac which was both a treat and a bit un-settling. We fuelled up last night but unsure what services we would come across we fuelled up again in White Sulphur Springs and had a hot drink because we were pretty chilled at this point. This shot is a bit after we climbed out of the town and a look back to the hills we had come through.

 

The ride through the National Forest was just beautiful. Mountains, conifers /pine trees, galloping water beside the road, great ascents and descents with awesome views and grassy plains at each end of the forest. Also, we came across what is left of a town which was the biggest producer of silver ore in the country in the late 1800's to early 1900's. I was amazed how far this extended. We could see on our GPS that there was an area of private ownership within the national park and this is the township of Neihart. A shot from an information rotunda.

 

Another shot of surrounding mountains.

 

And here we are about to turn onto the Interstate 191.

 

And a reminder that many many centuries ago this valley was cut out by the river wandering downwards from here. 

 

And into Billings and we dropped our luggage off at the hotel and headed for the bike shop. From here we headed into town for a bit of a look around before the bike was ready. This lovely Art Deco building is one of many of the era in the town. This was the Montana Power Company Building (and still may be, don't know) but the ground floor at least is now the Montana Brewing Company and a very nice bar and restaurant where we had some nachos. It was nice to sit without moving for a bit.

 

Billings is literally jammed in between canyon walls each side and this is a shot of one of the canyon walls from the back of Norm's bike as we returned to collect my bike.

 

And a shot at the town's original Boothill Cemetery literally a short walk up the hill from our accommodation. The Cemetery was named because many of its occupants went to their deaths with their boots on! This cemetery was the burying ground for Coulson, Montana, existing from 1877 to 1885, on the edge of what was to be Billings. The most famous person buried here is H.M. (Muggins) Taylor, a scout who took news of the Battle of the Little Bighorn between George A.Custer and the Sioux and Cheyenne Nations on June 25th, 1876, from the battle area to Bozeman. By the way that isn't fireworks in the distance but lights on a heap of radio towers.

Bits and Bobs:

 

And this is why they call these vehicles trucks!

 

And an interesting load Norm spotted in a rest stop.

Last Night's Accommodation:

Best Western Plus Heritage Inn, 1700 Fox Farm Road, Great Falls M 59404

Nice comfortable room and bed, pleased we beat the rain in. Surprised at the size of the town and the hotel. Included breakfast, parking and wifi (proving to be pathetic at this point, OK for email and nothing else...come on people!) nice restaurant on site as well as pool and gym and bar (with live guitarist ...very good) as well as attached to a casino....what more could a traveller want for????

I somehow managed to delete the photo Norm took so I will eventually grab a shot from the hotel website...but not tonight!