August 29, 2017 - Choteau to Browning, Montana

Day 7  -  Yellowstone to Glacier Bike Tour

Our camping spot at the city park in Choteau was pretty nice. The first picture is our little RV, the second are Phil and Marcia’s and Jon and June’s. Another trailer pulled in next to us on one side – he was very quiet. Then another pulled in just left of the tree in the first picture, between us and Phil and Marcia. They proceeded to turn on their generator and run it until almost 10pm. They were not very considerate neighbors!We had an early start again today. Tobey was off by 7:15, with Phil and Jon about 10 minutes behind him. I stopped at the library to connect to WIFI and pick up some groceries before getting on the road. It seems like we stop every 10 miles or so for rest breaks which really helps keep the fellows going. At 21 miles from Choteau, Tobey was still smiling as he came in for a break.Lunch was in Dupuyer, about 34 miles from our starting point. It gave the guys some shade and a rest.After Dupuyer, I stopped by a huge sunflower field. They weren’t blooming – it’s probably almost time for harvesting the seeds.I liked this fence gate with the old wagon wheel.I saw a sign that said “Rocky Mountains” and had to pause to see whether I could see them or not. They are off in the distance, but there is still so much haze in the sky from the fires that they were hard to make out.We entered the Blackfeet Indian Reservation about 15 miles south of Browning. Tobey had me go on into town so I could see the Museum of the Plains Indians while he cycled the rest of the way in.

The admission is $5.00 and well worth it. Beautiful clothing pieces, artifacts, and wonderful exhibits. I spent over an hour enjoying the museum before venturing back outside to watch for Tobey’s arrival. There is a small art exhibit across the parking lot from the museum with a sign explaining the Blackfeet belief on the creation which was interesting to read.Tobey turned into town to explore – and was chased by a couple of dogs! He said he was lucky he still had enough energy left to yell at the dogs and pedal faster to get away! After 73 miles, he pulled into the museum parking lot – smiling but beat!We are actually camping here in the parking lot tonight. There is a casino next door and they told us this was a good place and they would have their night security keep an eye on us! Guess we will have to go over and support the local economy! Tomorrow is a short day – and destination day - about 30 miles into Glacier National Park.

August 28, 2017 - Great Falls to Croteau, MT

Day 6  -  Yellowstone to Glacier Bike Tour

They guys were up and on the road at 7:30 this morning, hoping to beat some of the heat. We aren’t sure where the fire is actually located west of us, but today, the smoke was thick in the air creating not just a haze, but distinct smell.There was a nice city park in Fairfield, so we stopped there for lunch and a rest break at one of the shady picnic tables. Once we left town, we were back to the open stretches of range. About 5 miles out of Fairfield are a series of ponds (1-5) and Freezeout Lake where we thought we might camp on national forest land. We found the camping area, but there was absolutely no shade and it was hard to get to the water for Penny, so the fellows opted to go further. They continued on to Choteau. It was still 91 degrees when they pulled in around 2:30 this afternoon. There is a lovely city park which allows camping along a small creek for only $8.00 a night. Penny was ecstatic! She had loads of fun chasing sticks in the stream, then rolling in the grass. She wasn’t happy when I took her to the water faucet and washed her down, but she will survive and sleep well tonight!

After resting a while, Tobey and I rode our bikes into the town to check it out. We found the Old Trail Museum at the north end of town and paid our $2 each admission. What a great find in this little town. Lots of variety, and a true bargain!They had the skeleton of what is believed to be an early French trapper with four old Hudson Bay Company arrowheads embedded in his bones. They estimate him to be a man between 35 and 45 years old.Dinosaurs roamed this area thousands of years ago and this little museum had an impressive display of bones, eggs, and shell fragments. There were several artifacts from other settlers in the area. Author, A.B. Guthrie, Jr., was from this area and they had manuscripts, as well as his typewriter and pipes on display.This was one of the outbuildings which housed artifacts from early settlers in this area. Everything  was well signed with detailed explanations of everything on display.

We spent about an hour checking out the museum, but could have stayed longer, but they close at 5pm. There was an ice cream shop at the end and we went in  -  just to look! We visited with a group of Hittites who live in the area. There were 14 young ladies – all dressed alike – in line for ice cream and one gentleman who was probably their group’s leader. He told us about their religious groups migration from Russia in the 1500s to France, to the US, moving from Minnesota, the Dakotas, then into Canada and back to Montana. The girls had been digging carrots and potatoes all day and this was their treat. We visited with them a while before saying our goodbyes. It was an interesting exchange.

On the way back to the RV we stopped to take a picture of John Henry’s Family Dinner Restaurant. We were reminded of a dear friend from our church who died a couple years ago who shared this name. This little community would have been a place our friend would have enjoyed. He loved history, loved talking to people, and finding out their story.It was a 53 mile ride day today. We are about 100 miles from Glacier, so they are hoping to complete the ride in two more days. So far everything is going well and the fellows are doing great. We continue to pray for good weather and safe roads.

August 27, 2017 - Great Falls, MT

Day 5 – Yellowstone to Glacier Bike Tour

We got to sleep in today since we were spending the day in Great Falls. About 9:30, we all got on our bikes to tour the city and explore the bike path along the Missouri River. Crossing one of the first bridges into town, we had a great view of the old historic buildings.Continuing into the downtown area, we enjoyed seeing the old buildings with old advertising signs painted on them. There was very little traffic on the street on Sunday morning, so it was easy to get around.The old parking meters were painted to signal the downtown parking garage.The others went to the Russell museum, but Tobey and I opted to just tour around the town. Unfortunately, one of the first stops we made was to repair a flat tire on Tobey’s bike. We made a good team, however, and had it taken care of in no time and were on our way. There are lots of statues around town – this one is of Charles Russell.We met back up with the others and headed down by the river and went by a huge refinery on our way toward the falls.It was interesting to stop by the dam and the falls. Great Falls was also home to a huge copper industry and the river banks housed huge copper smelters. The largest smokestack in the US was on the Missouri River, here in Great Falls. It was torn down in 1980.

The others headed on to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and we headed back to the RV to check on Penny and have a quick lunch. After lunch, we headed back on the bikes to check out the Interpretative Center. We were surprised there were no boats on the river. Lots of birds – pelicans, ducks, and even swans – but no boats!Just by one of the pedestrian bridges, we spotted the rare, Rainboffalo, found only in Great Falls! The statues representing Lewis, Clark and Sacajawea were along the trail not far from the museum. They are pointing to the falls.We enjoyed looking around the interpretive center before starting our trek back. They have done a nice job explaining the journey of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Tobey and I got back to the RV about 4pm and ended up riding 26 miles. Not bad for a “rest” day!

After showers, we all piled into our RV and went out to Fiesta En Jalisco Mexican Restaurant for dinner. It was tasty. Tobey and I split an order of fajitas and STILL had leftovers! I had their horchata (a rice milk with cinnamon) and it was very good – even better than some I have had in Mexico! After a stop at the grocery store for all of us, we are back at camp. We should have a fairly early night because the guys are planning an early departure in the morning.

August 26, 2017 - Jumping Creek to Great Falls, MT

Day 4 Yellowstone to Glacier Bike Tour

It was COLD when we woke up this morning! Our outside thermometer was registering 35 degrees at 6:45 am. I made Tobey turn on the furnace to warm the RV up when I got back from walking Penny! He bundled up with a long sleeve shirt under his jacket and wore his long riding pants starting out. Phil took off about 10 minutes before Tobey, but Tobey was on his way about 8:00 am.

The first ten miles of the ride was uphill – they gained about 1393 feet from our campground to the Kings Hill Summit.  They took a well-deserved rest before the descent started!Seven miles past the summit we came to the Memorial Falls trailhead and stopped there. It was about 1/4 mile hike up to the falls on a pretty good trail. The falls was small, but picturesque.

After the big climb, we passed through the small historic town of Niehart. I took the small one block detour to see the “historic district”. It was a mining center years ago, but the only thing I could see that might represent the history was this old building and an old truck! Going through the small town of Monarch, I spotted what I first thought was a miniature pony. As I got closer, I realized it was a Great Dane! When Tobey caught up to me for a break, he said as he was going by on his bike, there was a young boy about 12 years old in the yard with the dog. The boy was saying, “Don’t chase that bike, don’t chase him, don’t …” and the dog was off and running! Tobey thought it might follow him a little way and go back, but it kept running next to him with the boy in hot pursuit! Tobey turned around and headed back to the boy and the dog followed! The boy was relieved and held on to his collar as Phil went by!!!

We made a brief stop near Sluice Boxes State Park. There are some interesting signs describing the area in height of the silver mining days in the 1800s. This is a view down on the valley by the park.

They took another break near Amington Junction where Hwy 87 and 200 join Highway 89, before the final 24 miles into Great Falls. The ride today was 78.6 miles and over they day they had lots of hills. Total elevation gain was over 3400 feet then a loss of over 6000 feet!

We are staying at Dick’s RV Park in Great Falls for two nights We plan sightseeing on our bikes tomorrow before the guys take off on Monday for the next leg of the journey to Glacier.

August 25, 2017 - Ringling, MT to Jumping Creek Campground, NFS, MT

Day 3 Yellowstone to Glacier Bike Tour

It rained off and on through the night last night, but we woke to mostly clear skies. We were up early and saw the sunrise behind the church on the hill in Ringling. At 7:30, Tobey and Phil were off, with Jon about 10 minutes behind them.There wasn’t much traffic on the 21 miles between Ringling and White Sulphur Springs, so the guys had a pretty easy start to their day. We passed a large area that had been burned, but cows were grazing on the new green shoots which had already starting coming up.We planned a stop at the White Sulphur Springs hotel to use their hot springs pools. It was a great break! There were three pools, one was 98 degrees, one was 102, and the third was 106. We hung out and soaked and used the WIFI for a couple hours before the guys were back on their bikes. It was a good deal at $7.00 a person.After the break, the guys had a more difficult ride for their next 23 miles. They had a long hill up, then a good descent. Overall, they had a 1804’ elevation gain and 1188’ elevation loss. We are camping at a National Forest Service campground, Jumping Creek. There are 10 sites here and we are using three of them.  There is a small creek and Penny had a chance to go swimming and retrieve sticks. She was a happy dog until we made her get out!She managed to roll in stickers after she got out and we had to spend time brushing her to get her cleaned up, and she HATES to be brushed! Poor thing.

After dinner, Tobey, Marcia, Penny, and I took a walk around the campground area (twice). We spotted a deer up on the hill watching us from behind a tree. It didn’t move more than its head from the time we first spotted it on our first trip around and the second time by! I’m sure if we had made any move up the hill, it would have bounded off, but it felt pretty safe.The Jumping Creek campground has numerous felled trees and leaning trees. The forest service posted an informational sign explaining that many of the trees suffer from a heart-rotting fungi,  “tomentosus root disease,” a fungus that rots the roots of the trees. In 2016, they started cutting the rotting trees and replanting new trees and shrubs to provide shade and a healthy forest near the campground. There were plenty of wildflowers in the campground!As we returned to the RV, we were treated to a beautiful sunset over the pines. A great way to end our day!Tomorrow the guys start their day with a steep climb – almost 1300’ elevation gain in less than 10 miles. After that it should be downhill into Great Falls.

August 24, 2017 - Livingston to Ringling, MT Yellowstone to Glacier Bike Tour

Phil and Jon wanted to leave at 8:00 this morning, so I told Tobey he should be ready closer to 7:30, and it turns out they left at 7:45! The three of them left the fairgrounds and headed to Highway 89. The weather started out cool and cloudy with a slight tailwind.

Marcia and June followed them, and I went back to McDonald’s so I could get an internet connection! There isn’t much internet service or cell service and the signal at the fairgrounds wasn’t strong enough to post anything. Once yesterday’s blog was posted, Penny and I took off to catch up. She is a good co-pilot!

We followed Old Clyde Park Road which paralleled Business I-90 and was a much prettier drive. We stopped to look out over the Yellowstone River. Penny was not happy we couldn’t make our way down to the water for a morning swim!

When Old Clyde Park Road reconnected with Highway 89, we hit road construction. I had to wait for a pilot car to head north, just as the others had earlier, then we had gravel for over 6 miles. It was rough going for the guys, but they hung in there and we all met up about 10 miles down the road for a well-deserved break!

Marcia and I took turns driving ahead 10-15 miles, then waiting for the guys. As we waited at the next stop we spotted a couple deer in the field across the road.

When Tobey crested the hill coming down to where we were parked, four deer crossed the road right in front of his bike!

A little further down the road I spotted a different breed of Montana elk in this farmer’s front yard!

Near Clyde Park, MT, is the Shields River Valley. The area was explored by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They named the valley after John Shields, a member of their expedition. They were accompanied by Sacajawea, and camped near the mouth of the river on July 15, 1806, while they were exploring the Yellowstone on their return trip from the coast. There was also a monument to “Thunder Jack”, an early explorer in the area.

By the time Tobey rode into Ringling, MT, at 1pm today, having ridden 49.9 miles, the wind had shifted to a headwind and the temperature was hot. We are camping in the field next to the post office (with their permission) tonight.