Beartooth

54 miles of scenic beauty enticed me to make the drive from Cooke City to Red Lodge, Montana. At almost 11,000 feet you have sweeping vistas of snow covered mountains while driving a narrow winding two lane road with steep drop offs at times.


The clouds were heavy much of the way with the approaching storms.


We pulled off at turnouts often to marvel in wonderment. There was a lot of traffic on July 4th but nobody seemed to be in a rush. How could you be with so many sharp turns. Check out that curve.


The Beartooth All American road had 163,000 non resident travelers in 2012 based on a study done on the road that Charles Kuralt called America's best highway. They had an impact of 45 million dollars on the three little surrounding towns. Amazing considering it is closed most of the year. At times it seemed you would sail off into thin air.


Leon seemed a little nervous that I would drive with one hand while taking pictures with the other but I was just pointing and shooting. You really couldn't take a bad picture.


I haven't gotten nearly enough wildflower pictures because nobody seems to think they are important enough for a pulloff.


We stopped after we passed the summit and when I started to leave again I was shocked that the transmission did not sound right and there was an odd odor. What to do but keep going and soon I realized we had little power. As luck would have it, it was downhill all the way, so I just put it in neutral and coasted using the breaks as little as possible. We managed to make it into Red Lodge where we spent the night on the side of a street downtown amongst all the evening activity. We partook of some and watched the ground become covered with hail.



I first met Red Lodge when I passed through in 2001 and stopped to enjoy the Iron Horse Harley Rally they were having. It is a fun town with a small historic district in the middle of town. We fell asleep listening to the pops, not the orchestra, but the sound of fireworks all around town.



This morning the driving seemed fine so we detoured to Billings where i stopped at a shop and finally had the output speed sensor replaced that I didn't want to wait on before we left Hot Springs. All seems good to go.

Cooke City, Mt

Well what is this in the middle of the road? Of course I will stop for this fireman raising money for the local firefighters.


This is one of those little places that you don't know about until you stumble upon it - a true treasure for travelers. The motorcycle folks always seem to know though.


We found it amazing that any type of vehicle could drive on these streets. This little town is just outside the northeast entrance to Yellowstone so I am sure they get a lot of people passing through the town of less than 200.


I was told the residents get snowed in and can't leave during the winter and I believe it. Many of these fine vehicles line the street.


Wait! As we are crossing the street for a sip or two we spot a guy on top of the restaurant with his electric guitar. What a cool way to play the Star Spangled Banner so all could hear on the 4th of July.


The permit required sign on the front of this fixer upper seemed to baffle this motorcycle driver also.


It was a fun time well spent and time to venture over the Beartooth Highway.

Gallatin National Forest

The beauty of the grassland and mountains that combine to create the valley between two mountains is inspiring. We were headed down to Red Cliff campground where I spent a couple of weeks in 2001. We stopped for propane about six miles before we got there and learned they would not open until The next day. No problem. A nice spot a few miles back north at Moose Creek Flats provided us a peaceful evening alongside the river. Yes, this is the view from my bedroom.


How nice to sit alongside the Gallatin River once again and then hear the rushing waters as I dozed off. I was not looking for the moon but watching the evening hatch.


This morning we marveled at the beauty when we drove up to Big Sky, a magnificent year around resort. Leon enjoyed seeing all the slopes and ski runs that seem to be in every direction and there is a plethora of condos for the visitors.




I find these fences that help prevent avalanches interesting.


We stopped at a favorite spot, the Blue Moon Bakery, where we spent two hours enjoying their coffee, scones, wifi, and lunch sandwiches. When I went outside I found Leon parked in the shade on the side of the road. I think a short nap had taken place.


Or perhaps he was just reading the information on the stop sign.


I made a few calls and was told that Red Cliff was open so we ventured six miles south. Well that depends on who you talk to because the road people did not agree. They thought perhaps in fifteen minutes I could drive in but we decided we might not want to listen to the road crews afterall. That is the entrance. Look open to you?


We went on down to Yellowstone. It is nice how us older folks get in for free so when there wasn't a camping spot within forty miles we went back to the Gallatin Forest and found a place at Baker's Hole. This was Baker's fishing hole on the upper Madison River which flows through the campground.


We went into West Yellowstone and spent a few hours shopping and eating ice cream. I marveled at how their garbage cans all look so attractive. By the way, they are all bearproof. And I found a fun cache at the library.


Back at the campground we settled in for the night after a light supper. The mosquitos soon came out and Leon went in.

Deja vu in Bozeman

In 2001 I went through Bozeman, Mt on the way to camp in the Gallatin National Forest. This time I explored the town a little more and thoroughly enjoyed it. I like the idea that various people or businesses sponsor their flower baskets.




The streets were packed with people on a Sunday morning as there are a lot of good restaurants and all the shops seemed to be open. This nice lady was giving a dog a drink that was in a cart attached to a parked bicycle. She hoped the owner would not mind.


I spotted the outdoor seating area at the restaurant where Gypsy Joan and I had lunch 12 years ago and we enjoyed eating at the converted garage called what but The Garage.




I thought it was neat and a first for me to see the garage theme with license plates used for menus.


After buying a new pair of hiking boots in hopes that I will get more exercise soon I couldn't resist a nearby geocache at the court reporter's office.


The temperature was warming so we made a stop at the local Walmart, which just happened to be the first one where I ever spent the night in the parking lot. I didn't recall it being so sloped but I wasn't so travel wise back then. We enjoyed a little wifi at the local laundromat. Off we went south to the Gallatin National Forest and a spot for the night alongside the Gallatin River. We did not miss the Walmart lights at all.

Butte, Mt

Welcome to Butte, the richest hill on earth, and I don't doubt it once was a beaut! Copper mining is the claim to fame and the man who made it happen lived here. It is now a bed and breakfast.


His neighbors were doing alright also I would say.


The town is full of old red brick buildings and Victorian homes on the side of the hill right next to the mines.


Lots of smaller Victorian homes seemed to be needing paint and be lived in by ne'er do wells. So many fixer uppers. I wonder when it might happen. The bank seemed to prosper well also.


I wonder if it were coincidence that the building blended with the mining area behind it.


This looks like a trailer park in the middle of town but nope, just the overnight gang at the local Walmart.


I seized the opportunity to look for my first Montana geocache thinking there might be one in the cemetery across the street. Sure enough there was which led me to an interesting spot.


I never really wondered where Evel Knieval was buried but now I know. He was born in Butte.

Deer Lodge, Mt

I had never heard of Deer Lodge but it seems that it has quite a ranching history which has been preserved by the national park service. The red brick portion of the house is an addition to the original.


In 1857 cattle were brought to the area by Johnny Grant who later sold to Conrad Kohrs. He eventually grazed cattle on 10 million acres in four states and two provinces.


The home was sold to the park service by the family in 1972 and then they donated all the furniture, carriages, bedding, dishes and complete cattle records. The park service continues to graze cattle and share all of the for free. This home is furnished as his grandson left it.


We had stopped at a bakery in town for a cup of coffee, a new mid afternoon habit instead of a nap, only to find it closed. So we had campfire coffee in the shade instead.


We learned from the short video how the ranch used so many Belgian horses, evidenced by the wagon and harnesses.




We even know now how a hay stacker works.


I can't imagine working for the park service and standing in front of a hot fire all day but this lady demonstrating the black smith works didn't seem to mind.


A tour of the house was delightful and some nice furniture they did have but we weren't allowed to take photos. I would have built the bunkhouse a little further away. The cow hands had their own shower so they didn't have to go to town and were required to take a bath once a week whether they needed to or not. I can only wonder who checked. Was there a calendar and they put up a gold star?


They closed before we had enough of the tour as there were so many outbuildings with exhibits but it was a stop well worth the visit.


I even learned that there is a bitterroot flower and it is the state flower of Montana. I wonder if they flourish in the Bitterroot Mountains.


The town is full of museums and antiques and one fancy old prison which we did not tour.