Day 8 Sept 3




Weather check was good 66 when we left hotel, so I left without jacket Dianne choice to wear a  shell.  It warmed up and Dianne took her jacket off but I was comfortable all day.  A nice change.   


We had to go off route to find a spot to stay today.  So we cut across country to Lewiston where we picked up the route again.  It was fast ride about 107 miles and took just under 4 hours so all was good.  We followed Hwy 87 and new old friend Rt 200 the whole way it had good shoulders and lots of passing lanes.  As a result of the good road conditions and light traffic there was no one for me to curse today.


The country has a lot distance mountain views.  We crossed Little Belt mountains and the King pass at 7300 ft.  Climbing the pass was steep and bikes slowed to 20 miles an hour.  Because they have a governor on the down hills we top out just under 40 miles per hour.  


The terrain land was formed by magma rising up under limestone 50 million years ago.  Then isn some places the limestone was washed away creating bumps and hills visible today.  Loccoliths are common mound shaped structures, as are flat top buttes and classic volcano shaped intrusions. 


After arriving here we  heard there was Pow wow at the state fair ground where Native Americans come out in original dress and dance to the drums and sing.  


Other things on Note:

  • trash was higher today saw three pieces
  • Farming became the biggest industry beating out mining in 1922
  • A large number of Finns arrived here to work in the coal mines and then changed to Agriculture in the 20s
  • I did not realize there was minor gold rush in Montana and this area specifically in 1870.
  • The gold disappeared quickly but some guys found shinny stones in their sluice boxes and threw them away.  They found out later that they had found gem quality sapphires.  This was in the Yogo mountain area.  
  • Stopped a Starbuck coffee shop here and they did have any inside sitting nor even a picnic table or benches outside not a good marketing plan if you ask me.
  • Saw a lot of snow fencing today but not the small kind the giant ones that run for about 100 yards.  I guess if the chain up signs did not tell me that snow happens here then the fencing does. 
  • C Russel was a western artist that worked on ranches in this area in 1870s, the statue above with Dianne is of him

 










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