Left the hotel room into cool morning.  Having learned from past experiences I even put my hood up to stay warm.  utside our room we saw three deer happily munching on grass.  


We loaded up and started off.  The ride took us from Lincoln to Great Falls.  The route followed route 200 to Hwy 89 the ran parallel to I-15.  The total distance was 90 miles.  The shoulder changed the whole way, in the passes it did not exist in the valley it good to fair.  We had 3 cars make what I call a close pass today.  I really do not understand the distance between passing lanes is only a mile so and we are doing 30.  So to save a minute why would these people risk passing us so close by. 


the town of Sun River was a major site in it’s day.  It was ford across the Sun River used by First peoples and then the settlers and miners going west.  So the local people build a toll bridge and once across a small town with a saloon and store to collect more money.  The town was on the Benton Stage coach Route so lots of people would pass though the area.  Now there is only and old store that is closed and a fire engine on display.   Just past the town is an igneous lava intrusion that is shape of a birds tail.  It apparently is famous landmark from the stage coach days.  


The scenery has changed from mainly forests to a lot grass and ranches.  I even saw some cattle out on the range today.  


Last night Di and I had dinner at a steak house and it was great.  The portion sizes were huge and Dianne couldn’t finish her ribs so she skipped pie for dessert.  


Other interesting Notes:

  • In addition to the three deer we saw before leaving we chased one down the road during the ride
  • There is still a lack of trash on the side of the road but I did see 1 deer that had been hit and skunk that we went by as fast as possible
  • Arrived here early and they would not let us check in so we went to the Lewis and Clark Interruptive Center.  It was great way to kill 2 hours with lots to see and even more stuff than we could see.
  • At Great falls Lewis and Clark made an 18 mile carry around the falls towing about 10 tons of boats and supplies.  It took them a month.  
  • In the center there was a Rope to pull on to measured your strength and put out the answer in miles per day pulling Lewis and Clarks boats up river.  I could pull 9 miles a day and Di could pull 5, the top of the scale was 20.  I do not think they would want me on the trip.
  • Yesterday there were at least 20 fishing sites markers on the road.  Today there were no fishing site markers but a lot of National Forest entrance marked.  
  • The big pass today was Rodgers pass.  This pass was steep enough to slow the scooters down to less than 20MPH
  • Learned that when you see signs for Chain Up area ahead it means there is hill coming.  Therefore as you would expect signs saying Chain off area ahead it means you back at the bottom again.













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