Yesterday after Dinner Di had a DQ


Today’s weather description was chilly in the morning changing to not quite chilly then become almost comfortable.  We were not fooled this morning we both put on long sleeves, and wind jackets.  


The route started out for a brief period on Hwy 12 (I know I said were done but I was wrong) onto Montana Hwy 10 which put us on Route 200.  The shoulders which we rode on water great to almost good to none.  The none part sucked as the road was for the most part two lane and had a speed limit of 70 which means most cars do 80.  The come up on so fast then have to wait for straight section to past. 


The first town was Missoula, followed by Mill town then come Bonner and we stopped in Lincoln MT covering a distance of 90 miles.


The chief industry here is lumbering, ranging, recreation (fishing, hunting, all things outdoor), some copper mining and railroads.  After the civil war the Union Pacific ran a track out to Pacific Coast.  To pay for this service the government divided the land into a checkerboard and ever other square went to the railroad.  The railroad then sold off their property most of it going to lumbering interests.  Copper mine then bought some of the lumber rights and lumbered for smelting that needed to be done.  Some extra rails were run just to get the lumber to mills.  Any land that could be farmed was also sold out for ranches.  Today it would appear they are still ranches and the major crop is hay (from what I could see). 


Lewis and Clark split up at Mill Town. Lew went over the mountains to check make sure they had the true source of the Missouri river and Clark taking over land short cut to hunt buffalo with the Nez Pierse guide and resupply the troops.  During the crossing Lewis was shot by his own man in the butt and Clark had to clean the wound after they reunited a few weeks later.   


Interesting notes today:

  • Littering all four states so is almost zero this must be beaten into peoples heads I wish I could say the same for all the US.
  • The football team name of town we passed through was Lumber Jack Bonners. I did not make that up!
  • Mill town had a dam build and became one of the first powered lumber in the area.
  • I saw no one make a bad pass of us today we had two bad passes yesterday
  • In on area we rode the bike path next to zero shoulder on a four lane highway
  • Saw a women on the bike path with extra long roller blades practicing cross country skiing.  She did look happy to see us.  But we had stopped and were waiting politely for her to pass us by.
  • Saw a water raft trip on the Blackfoot river
  • This area is know for bull trout 
  • Last night there were more motorcycles than cars at the hotel.
    • Went to see a stuffed grizzly bear and wild sculptures while waiting for room 
    • Also saw wild sculptures in a park that had the world largest sculpture in the world made out of 30000 lbs of new paper and another one of broken bridge.
  • Saw an article yesterday of driver that was pulled over for having a bull in his passenger seat.  Thought that was something we might see here.  












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