Going To The Sun Road, DAY 2

Sunday morning found us on the road and headed north on I-15. We missed our exit onto 89 north. That would have taken us past Freeze Out Lake; instead we headed up to Conrad for some breakfast at The Home Cafe. During breakfast, Clutch lived up to his name by dropping a cup of milk, thereby, demonstrating the effects of a rebel I.E.D.. Casualties included an Innocent woman, her three children and the rest of us in a three booth radius. Shenanigans!

Following breakfast, we cut across 534 into Dupuyer and up 89 into Browning.The mustangs and cattle on the Blackfeet Reservation were beautiful and gave me goose bumps just thinking of their history.
     We elected to drop out of Browning, after filling up our tanks, on U.S. 2 south and immediately north on 49 north to rejoin 89 north into Glacier National Park (GNP).

We stopped briefly to prep for our 50 mile trek on Going To The Sun Road. http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/goingtothesunroad.htm

While I will say the scenery is gorgeous, it isn't a dramatic motorcycle road. Little did we know at the time, but the best was still to come. Enjoy the pics below.

This is the Lower St. Mary Lake.

St. Mary Lake.

Last week, RIGHT AT THIS SPOT, this happened!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pl2Dmo-3s0

This was the way, down and out. We were headed ti Whitefish, MT.

2012 Road Trip, Day one

Saturday started the first leg of my 2000 mile journey. I drove 120 miles to meet up with 3 old pals and 3 new ones, to ride the northwest corner of Montana and the northern section of Idaho. For the remainder of the trip, we were all referred to by our nick names from flight school. Pictured above, from left to right: Digger,Captain Noah, Slide Rule, Dash, Big Timber,  Clutch and Magellan.

Our first stop took us 62 miles n.nw of Billings on U.S.12, to a small cafe in Ryegate, MT. Good burgers and a chance to have our ride meeting and settle into the beginning of our ride.

 From there we headed west on 12, through Harlowtown and picked up Kings Hill Scenic Byway   http://centralmontana.com/specialinterest/scenicbyways/kingshill/

on the way to Great Falls. 178 miles later we were just outside Great Falls,MT.

Our first nights lodging turned out to be a classic. O'Haire Motor Inn. Home of the Sip n Dip Lounge.

Yep! That's a mermaid behind the bar!   http://www.ohairemotorinn.com/?p=sip-n-dip

As far a Tiki Bars go, this one comes complete with Pat, the organ player. She has been playing at Sip n Dip for 68 years! It turned out to be 80"s night and Pat did "Thompson Twins" true justice.

400 miles down and lots more to see.

Lemonade

     I'm constantly telling people, you can't control what happens to you, but, you have total control of how you react when it does. The dumb down version of that is, "when life hands you lemons, make lemonade." Today was the start of my vacation, and while it started out just fine, I ended up looking at some curve balls.
     I was suppose to hop on my bike and drive 120 miles to meet up with my pals from high school. They are flying in and renting Harley's. Since I didn't have to be there until noon time,I decided to start my day off with pilates at the gym. The hottest pilates instructor teaches several classes a week at my gym and I used this opportunity to get loosened up before my ride. It was just what the doctor ordered.

    Upon arriving back at the house, I received a call from my pals; they had missed their flight and would not arrive until tomorrow afternoon. Needless to say, they got my speech from the first paragraph. With the temperature being in the upper 90's it was an easy decision to head down to the river and try out a new swimming hole I found. I asked the pilates instructor if she wanted to go swimming and she agreed. (Before you start HARKIN on me, the pilates instructor just happens to be my beautiful bride). We swam  in the cool water and lounged about up until I looked up to fine a large black bear, standing in the brambles, about 75 yards away. It was an awesome site! We stood and watched him for a long while, up until the point when he got back down on all fours and we lost site of him. As we were deciding whether to stay or go, the bear made that choice for us as he began running along the bank toward us. It was at that very moment that I realized I had to head make some lemonade. AAAAAAAHHHHHHH, what a day.

7 Fallen Soldiers

Friday morning started out a bit different, that is recently. I woke up at 06:00, put on coffee, showered, shined my boots, polished my buckle, ironed my black dress shirt,  grabbed some chow and hopped aboard my bike, that I had washed and polished the night before. In the parking lot of our local grocery store, I met up with 5 other riders to start our days journey. We were headed to Fort Harrison, in Helena Montana. The purpose of our trip was to escort the unclaimed remains of seven Montana Vets. As part of the Missing In  America Project, we met up with about 500 other riders and were escorted by the Patriot Guard of America along with local police all along the course.

We met up with riders from the eastern side of the state as we merged onto interstate 90 in Livingston. From there, we made our second stop at the Harley shop in Belgrade. There we picked up another 40 riders and headed over the continental divide, to Butte, Montana.

As we ate lunch and waited, waves of riders continued to pour in and fill the lot as well as the streets surrounding the shop.

      Every type of bike you could imagine as well as every Montana M.C. Club was represented. The lot filled and filled even more. Eventually we were called in and issued orders, we received a blessing and we mounted up. The remain of each of the seven soldiers were placed into the rear cargo area of seven different bikes, along with a properly folded American flag. The caravan was staged and as local law enforcement lit up the cherries and berries, we were properly escorted onto the highway. Riding in the largest group I'd ever been in, prohibited me from taking pictures during the ride, however, the sea of riders following the curves, up and over the mountains, was goose bump material. Riders flowing out of sight while my mirror was filled with, nonstop headlights from bikers bringing up the read, was a spectacle, for sure.
     As we rolled into the city limits of Helena, we were instructed to close ranks and ride in parade formation with our flashers on. I was so impressed with the amount of people that pulled over, (in both directions), honked their horns and waved. They did it from the bridges, parking lots. shop entrances and lots of front yards. These seven vets were getting a hero's welcome after all these years!

The scene at the cemetery only begins to tell the whole story. The parked bikes, on both sides of the rode seemed to go on for ever. My panorama view fails to capture all the bikes in front of me and all the bikes out of the frame itself.

Aside from the bikes, the Army Cavalry rode with a riderless horse, the U.S. Military Honor Guard gave a 21 gun salute, the Indian Nation color Guard presided, a lone piper played Amazing Grace, and Taps was bugled.

I'm a big fan of reflecting..................... If you are an American, and you read this, those seven vets served for you. Take a moment to reflect. Close your eyes for a moment and just say thanks. If you read this, feel free to post your thanks in the comment section.

The fallen veterans are Jon William Ball of Kalispell; James Brodniak of Kalispell; Orville Clinton Hatch of Billings; Anthony Mills of Billings; Michael Lynn Shannon of Whitefish; Charles Shelton of Kalispell; and Charles Rollin Spears of Kalispell.

High Mountain Lake

Knowing Sunday was going to be a scorching, hot one, I headed up into the mountains. This meadow is 2 miles in and provides a great view.The jagged peak in the upper left corner is where I'm headed.

2 miles later. My great pal Rob will recognize this as the "torrent water crossing". It may not look bad, but in past trips up, this stream has been almost impassible.

2 miles up from that! This is a beautiful, West Slope Cutthroat Trout.

Aside from the sow, black bear and two tiny cubs,( and 2 million mosquitoes) I shared this lake with no one.

The water was crystal clear and the big fish roamed the water like schools of sharks.

Down To The River

     What better way to spend a hot 4th of July than take all four girls down to the river. Lucky to have this spot in my own back yard. It was my Pop's favorite place to fish and every time I'm here, it feels like he's right here with me. I've fished here amidst otters, deer, bear, one bull elk, lots of eagles and on more than one occasion stepped in big cat tracks on my way in. I've never seen the lion but I'm sure he's watched me fish a time or two. Today we waved to countless passing rafters and floaters, most flying "old Glory" off the back.

     Special days, like special places are all subject to change. The river changes everything it touches every day and year to year, you get to see what's new. If you find a spot you like, enjoy it with every thing you got 'cause it just might not stay that way for long. High water can blow out a channel, erase an island and even plunk an entire roof top (stone chimney and all) smack dab down in the middle; all without blinking an eye. Today, I realized the river has terminated my three, long time, favorite fishing holes, that I have come to expect would always be there. How silly of me? And I know better!
     I'll never fish here the same way again, but I'll never forget fishing here with my Pop and now swimming with the girls. No sense pouting, just go with the flow.

Roped In To The Rodeo

Bareback, Saddle Bronc, Bull Riding, Calf Roping, Team Roping, Steer Wrestling & Barrel Racing.

Spending the night at the Rodeo sure puts a smile on my face. Classic western Americana at it's best.

The weather was perfect this year; the rain held off an the sun found scattered clouds to play a game of hide and seek in. I enjoyed watching all the people enjoying themselves. It;s always funny to see how people on vacation interact with the crowd as well as the rodeo clown. Rule #1 with the rodeo clown, he doesn't have to be P.C.. Why? Because what happens here in Montana happens because that's how it goes. If you get his joke and you are offended, it's more than likely not the first time you heard someone say it. If you're far from home and you've heard it before, you may be the only one pretending to be offended by something that is quite likely based on truth.

Each of the three nights of rodeo, is followed by patriotic music and fireworks. When they dim the fairground lights and the colorful flashes of firework lights erupt with the beautiful mountain peeks as a back drop, I sink into my seat a soak it all in. I'm proud to be an American. America, Montana and the Rodeo; one statement says it all..............Love it or Leave it!

Happy 4th of July!