Day 29, June 28: Rest Day at Billings

A beautiful day for a ride, so I saddled up and rode to Pompey's Pillar. The temperature was in the 70s for the morning and warmed up to low 80s in the afternoon. The route was norheast then east on route 312 crossing the Yellowstone River and through the towns of Huntley and Worden. The round trip was a little over 63 miles. After the trip I did some picture taking in Billings.

Day 29, June 28: Rest Day at Billings

Week 4, June 21 to June 27: Great Falls to Billings

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Day 28, June27: Columbus to Billings. Distance: 45 Miles. Sunny Skies and Temps in the 70s and 80s

A short and easy ride along I-90 frontage roads through towns of Youngs Point, Park City and Laurel. We rode parallel to the Yellowstone River for most of the day with some stopping for breakfast at Park City. After entering Billings we visited two bike shops then on to our hotel. Friends of Rich, Brian and Shelly invited all of us to Brian's for dinner. A sunny day, bike ride, delicious food and good friends made for a perfect day.

Day 28, June27: Columbus to Billings. Distance: 45 Miles. Sunny Skies and Temps in the 70s and 80s

Day 27, June 26: Big Timber to Columbus. 45 Miles Overcast and sunny with temperature in 70s and 80s

Generally a late start and short ride. Most of the ride was spent on frontage roads of Interstate-90 with a short 4 mile ride on I-90 between exits 396 and 400. The frontage roads would shift between the north side and south side of I-90 where we would ride for miles and not see a vehicle. Our route paralleled the Yellowstone River and we crossed over the river while on I-90. The river was high and running with a strong current. Pictures were taken at the Prarrie Dog State Park just before getting to Greycliff. We passed through Greycliff and Reed Point and saw some damage from the fires of 2006 on the north side of I-90. An early arrival in Columbus, population 1,748, allowed some exploring of the town where some had lunch and time at the library.

Day 27, June 26: Big Timber to Columbus. 45 Miles Overcast and sunny with temperature in 70s and 80s

Day 26, June 25: Bozeman to Big Timber. Distance 60 miles, Temperature 50s low 80s

A lovely day for a bike ride. Most of us left early anticipating a challenging climb across Bozeman Pass. The pass was anticlimatic. A short climb on the frontage road and the crest was before us. It was not expected to be so brief. Our day started in Bozeman at an elevation of about 4,750 feet, about 12 miles out Bozeman Pass was 5,760 feet then a general down-hill to Big TImber at about 4,100 feet. Skies were sunny with a slight westerly breeze adding to our downhill coast. Our route interlaced traveling on Interstate-90 with frontage road riding through Livingston and along the Yellowstone River. Most everyone arrived in Big Timber by 2:00 PM when the temperatue was about 80 F.

Day 26, June 25: Bozeman to Big Timber. Distance 60 miles, Temperature 50s low 80s

Day 25, June 24: Three Forks to Bozeman. Distance 42 miles, temperature 70s low 80s

Another beautiful day in Montana. The ride started with a visit to the Missouri Headwaters State Park where pictures were taken of the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin Rivers making up the head waters of the Missouri River. A short ride to Manhattan for breakfast then back roads to Belgrade and finally to Bozeman, population of 27,509.

Day 25, June 24: Three Forks to Bozeman. Distance 42 miles, temperature 70s low 80s

Day 24, June 23: Helena to Three Forks. 67 miles sunny with temperatures in the 70s and low 80s.

A beautiful day for a bike ride. We follow route 287 east out of Helena to Townsend for about 12 miles of downhill crossing over the Missouri River at the mouth of Canyon Ferry Lake. Then we continue for about 13 miles crossing the Missouri River at Toston. A 25 mile ride with a long climb takes us south to Three Forks.

Day 24, June 23: Helena to Three Forks. 67 miles sunny with temperatures in the 70s and low 80s.

Day 23, June 22: Wolf Creek to Helena 40 miles. sunny, temperatures 60s- low 80s w/ headwind.

The morning involved a shuttle of all the riders and bikes to Wolf Creek. A few die hards rode their bikes a second time to aleviate overcrowding of the two vehicles. Mary provided a second car as she had flown into Helena from New York. We followed the Prickly Pear Creek from Wolf Creek for about 8 miles and then rode on Interstate-15 to exit 209 and stopped at Gates of the Mountains for a boat tour of the Lewis and Clark landmark. The boat ride was tremendous with cliffs and mountains on both sides of the Missouri River. Afterwards we had a nice climb back to the Interstate and rode the Interstate with another climb of about 500 ft and a nice descent into Helena.

Day 23, June 22: Wolf Creek to Helena 40 miles. sunny, temperatures 60s- low 80s w/ headwind.

Day 22, June 21: Great Falls to Wolf Creek 58 Miles with temperatures in the 70s and low 80s.

An early morning start on a beautiful summer day with temperatures in the 70s and low 80s. Due to lack of accomadations at Wolf Creek we will spend the night in Cascade. We travel first to Cascade to unload the trailer and truck then on to Wolf Creek where we have to load everyone and thier bicycles into our vehicles and trailers to return to Cascade. We enjoyed a delicious South Carolina Spaghetti dinner prepared by South Carolina Jim and his volunteers.

Day 22, June 21: Great Falls to Wolf Creek 58 Miles with temperatures in the 70s and low 80s.

Week 3: June 14- June 20, Powell, ID to Great Falls, MT

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Day 21, June 20 Rest Day at Great Falls

A rest day in Montana's third largest city. Some photographs taken Thursday night at a Food Festival in down town Great Falls. Friday was spent with laundry then a ride on the Great Falls bicycle route to Rainbow Falls.

Day 21, June 20 Rest Day at Great Falls