Silver star MT and Henry’s Lake ID

Monday July 25 headed towards the Tetons. Revisited the valley of the Madison River after going through Nevada and Virginia Cities. The gravel tailings from gold dredging still look like extruded spiral licorice. One hundred years on. Henry's Lake is a well maintained Idaho state park with sweeping vistas.

Some silly plates in a Butte antique shop

Also closed

Catching up last images from Butte last Sunday

The bike shop is closed Mondays so unable to check out the goods.

The irony of Butte

Nice view of the open pit copper mine from town. Plus the butterfly garden (original destroyed in 1973 by, you guessed it, open pit mining) now on the location of the original strike and a superfund site. The Victorian era funeral urns and Cleopatra needles encased in floral copper decorations can't possibly be accidental, right?

Broadway in Butte

Talk about wall-to-wall national register of historic places stuff.
Boom town 1880s-1920s+++

Hotel Finlen in downtown Butte

Oh yeah! Exactly what you expect to find in central Montana.

Big sky country

On Hwy 28 to Plains. This would be a great bike route to Flathead Lake, Kalispell and Glacier NP.
Yesterday I saw a couple of loaded tourers headed south. I suspect this is part of the Northern Tier bike route.

The Bison special

Yesterday I last ate at Cafe 95 in Ponderay, ID so I figured I could eat local again.

Not much open on a Sunday except the Bison Cafe

Oh give me a home…

Approaching Missoula on. Hwy 200. The Swan Mountains perhaps?

Circle Saw cut cabinets

The bath house! The owner's late husband really had an eye for beauty in local resources. Even being woken at 7am Mountain time (I'm still on PST) by the family sawmill ripping shakes was fine.

Circle Saw Camping in Hot Springs

My Sunday morning wake up sky.

Hot Springs MT

Cue the Bertie Wooster!

Sand Point Saturday Farmers Market

Opens at 9 with a queue formed to shop the veggie stands.

Last day it’s a wrap

This has been an enjoyable week. Yes, some inconveniences, early mornings, stressful driving in an enormous RAM1500 pickup that reminds me why I don't need one, but the families had a great time, the kids clicked, and the weather was good. I don't even mind not doing the 15 mile Hiawatha this time. Another trip perhaps and definitely not in summer peak season. It closes this season September 18 and a pass is $16-18 with shuttle combo $32-36. Tunnels and trestles. I wonder how it compares to the old coach road in NZ? I'll save for another staffing opportunity with AC,


Sent from my iPhone

My trip in one photo

I'm tired for sure.

On the road again

Friday July 22

It's been a fun trip.

Last day back over the Chatcolet bridge to Plummer TH

Rain threatened but no issues on 16 miles final ride

Water stop back at Medimont

Lots of lakes on private land both sides of the Trail.

$5 to see the Shoshone mining something museum

After a coffee milk shake at The Beanery and a chat with 80-year-old Kellogg mayor Pooler, I visited the local museum for random displays of strange and often puzzling artifacts. However the books on sale were appealing.

Off to Trail of Hiawatha

Not me. Wednesday is stay in camp for me. After last night's whack-a-mole with the errant park sprinklers it's fine.

Off to Trail of Hiawatha

Not me. Wednesday is stay in camp for me. After last night's whack-a-mole with the errant park sprinklers it's fine.

At the silver mountain indoor water park In Kellogg on Day 2

Kids liked it of course, especially after a short ride day.

Fixer in Medimont

Cloudy day which made riding very pleasant. It's great to roll along the raised berm of the trail with minimal elevation. Such a lot of wetland, with lots of birds and summer flowers.

Beaver lodge in Harrison and the trail for 38 miles

Day one of trail of Coeur D’Alene family ride

Nice bridge

The trail goes like this for 38 miles today (Monday July 17)

Plummer ID TH and on the trail of the coeur d’Alenes

Early start waiting for riders in a rental car.