... actually... when the rain started shortly after cleaning up that really good can of stew :o) ... I spent a lil while working on my last post... hopefully my last melancholy scribbling for a bit... this day seemed to turn a corner maybe... we'll see...
Most of the night I listened to the rain rattle on the roof of the tent... that's usually a pleasant sound... even thinking about packing up wet gear in the morning. :o)
Luckily, I got up to fairly clear skies in the morning... at least for a while...
Rolling up the highway through the morning was actually, in contrast to the previous couple days... a nice ride. Fly fishermen dotted the river... both standing in the water and in drift boats... the air was fresh from the nights rain... and my mood had lightened.
Runnin' up that highway, I came around a bend and spotted a strange looking tree... towering above all the surrounding pines... Huh?... is that a Redwood? in Montana?...
Nah... That's just likely, the biggest artificial... uh... christmas tree, you'll ever find!... actually... that pup is a Cell tower! The trunk is steel... and the limbs are all fake... and all intended to camouflage the cellular antennas near the top... Kinda clever... don't you think? Talk about "environmentally Conscious"!
A ways north of that tree is the lil' town of Ennis Montana...
I'd developed a hunger for a hot cup of coffee by the time I rolled in and fueled up, so I went inside and got me a cup of that fine... gas station coffee! :o)... and a muffin!
I was standing outside, sippin' joe and munchin' on muffin when a movement caught my eye... across the lot Ol' Glory was snappin' in a strong breeze... not just any Ol' Glory... this was one of those big, maybe 12' flags...
... and she was flyin' over a Veterans memorial...
I walked over and found something that truly grabbed me... A Cowboy holding his hat over his heart... his old helmet in the other hand... lookin' up at Glory...
A Bronze Sculpture of a cowboy soldier kinda strikes close to home! :o) it's a truly wonderful Veterans Memorial they've built in Ennis... and was appropriate to this trip of mine...
... got something in my eye, walking back to that Yamaha Raider waitin' on me...
Well... got my eyes fixed and went rumblin' on up the road... to find Rain!... Rain at Butte... Heavier rain at Deer Lodge... Rain all the Way to Missoula and beyond a bit...
But a cool thing happened in spite of the weather... I had lunch with Bob Seeger!
I did too! ... 'course this'un goes by the name of Rob Seeger... He'd stopped on his big Honda, to see that all was right, when I pulled to the side of the road to climb into my rain gear... One of the great things you find...bein' a biker...
How many times have people just pulled over to your car... to see if you were ok? Not many I'll warrant... but on this trip alone, I've been sitting on the side twice... and had guys roll up to make sure all was OK... pretty awesome...
We rolled along for quite a few miles till we decided to share a lunch table in Deer Lodge... At Missoula he went west... and I turned north... and found...
A pedestrian bridge for critters! That's right... this thing ain't paved... it ain't a road... it's all grass on top... so Elk and Deer and such can cross over without becoming hood ornaments! Kinda cool!
The only real mistake of the day was once again, going to far... by the time I got up around Kalispell and Glacier... there wasn't a campsite to be found... so I settled on a fleabag motel... 'cause I was beat...
The thing is... Western Montana is country made for Motorcycles... good weather or bad... some guys only want to ride twisties... most claim to not like anything straight at all... I say... If it's running through a gorgeous, open, Free land... with no shortage of Soul filling vistas to bless you along every mile... who cares if it's straight or twistie?
Hell... even the chunk of interstate I ran between Bozeman and Missoula... was flat gorgeous... and I usually dislike the super slab... and this time it was raining to boot!
Today... I go over Goin' to the sun road through Glacier Park... and cross into Canada... if the weather co-operates... I'll pass by if it's raining... I prefer it in the Sun! :o)
Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian
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3 comments:
Brian,
For some reason yesterday I looked north and felt I had to wave, "cause someone I had met was passing near. Donna(Froggi) and I are boondocking in Moran, WY. just outside Grand Tetons NP. You are in country we just came from. Noticed the same cell tower in Ennis and the critter bridge North of Missoula. Safe travels, friend.
Stu
My friend, Brian, I have just one statement: " ain't the Big Boss wonderful in how he provides for your soul's needs?"
Ride safe my friend, ride safe.
Am loving your photos and your "scribblings".
I know your trip will be amazing and hope that it will be what you are wanting. Rest assured there will be lots of us looking over your shoulder.
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