A Long Rough Day: Deadwood, SD to Devils Tower, WY, to Billings, MT
US 24 to Devils Tower, US 112 to US 212 to Billings.
Woke up on Father's Day to a 51 degree morning with rain and fog. Rain gear for sure. I would have to dress for warmth (first time on trip). Prepared bike: turned on heated hand grips and seat, switch on "Rain Mode" for throttle, suspension, and ABS calibration.
There is no easy way out of Deadwood heading west. I had to decide weather to go southwest toward Lander, Wyoming (costing 2 days of driving through Jackson Hole and up through Yellowstone), or go to Billings, Montana (that would get me to Missoula and Whitefish - a main destination). Since I was going to Devils Tower in any event (northwest from Deadwood), I decided to go to Billings where I would spend the night.
On the way two Devils Tower, which is about 2 hours in the rain) I saw some incredible terrain through the foggy haze. I passed a small town named Hulett, Wyo - nice town with "saloons" - population about 375 with an elevation of about 3700 ft. Got to Devils Tower and could not see a thing since it was socked in with clouds and rain. A Chinese women took a picture of me, in my bright yellow rain gear, with my arm around her elderly mother. She insisted that I put my helmet on - she found it funny looking.
Now the dilemma: how to get to Billings. Went back through Hulett, had lunch in the Ponderosa Saloon. Very quaint. I was the sole customer at the moment. Brandy, the server, was a talker: She had 3 children (with her ex-husband) and one on the way with her new husband. Brandy was also a firefighter, a hunter, and a naturalist. She did all this in order to keep from getting bored in the small town. I had a great salad.
I went north on US 112 until I hit US 212 where I went into the gas station to make sure I had enough to get me to the next station. They only had 87 Octane (my bike wants 91-93). The women behind the counter said I could buy Octane Booster or go 58 miles to the next town where they might have the right fuel. She informed me that later on 212 there was major construction and advised me to take an alternate route. She had seen bikers come through with mud all over their bikes from riding through the construction. I would decide what to do about the construction after I get gas at the next stop, Broadus, MT.
Got to Broadus, filled up, and asked the clerk what she thought about the construction, alternate routes, etc. She said that motorcycles were advised to go on Route 59 North, then take I-94 to Billings. So, I rode out, got on US 59 North, and drove about 16 miles when I saw a sign that said I-94 58 miles. In other words, this alternate route would take me a good 1.5 hours out of my way. Screw that! Doubled back and went on US 212. I got to the construction area (no pavement at all) and drove on hard clay for 7 miles until I got back to pavement. No problem at all! I even passed cars and buses on the dirt. I had made the right choice, although it cost me about 25 minutes fooling around on US 59. Sometimes you just cannot trust people's opinion. Perceptions of danger vary greatly between people. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut.
By now, it had stopped raining. Long long stretches of road through rolling hills at high elevation. Now I see why they call Montana "Big Sky" Country. As I drove up a long hill, I felt like I was riding into the sky. A great ride. Speed limit 80 mph :)
Arrived in Billings, changed clothes, and went for a drink and dinner in the hotel. The women sitting two chairs down started pounding the bar violently. She had asked me who was the boss, me or my girlfriend. When I told her that I let my girlfriend think she was the boss - she then exploded! "She is the boss, she is the boss". Yikes. Her name is Jamie Doggett - a cattle rancher who has a keen interest in the humanities. She was a member on the board of a national humanities group.
Then I talked to a man sitting on my right. His name is Randy, married to a women named Dawn, and lives in Casper, Wyoming. We started talking about my trip. He was on the road frequently, and he had been to Valentine, NE. I told him that I went through Valentine because of a Hallmark movie I had seen. I then went on to say that the Hallmark Channel had increased viewership by 25% since Trump took office. He got very upset because he did not want to hear anything negative about Trump. I responded by saying that I was not making a political statement; just that the animosity on news stations (on both sides) created a very tense situation for people in the US and people were turning to happier TV watching options. Whew! I dodged a bullet - literally :)
What a day. Tomorrow will be similar: cold rain. Possible thunderstorms. Welcome to Montana.
Woke up on Father's Day to a 51 degree morning with rain and fog. Rain gear for sure. I would have to dress for warmth (first time on trip). Prepared bike: turned on heated hand grips and seat, switch on "Rain Mode" for throttle, suspension, and ABS calibration.
There is no easy way out of Deadwood heading west. I had to decide weather to go southwest toward Lander, Wyoming (costing 2 days of driving through Jackson Hole and up through Yellowstone), or go to Billings, Montana (that would get me to Missoula and Whitefish - a main destination). Since I was going to Devils Tower in any event (northwest from Deadwood), I decided to go to Billings where I would spend the night.
On the way two Devils Tower, which is about 2 hours in the rain) I saw some incredible terrain through the foggy haze. I passed a small town named Hulett, Wyo - nice town with "saloons" - population about 375 with an elevation of about 3700 ft. Got to Devils Tower and could not see a thing since it was socked in with clouds and rain. A Chinese women took a picture of me, in my bright yellow rain gear, with my arm around her elderly mother. She insisted that I put my helmet on - she found it funny looking.
Now the dilemma: how to get to Billings. Went back through Hulett, had lunch in the Ponderosa Saloon. Very quaint. I was the sole customer at the moment. Brandy, the server, was a talker: She had 3 children (with her ex-husband) and one on the way with her new husband. Brandy was also a firefighter, a hunter, and a naturalist. She did all this in order to keep from getting bored in the small town. I had a great salad.
I went north on US 112 until I hit US 212 where I went into the gas station to make sure I had enough to get me to the next station. They only had 87 Octane (my bike wants 91-93). The women behind the counter said I could buy Octane Booster or go 58 miles to the next town where they might have the right fuel. She informed me that later on 212 there was major construction and advised me to take an alternate route. She had seen bikers come through with mud all over their bikes from riding through the construction. I would decide what to do about the construction after I get gas at the next stop, Broadus, MT.
Got to Broadus, filled up, and asked the clerk what she thought about the construction, alternate routes, etc. She said that motorcycles were advised to go on Route 59 North, then take I-94 to Billings. So, I rode out, got on US 59 North, and drove about 16 miles when I saw a sign that said I-94 58 miles. In other words, this alternate route would take me a good 1.5 hours out of my way. Screw that! Doubled back and went on US 212. I got to the construction area (no pavement at all) and drove on hard clay for 7 miles until I got back to pavement. No problem at all! I even passed cars and buses on the dirt. I had made the right choice, although it cost me about 25 minutes fooling around on US 59. Sometimes you just cannot trust people's opinion. Perceptions of danger vary greatly between people. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut.
By now, it had stopped raining. Long long stretches of road through rolling hills at high elevation. Now I see why they call Montana "Big Sky" Country. As I drove up a long hill, I felt like I was riding into the sky. A great ride. Speed limit 80 mph :)
Arrived in Billings, changed clothes, and went for a drink and dinner in the hotel. The women sitting two chairs down started pounding the bar violently. She had asked me who was the boss, me or my girlfriend. When I told her that I let my girlfriend think she was the boss - she then exploded! "She is the boss, she is the boss". Yikes. Her name is Jamie Doggett - a cattle rancher who has a keen interest in the humanities. She was a member on the board of a national humanities group.
Then I talked to a man sitting on my right. His name is Randy, married to a women named Dawn, and lives in Casper, Wyoming. We started talking about my trip. He was on the road frequently, and he had been to Valentine, NE. I told him that I went through Valentine because of a Hallmark movie I had seen. I then went on to say that the Hallmark Channel had increased viewership by 25% since Trump took office. He got very upset because he did not want to hear anything negative about Trump. I responded by saying that I was not making a political statement; just that the animosity on news stations (on both sides) created a very tense situation for people in the US and people were turning to happier TV watching options. Whew! I dodged a bullet - literally :)
What a day. Tomorrow will be similar: cold rain. Possible thunderstorms. Welcome to Montana.
lol "thinks" she's the boss?? haha Now I know why the guy said you were a stinkin' liberal - you told him you watch Hallmark movies! Sounds like you had a bad weather but interesting day nonetheless. I like the image of "riding into the sky"
ReplyDeleteAmazing! Glad to hear about riding on the clay. Another item off the list. Thrilled you are seeing America and talking to our fellow Americans in a truly unique way!
ReplyDelete