A nice getaway from the Sapphire Motel and on the road to Kalispell. A side trip to Helena.

We went through this door only to meet the Montana House of Representatives Sergeant at Arms, who unlocked the chamber for us.

He explained the history of the Charles Russell painting in the front of the chambers. The speaker of the house was questioning when the painting would be ready. It was a huge painting that required an extraction from where it had been painted and was cut. Russell had the last laugh as the wolf scowled in the foreground of the painting at the speaker. Thanks Brad.

He also recommended a route on 93 to Kalispell. First stop, McDonald Pass Road. Featured image.

The route was absolutely picturesque. His second recommendation was to stop at the Garden of the 1000 Buddhas. WOW!!! Also in Flathead Reservation.

The visit was amazing. I was stopped by a Tribal Ranger for skipping a mandatory boat check on my kayak for mollusks from other places. I was escorted back to the inspection.

I was cleared quickly and the inspectors on the Flathead Reservation could not have been nicer. They were surprised that I had been in Montana for 3 days and not been inspected.

Elk bolognese and trout for dinner!

A great petit dejuener and I went to find some quiet bicycle routes for the wife and I. I was in luck.

Great day with the wife. On to Kalispell tomorrow.

A big sleep for the wife after a big flight and long drive. Hardin had the Milk Bucket Bakery and Cafe open. A scrumptious home made All American breakfast of perfect eggs, thick sliced bacon, fabulous scratch breakfast potatoes, homemade biscuit and coffee. GIB!

A single table honoring veterans on Memorial Day. A lone table and chair with a single candle, a folded upside down American flag, a flower and flag and a plate of sliced lemon and salt. The lemon for the bitterness of loss and the salt from tears. It was really quite moving and had touched the owner to do it. Me too.

A rainy drive to the Sapphire Motel in downtown Bozeman. Weather a little iffy, stay tuned. Big peace out Tres dog

A wrap of the ride this yesterday morning and bittersweet goodbye to all the rider friends. On to Hill City, Ft Hays and Rapid City.

Great overnight in Hardin, MT. We are to Bozeman today. Big peace out Tres dog

Featured image: John and I kitted up for weather and went towards the park. We got turned around at the stockade exhibit.

John and I returned to Custer and he went back and I did some of the trail he did the other day without me.

It was great week. Wife tomorrow. The world will return to its right axis. Big peace out Tres dog

Rich, Chrysa and I went to Devil’s Tower. Let the pics talk.

Great day! Riding tomorrow. Wife Saturday! Big peace out Tres

A long day yesterday got me to take a rest day today. It was a great decision. First stop Crazy Horse Mountain and Museum. Great museum and story.

Chief Henry Standing Bear, a Carlisle educated Native American, wanted to create a legacy of its own heroes and Crazy Horse was the one that was chosen. He asked a Polish immigrant’s son, Korczak Ziolkowski, to create the monument. Korczak was a self taught sculptor but, was well received and an award winner. After WW II service, Korczak agreed to sculpt the Crazy Horse Memorial.

There are 3 generations involved in the memorial. They refused 10 million dollars of US grant money so that it’s mission of memorial, museum and university could not be diminished.

Some artifacts from Korczak’s home.

Talked to fisherman and said lots of rainbow trout were caught yesterday but, not today.

A quick lunch and turn in Custer. 1880 Courthouse.

Devils Tower tomorrow.

A shuttle to Needles Highway and the Eye of the Needle Tunnel.

Rough day for this rider but another day in paradise. Big peace out Tres dog