Montana, people, horses

Dear Reader, we are now in Devils Tower, Wyoming.   We have left Montana behind us, the state and its people has given us so much I wanted to share some images from the state as well as a video of one of its fine people.

As we crossed across the state its clear that the land in the East of Montana is less populated,  and the land devoted to the raising of beef and some sheep.

On one of our nights we were lucky enough to stay on the RV site of Chip and Sandy Watts.

Their 7thRanch site was just perfect for us and just 'down the road' from the Little Big Horn battle site.

This is the first time I had met someone who works horses with cattle, Chip has done so all his life. He has a very obvious affinity with his animals and some great insights to tell.   And another thing just the most natural in front of a camera, or video.

And now for something completely different. On the ground next to the RV was a small nest with four eggs being well looked after by the mother bird, the bird is a Killdeer bird, not seen in the UK (I think)

To protect her eggs when she an animal come toward the nest she takes herself off and feigns a broken wing to tempt the predator away from the nest.

AS I mentioned the overnight stop was near the site of the Battle of Little Bighorn.   The site is atop a range of hills, has a very good 'visitor centre' The site has been preserved very well, it is not hard to imagine what the days must have been like the surrounding fighting.

We were able to have our morning ceremony of remembrance at the site, it is also a National Cemetery.  We were joined by a number of people including three young native Americans.  The Native Americans have a very strong tradition of serving in the Army, sadly they also have a high proportion of those that people who will not be returning home.

The close of the day saw us at the site we are were sure would be grim. No 'facilities' no showers, no water, earth closets.

It was one of the best stays we had. Hidden deep in a forest, weather just abut perfect. We lit a fire, cooked our pork chops. Alvin did a head stand. What more can you want!

No Wi-Fi

Dear Reader, we are in the Eastern part of Montana, fatastic part of the world but no wifi, no cell phones and very difficlut communicate with the world.  So hence this blog to say we will not be able to recieve emails, calls or do blogging for maybe three days.

I am able to send this entirely due to the kindness of this guy, he was innocently taking a ride on his quad on some of the side rtacks in this area and we had a  word, I took his photo and asked if I could piggy back on hos broadband.  Many thanks David.

If you need to get hold of us the best way would be via a text to my mobile (cell) phone, then when the signal is there the text will come in..... The number is 1 (360) 593-9279

Harlowton and more

This blog come to you from the site of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the Custers Last Stand.

 But more of this tomorrow ABW

This blog goes back to yesterdasy and the magic town of Harlowton.  I mentioned the owner/manager of the diner, Mary Beth, We were given breakfast at the diner and them headed back to town for the mornings ceremony, time of the essence as ever but what could possibly stop us getting there, well how about several hundred sheep.

It seems that the sheep were being moved to better pasture prior to lambing.  Through the town was the way to go.

Like so much of rural America the signage is just brilliant....

and I have discovered that lorry drivers love to have thier photographs taken.  These guys taking pre-fabrticated oil storage tanks to Texas.

 The shepherd and the quad bike.

Yesterday the temperature was in the late 80's, 89 degrees F at the finish of the day.

Today down to 50 and very high wind with rain, now the sun is out, the wind has gone and the temperature is on the up. ..hey that's Montana!

Goodbye White Sulphur hello Harlowton

Dear Reader, the journey continues.  We, as you know are crossing Montana, this on bikes is no soft or easy option.  The weather has been our friend most of the time, so we have enjoyed, wind, behind us, snow, gales and rain.  They do say here that the weather change in an instant, well maybe but today it's just shy of 90 degrees.

The bikers are now on the RV site on Billings. known as the Banana Belt of Montana because the weather here is so mild, well its certainly hot!

We spent the night in a small town high up on the prairie, Harlowton, more of this later but to get here we continued to pass through the the most amazing country, but as they say a picture is worth a thousand words. so a short video may be more.

So the town of Harlowton, this is a smal town high up on the high lands of Montana.   It proved itself to be a remakable one. We were met by the elderly and sprightly Glen. He met us as we came into town and organised a great deal for us in the town, so many thanks Glen.

He also introduced us to a remarkable woman.

Mary Bethh has organised a wall of remeberance of all the local man and women that are involved in the conflict in Afghanistan.

Her fmaily has owned the diner since the 50's and she now runs the buisness. She insisted that we have 'breakfast on her' this morning.  Very good as well.

The morning saw the ceremony where we honour the fallen from both the UK and US.  It was in front a wall of rememberance installed by the town.

Sulphur Springs Montana

Yesterday's ride was not what was expected, we thought 60 miles and it was 77, we thought flat and it came with big climbs but now we are here in Sulphur Springs and Montana continues doing what it does best.

This is an amazing state to travel through. So today instead of pictures of bikes and bikers we have pictures of the high prairie at dawn and late afternoon.

The altitude here is 5,200 ft. The tempertature has now just past freezing at 35 degrees.

Helena - The Ceremony

The day always start with the reading of the 100 names plus, of those US and UK service people  that have died as a result of the wars since 9/11.

Today we are in the City of Helena, Montana, a fabulous morning with crystal blue skies and a a temperature of 38 degree (F) .

Our hosts whilst here have arranged this morning for us to be joined by the Fire Service as well as friends to share in the Remembrance Ceremony.

Many thanks to all the people of Helena, Montana for their support, welcome, involvement hospitality and interest.

Only 6,300 feet

Today, Sunday gives us a rest day, and the cyclists are ready for that, yesterday saw the bikers complete a ride of 120 miles. Far more than would be usual for us.  The big ride gives us a rest day in the city of Helena, The capital city of the state of Montana.  The state is large, 740 miles  across with a population of less then 1,000,000.

It has the most amazing country.  We dropped out of the Rockies and the Lolo Pass to move across to the City of Helena.  The journey took all day, over 120 miles and culminated in a major climb crossing the Continental Divide to the West of Helena.

The pass is at 6.330 feet and the climb a tough one (again) What was both a blessing and a curse was the very high winds from the West that helped the bikers but was very difficult to ride in.  The photograph above  was taken from the  summit.  You can see snow storms racing across the mountain, the wind so high that standing to photograph was not an option.

Our unsung hero of the trip has been the RV, here seen at the summit if it  had a mind it would no doubt be thinking what am I doing here?

The day started like all our riding days with the ceremony  of reading the names of those service men and women from both the UK and the US that will not be returning home.  Today we were joined by the manager of the RV site we stayed in over night.  Smokey  was ex-USAF and had been stationed for four years at Greenham Common.

As we went further inro Montana we could see the country opening up to Cattle farming and ranching. 

The city of Helena is very attractive, it sits at an altitude of over 4,000 feet, the air is dry but the wind 'fresh' to say the least.  What has been wonderful has been the reception we have received by our hosts in Helena, Deb and Harry Smith.     

They have welcomed us to their home , arranged press and TV coverage and are looking after us over the weekend.  Wonderful people, great hosts. 

Last night we were joined by friends, one of which has a brother who is in the forces and was badly injured in Afghanistn.  We were able to pass to him via has sister a bottle of wine donated to us and is special as it is made and bottled by an ex US Marine.