This morning I left Coeur d"Alene at 5:30 AM after having a really nice visit with some friends there yesterday. I drove out on Highway 97...into the sun...but what an amazing road. Connected with Interstate 90 through Idaho and Montana. It was without a doubt the coldest day yet on my trip. It's the only day I traveled when it never got warm enough to ride without a coat. In fact, I was shivering until about 1:00. But the roads made up for it. I connected with Interstate 94 in Billings up to Miles City where I took highway 12 over to Bowman, North Dakota. From there I headed south (towards home) on highway 85 into South Dakota, through Sturgis connecting again with Interstate 90 over to Rapid City. I almost titled this blog "so close but so far away". I rode a total of 970 miles today, my longest of the trip, but I missed a second "Iron Butt" award by only 30 miles! They do have another award called the "Saddle Sore" award, which is 1500 miles in two days, which I have done once already on this trip and will easily do again tomorrow.
The fabulous road around lake Coeur d'Alene
Interstate 90 is one of the most beautiful Interstates in our Country. On the western side of Montana you drive through the mountains and trees. All along the Interstate you are driving next to the Clark Fork River. This is such a beautiful ride. The Interstate curves with the bends in the river and flows up and down the mountain passes. For an Interstate, it is truly one of the best. When you get to Billings you head a little north on 94 and lose the Clark Fork River, but you pick up the Yellowstone River which this Interstate follows in the same pattern. The terrain really starts to flatten out as you pass Billings and turns into this beautiful rolling farm land. This is an area where they grow mostly grains, there are some "crops", must mostly just massive fields of green and gold grain. Another great thing about this highway is that it runs through states that have no helmet laws...and the speed limit is 75 MPH...big pluses.
The western Montana mountains
In Miles City we pick up highway 12, which is a great two lane state highway in amazing shape. The speed limit on this little road was 70 MPH and I only saw two cars the entire time. Needless to say, I made great time. When I crossed into North Dakota the terrain started to change. There were these fascinating rock structures that had striated colors, very beautiful. I was skirting rain to the north, but made it to Bowman before the rain and I turned south on 85 and easily outran the rain. Highway 85 was not nearly as good a road as highway 12, but I still made good time. The sun set about 45 minutes after I got on 85, so there was some interesting driving until I got to Rapid City. It was a beautiful sunset and the moon was spectacular over the South Dakota landscape.
Cool rock formations in North Dakota
Alway's blacktop over concrete
A nice full moon over South Dakota
All in all, a great day. I'm glad I was able to cover so many miles and set myself up for a good finish to the trip. I've hit 47 of the 50 states. Tomorrow I'll ride through the last 3 and then on Sunday I'll wrap up the trip with a nice...familiar, ride back into Dallas. Please keep reading the blog and give me your comments, I'm going to write a recap with some of my top items and thoughts after I get back.
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