Day 4 - Montana Roadtrip (and still no mudpots)
(Music in the background) "What a day for a bike ride....." Wow, when you see the turquoise blue sky and the spectacular mountain peaks around Big Sky, there is no way you can stay inside. Wahoo!!! Last night, Keith had the maps out and decided it was time to hit the open road and see the area around Ennis. 
After a hearty breakfast, we left the condo around 10:00 a.m and made our way North on Highway 191 to 84, then South to Ennis. We then turned towards Virginia City where we walked the streets of the old historic town. Keith remembers visiting this town as a kid and going to a melodrama in the Town Theatre, hearing all about Sheriff Plummer and his Road Agents and having fun poking around the old shops.
We took a private tour of the old Episcopal Church with Father Todd. Afterwards, we took the bike and went up the dirt road to Boot Hill, where the Road Agents were buried and looked out over the valley and surrounding mountains.
We could hear the Narrow Gauge train rolling into town.
After we left Virginia City, we rode back to Ennis and pulled over at the City Park for lunch by the Madison River. We watched 3 little boys wade out into a fishing pond and catch "Craw-thingies" and listen to their moms fret over muddy feet, dirty socks and soggy shoes.
From Ennis we traveled through the Madison River Valley and found the Fishing Lodge that Keith and his family visited while fishing the Madison River and Wade Lake and canoeing on Quake Lake. The fishing lodge is now a private club for Fly fishermen, but the old cabins are still there.
On our way we passed great places like "Greek Creek", "Storm Castle Mountain", and "Gooch Hill". We were interested in eating places like "The Gourmet Gas Station", "Buffalo Bump Pizza" and the "Half Moon Saloon". And who could pass by "Blazing-Paddles" for a river trip?
After passing Hebgen Lake, we turned back towards West Yellowstone for fuel and since it was early we went back into Yellowstone. We saw a bald eagle fishing the Yellowstone River and cow Elk with their calves all along the river. Had to laugh when a cow Elk took her twin calves for a swim - the first calf did just as mom had done, but the second ca
lf was all legs and splashing water.
We took Firehole Road and drove past Firehole Falls then on to Firehole Lake Drive and watched the geysers erupt. We talked to a retired gentleman who now works for the park as a "Geyser Watcher" and logs statistics about the various geysers throughout the park. Gee, maybe when Keith retires, he can be "Geyser Geezer" too!
What an absolutely perfect day!!
We took a private tour of the old Episcopal Church with Father Todd. Afterwards, we took the bike and went up the dirt road to Boot Hill, where the Road Agents were buried and looked out over the valley and surrounding mountains.
We could hear the Narrow Gauge train rolling into town.After we left Virginia City, we rode back to Ennis and pulled over at the City Park for lunch by the Madison River. We watched 3 little boys wade out into a fishing pond and catch "Craw-thingies" and listen to their moms fret over muddy feet, dirty socks and soggy shoes.
From Ennis we traveled through the Madison River Valley and found the Fishing Lodge that Keith and his family visited while fishing the Madison River and Wade Lake and canoeing on Quake Lake. The fishing lodge is now a private club for Fly fishermen, but the old cabins are still there.
On our way we passed great places like "Greek Creek", "Storm Castle Mountain", and "Gooch Hill". We were interested in eating places like "The Gourmet Gas Station", "Buffalo Bump Pizza" and the "Half Moon Saloon". And who could pass by "Blazing-Paddles" for a river trip?
After passing Hebgen Lake, we turned back towards West Yellowstone for fuel and since it was early we went back into Yellowstone. We saw a bald eagle fishing the Yellowstone River and cow Elk with their calves all along the river. Had to laugh when a cow Elk took her twin calves for a swim - the first calf did just as mom had done, but the second ca
lf was all legs and splashing water.What an absolutely perfect day!!
Critter Count: Short Eared Owl, Hawks, Antelope, Bald Eagle, Elk and a suicidal mouse that Keith was able to maneuver around to miss!
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