Day 20 - Lewiston to Butte

We left Lewiston at 8:15am and headed East on US 12 up the Clearwater River Valley. What a wonderful ride. The first half took us up to Lolo Pass, following the river all the way with twists and turns all the way. The second half took us down to Missoula, Montana, again with twists and turns all the way. In total, the ride from Lewiston, Idaho to Missoula covered nearly 200 miles of wonderful riding road!

The scenery was great, with the crystal clear river and the Pine, Cedar and Douglas Fir forests on the West side and Pine and prairie grasses on the East side. We stopped for gas at Cougar Canonyon on the way up - a one pump station that loves bikers. We stopped for lunch on the way down at Lolo Hot Springs, where there really are hot springs that keep a spa at 103 degrees.

The whole route followed that taken by the Lewis and Clark expedition as it made its way over the Rockies down the Clearwater River to the Snake, and then to the Columbia and the Pacific.

Leaving Missoula, we headed down I-90 to Butte, one of the great mining towns in the U.S. and, coincidentally, the birthplace of my Mom! We checked into the Best Western at 5:00pm (mountain time) and headed up the hill to Walkerville to see what was left of Mom's old neighborhood. Unfortunately, not much is left, and what is, is in serious disrepair. But this is not hard to understand. My great grandfather bought the house (two or three rooms) my mother was born in from the Indians in the 1880's!

We also witnessed the beginning of Evel Knievel Days in Butte. This is an annual affair that honors Evel Knievel, who was born in Butte - and who is here for the event and staying in our very hotel! The entire "uptown" area is closed to traffic for the weekend. There are hundreds of bikes, some of which are headed to Sturgis after the event, and much music, drinking and frivolity! A good time by any standard.

Tomorrow we head for West Yellowstone and two day of touring the park. Talk to you later!