July 27, 2019
A fun day in Montana, today.
Yesterday someone suggested I check out Fort Peck, so that was my first destination of the day.
It isn’t too much further east than Malta, but the landscape couldn’t be more different. Malta has a bit of the prairie feel to it, and a large part of the ride east felt the same. But as you get closer to Fort Peck that all changes.
The Fort Peck Dam is on the Missouri River, the largest hydraulically filled dam in the US, and created Fort Peck Lake. It makes power, mainly. Opened in 1940. Damn cool to see the dam. The interpretive center is ok as well.
Back to the landscape action. It’s much cooler near the dam, and elevation starts to occur. Going past the dam you emerge into badlands. They’re epic. You can imagine the giant inland sea that it once was, marine reptiles and fishes competing for survival while t-rex and triceratops roamed the shores. So many amazing formations. Getting an adequate picture was near impossible.
The landscape evolves as you turn back west, adding in wildflowers, trees, and other vegetation. It never loses the prehistoric feel, though. Entrancing to ride through.
The bummer is the lack of places to pull over for photos. Narrow, fast roads aren’t the best spots for that. It’s on my brain film at least. Even if that film is of dubious quality.
Such a good detour to get to Billings. As usual, many grain elevators, and abandoned buildings. Also cows. All of them. Some horses as well.
Parked the bike, and the wasps immediately swarmed it. Free protein I guess. It’s theirs now. I’ll fly home…
Let’s see how the local breweries are!
Odo Start: 23,306
Odo End: 24,663
Daily Miles: 357
Cum. Miles: 10,090
Ryan Cavalier 