JamesW
JamesW
Seattle area thru Missoula, Cody, Missoula, home. Heading east I-90 about 8 miles over the Idaho border is an Idaho welcome center, nice park and loads of maps ,free, and helpful advice if needed. Construction Montana style in the Missoula corridor. Would advise exiting at Kingston taking Thompson falls pass to Thompson falls and 200 east to Missoula. Continuing on to Butte take exit 126 to a superb Montana visitor center free maps again and good local info. Back roads through Pipestone pass, Ennis and on to West Yellowstone, slid off highway 287 and took 87 over Targhee pass to 20 and into park. Miss a little RV traffic that way. Through Yellowstone (school is out) out east gate to Cody, Absaroka Mts. nice riding. Cody looks like a big strip mall. Stayed at the frugal(for Cody) Green Gables Inn, would recommend it for those on a budget. 125.39 for two with two beds, Air conditioner worked well, which is more than I can say for the motel 6 in Missoula (which is within a short walk to the Cracker Barrel restaurant with good food). Chief Joseph was as advertised, tar strips not an issue. Wyoming side of Beartooth most scenic ride, no sign at summit, Montana side many switchbacks if you like that stuff. Red Lodge entire main drag under construction, terrible signing, chore to park on sidestreets and find a restaurant(we did not bother). No sign indicating highway 78, blew right by and had to retrack. I-90 again, sometime you just have to dance with the devil. Took 15 South out of Butte about 20 miles and took 43 to Wisdom and on to 93 and up to Missoula great road (shortcut added 70 miles to the day). Came home the next day over Lolo no Idaho finest seen, construction around Kooskia area, 20 minute delay. Almost forgot, construction on Cody side of Beartooth, single lane with the bloody lights, can be a long delay, pray for the luck of the draw. Lewiston, Clarkston yuck, detours in town. After you cross back over the river on the way to Lewiston/Clarkston down the road a piece is a nice gas station and mini mart, 202 miles from the gas station in Lolo as you head out. 12 to the 261,260 playground exit. In Connell is a great food stop at Michael Jays Restaurant, steak and eggs are outstanding any time of day, prices are reasonable and air conditioning works which was sorely needed by then. 26 to Royal city for the last gas stop, on to Ellensburg, Blewett, Stevens, Ben Howard, Highbridge and home. Lolo pass is not the shortest route home from Missoula but had not seen it for awhile, forgot how bad, hot, boring the stretch was into the Lewiston, Clarkston metropolis area.
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