Life is a Beautiful Ride: 07/15/23

Saturday, July 15, 2023

Following the Yellowstone River

Saturday July 15, 2023

Billings to Custer Montana

We left the sketchy Motel 6 at 715am. We all actually slept quite well but were anxious to get going. We found a nice coffee shop on our route out of town. There was a big farmers market going on too. After a nice breakfast, we zig zagged through streets to get us out of the city. Once again google and Ride With GPS told us to take a road that was not a public road. We ducked under the gate anyway.

Then we got onto a nice bike path that followed the river the rest of the way out of town. We got on Old US highway 312. It was crazy busy and no shoulder, but not much traffic headed toward us so cars were able to pass. We stayed close together to allow easier passing and we pulled off when we could. Once we got about 10 miles, we found three reason for the traffic. The Homesteader Days event was going on at Huntley Project Museum. Once we got past that, the road was great, except that I got a flat rear tire when I pulled into a spot to overlook the river 13 miles from our destination.

We came upon Pompey Pillar National Monument.

Lynn and I walked up the steps to the top.

We had a picnic lunch then headed out. We got onto the nice frontage road of I-94 the rest of the way. It was scenic and very little traffic for about 25 miles.

As we head east and northeast, the sky is getting more and more smoky from wildfires in Canada.

We are staying at Junction City Saloon and Rooms in Custer. There are 3 rooms: red, blue and green. It's a very cute little place. We ate at The Fort @ 49. It was delicious. The couple that runs it are both chefs and bought the place recently. They were very busy. The bartender at the saloon called to get us a reservation.