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Published: July 25th 2008
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Biking in the Yellowstone Valley
Have seen a lot of wildlife on this trip. Saw these deer along the river and country road as we biked by. We continue our way across the state. In addition to the great scenery and fun activities we have spent the last week visiting with family and friends. We made a four day stop in Bozeman where we visited my Aunt Izzy and a high school friend Betty and her husband Nick. We are now in Helena where we are visiting my Aunt Jessie, Cousin Judy and a school friend Sherry. Have had a great time catching up on the news and reconnecting with old friends.
Along the way we bicycled across the Yellowstone Valley and along the Yellowstone River near Big Timber. We also visited Prairie Dog State Park where we spent some time just watching these critters. From there we moved on to Lewistown where we spent a great day kayaking on Crystal Lake in the Snowy Mountains near Lewistown and then spent the evening on the Charley Russell Chew-Choo. This is a 3 1/2 hour train ride from Lewistown to Denton and back on an old rail line that used to connect Lewistown and Great Falls. The train goes over 3 long and high trestles. Beautiful scenery, a great dinner, lots of historical information and a hold-up by
a band of train robbers accompanied by some "ladies of the night." Great fun!
In Bozeman Betty and Nick gave us a fantastic experience. His great, great uncle (think I have enough greats) built a gold mining mill in the mountains along Alder Gulch where gold was first discovered in Montana. They took us to the remains of the stone buildings at the mill, to a nearby museum of old mining equipment and then for a brief tour of Virginia City. It was a great day. There were a few tense moments on my part as we traveled the last several miles to the old mill up a mountainside on a narrow dirt/gravel road. You could see to the bottom of the gulch which was quite a ways down. I thought the trip on the Cooke City Highway was nerve wracking, but it was nothing compared to this. I considered walking back down, but sat on the inside and looked only at the wild flowers on the hillside coming back so that ride was much easier. Despite the nail biting I am glad I went. It was a great experience to see some of Montana's past with a lot
of information added by our guides. While we were having a great time at the mill and then eating dinner we missed a huge wind and hail storm in Bozeman. Weren't even aware of the bad storm until we were on our way home.
We are now doing our last Montana leg in Helena. We visited the state capitol today and will go to the state historical museum tomorrow. On Sunday we head to Jackson, WY for a short visit with friends Paul and Judy from Boulder City and then on for a final stay in Boise before heading home.
David and Barb
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