Yet again we had a beautiful day of riding through spectacular countryside, this time making our way through high altitude dessert country benefiting from irrigation and winding our way over a massive mountain range through the Bighorn National Forest on Highway 14, one of the original highways established in 1926, a far cry I’m confident from the road and surface we we rode on today!

Some interesting facts: Elevation above sea level. 

Gillette USA – 1,388m

Mount Kosciusko Australia –2,228m

Traralgon Australia (hometown) – 60m

Highest elevation on our travels today – 2,765m

The first lot of pics is all on Highway 14 initially through a great craggy canyon as we climbed and then as we descended on the other side. All kinds of awesome!

We lunched at a quirky little Café in Sheridan for a little longer break than usual because we could. This is outside in the street. It was an attractive little town.

We fueled up in Buffalo as there were no services for 70 miles from there. It is a pretty little town and was where the Netflix series ‘Longmire’ was filmed, one of our favorites. The writer lived close by according to the servo proprietor. Thanks to Lyn who snapped the following shots from her pillion seat which give a little hint to the sort of architecture, very old American west cute, she even got me in the first one.

Last nights' accommodation:

Green Gables Inn Cody.

A budget option but everyone on the ground floor and bikes outside our doors so we like that. No breakfast included so had a Starbucks breakfast at the local supermarket just over the hill. Also, no restaurants in walking distance so we had a ride to a family diner then back to the motel for bed. Comfortable space. Staff welcoming. Guest laundry available. No pic.

We took a loop route through Yellowstone this morning to see the Old Faithfull Geyser and then headed for the East Gate out of Yellowstone National Park and we had a glorious day of riding over beautiful roads, road surfaces and through magnificent scenery. Mountains, river streams, canyons, raging rivers, lakes both large and small, snow, rugged rocky outcrops of monolithic size and assorted wildlife. Not huge kilometers but low speed limits and winding and at times steep roads so not a fast trip but magnificent from start to finish. Some pics which are a poor reflection of an awesome day.

Some interesting facts: Elevation above sea level. 

Cody USA – 1,523m

Mount Kosciusko Australia –2,228m

Traralgon Australia (hometown) – 60m

Highest elevation on our travels today – 2,670m

One of the bears spotted.

Half of the crowd waiting for the Geyser to blow.

A half-hearted start.

Then 4.5minutes of WOW.

The Yellowstone General Store at Fishing Bridge …. Where you haven’t been allowed to fish from the bridge since the 70’s.

A good-looking sort waiting for the group to reassemble and make a mile.

An awesome vista opening up as we descended, and the geography just got even more rocky and quirky, and the Shoshone River galloped all the way down to the Buffalo Bill Dam at Cody. We got to the dam just in time to hitch a complimentary ride to the Visitor Centre and check out a video of the construction from 1905 - 1910 complete with hydroelectric plant. A remarkable achievement, at the time it was built it was the tallest dam in the world. Later the plant was renewed, and the wall raised between 1985 to 1993.

The wall (it is a high and narrow dam). You can see where it has been extended in recent years.

And one of the gates is open with the spring melt so was roaring.

Looking from the carpark back to the road tunnel initially built to facilitate the building of the dam at the left and the visitor center on the right.

Last 2 nights' accommodation:

Super 8 by Wyndham Gardiner / Yellowstone Park area.

A budget option for a significant price. Rooms have been refurbished and the bed was comfortable, but maintenance could use some work. Staff helpful. Included a snack for breakfast and parking. Guest laundry which was handy. Onsite restaurant which did a nice breakfast and grab and go lunch. Walking distance to a few meal options.

After such a huge day yesterday (as in travel time, not kilometers) we decided to have a quiet day today and did some washing and have enjoyed a chance to draw breath for a bit so only a few photos.

Some interesting facts: Elevation above sea level. 

Gardiner USA – 952.2m

Mount Kosciusko Australia –2,228m

Traralgon Australia (hometown) – 60m

A hint of sunset last night as we headed back from dinner.

Some of the resident elk and we could see why all the gardens and trees in town are fenced.

Yellowstone Post Office.

Parking up to climb and have a look at the Mammoth Springs which look much larger than the last time we were here.

The Liberty Cap an extinct travertine work of the Sulphur springs and looking down into Yellowstone.

One of the many glacial valleys carved into the landscape.

Slide Lake.

Yellowstone Gate no longer used except by photographers (I think, many of whom park in the middle of the road, one could grow old waiting for it to be clear, so I gave up).

Fine warm weather was forecast for Billings and Gardiner and close to freezing over the pass, so we rugged up accordingly and shed layers as we went on our descent and trip into Gardiner which was all kinds of beautiful. The road surface was superb, the scenery unbelievable, snow and ice staggering and all kinds of wow no matter what direction we looked and then into Yellowstone and herds of magnificent bison. A feast for the senses. Will let the pictures tell a tiny part of the story.

Some interesting facts: Elevation above sea level. 

Gardiner USA – 952.2m

Mount Kosciusko Australia –2,228m

Traralgon Australia (hometown) – 60m

Highest elevation on our travels today –3,345m (over Beartooth Pass obviously)

Heading up the pass the road wound its way up and it was hard to focus on it with the view.

And more of it moving above the tree line (needless to say Norm was off the bike for these pics).

A shot of where we had come from to the Rock Creek Vista Point. We thought we must be near the top but there was a lot more roads and views to come.

And looking back across the valley to more snow-covered mountains.

Danny and Mal close to the top, gives a hint of the depth of snow.

Heading down there was a vista at every corner but few places to safely stop on a motorbike to take the photo and yes that is a frozen lake below. there were many.

The store past the summit where Beartooth Pass T shirts and other tourist traps are sold.

Heading down.

And some incredible infrastructure.

Snow melt in action. Incredible to see,

And more of the same. Where I am standing was a repaired hillside following incredible erosion. The water looked like it was boiling.

A snow plough. They do an awesome job…oh and Norms bike, what a surprise.

Our lunch spot at Cooke City. We took off lots of layers of clothing here and sat on the veranda in a balmy breeze. Was hard to get our heads around it.

And into Yellowstone National Park and there were bison everywhere, great herds which was awesome to see.

And again.

Last nights' accommodation:

Great Western Clocktower Inn Billings.

Lovely property with spacious comfortable rooms, staff offered vehicle washing service which was a first. Comfortable beds and room to spread out. Nice hot shower and parking on site. Breakfast across the driveway from reception which was delicious and handy to multiple dinner options.

The day dawned sunny and windy and stayed that way, the only thing to vary was the intensity of the wind which was good when it was a tail wind and ferocious and unpredictable when it was a cross or head wind. We had planned a nice mountain ride from Havre through to Big Sandy and completed a good part of it until we came across an unsealed track with no phone service so erred on the side of caution and returned to Havre, had lunch and then fought with the wind until we got into Great Falls. I was exhausted.

What we did enjoy in the morning, as we had coming in for many kilometers yesterday was travelling alongside the perfectly level railroad and all the many and varied trains we saw. This afternoon we passed almost 32kms of empty flatbed container carriages parked up on a track in various sections of 1 -1.5kms in length with maybe 100m between each group, it was the only thing which gave a brief reprieve from the wind. We also saw deer and bison on our trip as well as thousands of acres of grain fields and silos.

Thinking about the railway, it has me beat how the Victorian Government has spent so many millions of dollars on our Gippsland trainline for as long as I’ve been alive (a considerable time) and it still resembles a theme park ride more than a train trip, on the few occasions there is actually a train on the tracks instead of a bus on the road …. Wow I really am tired … and a bit grumpy.

Some interesting facts: Elevation above sea level. 

Cut Bank USA –1,015m

Mount Kosciusko Australia – 2,228m

Traralgon Australia (hometown) – 60m

Forgot to put this one in yesterday. This is Chief Mountain on our way from the USA Canada border which is officially on Chief Mountain. It is quite spectacular and sits at an elevation of 2,768m at its summit.

The train line outside our motel window was busy throughout the night and it intrigued us to see how it wound down to the bridge.

And this was when the sun was setting before the strong wind wound up to ferocious most of the night and into today.

Near the spot we had to turn around on our trip through the mountains today. Such a shame, it looked great, the road had a great surface, there was near enough to no traffic, and we were comparatively protected from the wind.

Last nights' accommodation:

Super 8 by Wyndham Cut Bank.

Budget accommodation with parking included and a budget cold breakfast. Nearby restaurants available for dinner. Comfortable bed, hot shower and we were warm and dry. No pic.

Well, what a day of visual delights. We had barely set out when we headed into the village of Belt for fuel given, we had a lot of ground to cover and not a lot of services available, and that was a treat, then we headed back out to the highway and just loved the ride through rolling ranchland surrounded by snowcapped mountains. Wow!

We lunched at Wilsall; home of a great Rodeo then headed for Billings. We were surrounded by 180 degrees of snow-capped mountains!!! Really too much to take in. Tomorrow, we head off to the Beartooth Pass via Red Lodge, a bucket list for Norm.

Today on our travels we saw cattle, horses, sheep, deer, cougar, bison, mother and baby ducks and prairie dogs. We also enjoyed crossing many awesome rivers including the Yellowstone which was running from bank to bank where it hadn't broken through further. Wonder what tomorrow will bring. 

Some interesting facts: Elevation above sea level. 

Billings USA – 952.2m

Mount Kosciusko Australia – 2,228m

Traralgon Australia (hometown) – 60m

Highest elevation on our travels today – 2,266m (yes that is higher than the summit of Mount Kosciusko).

Great Falls Hydro Station on the Missouri River. An impressive body of water. So enjoyed a ride through very picturesque residential areas to get here.

Main street of Belt where we fueled up. All kinds of cute and very friendly locals.

An outlook over limestone / sandstone? cliffs and sluice work whatever that means. Just know it looked awesome and I took a photo here last trip also.

And a photo of me taking a photo as apparently, we must.

Lovely historic mural in Wilsall.

And a shot of the same street today minus the buildings on the LHS which are no longer there apart from the silo.

The Bank Vault Bar / Restaurant at Wilsall where we had lunch. All kinds of quirky, the lounge wall was surrounded by brand marks of local ranches who brought them to the opening of the restaurant. They are also burnt into the bar which has been sanded back and lacquered over. What a great way to have some local ownership! We were the only ones apart from one couple when we came in and when we left the place was buzzing. So good to see!

And a shot inside the lounge before the crowd arrived.

Last nights' accommodation:

The Gibson Hotel Great Falls.

A beautifully refurbished award-winning enlarged and refurbished hotel with generous spaces, comfortable bed, ample power points and charging options, roomy bathroom and a walk-in shower, all round the best we have had since leaving home. Parking included as well as a lovely breakfast either at a local restaurant or ordered at the hotel and delivered to your room. Gym on site and a guest lounge as well as all day coffee, tea, cider, cookies and muffins. Complimentary guest laundry also. However, you look at it they are all round very thoughtful, and guest focused.

Back from Canada into the USA today. The forecast today was terrible with heavy rain at Waterton Park through nearly all the way to Cut Bank, instead we left with dry roads and didn’t get any rain until we were heading up the Highway to the Sun in the Glacier National Park. We came here 11 years ago, in the summer. And today the road was only open for 25kms each end and the 25kms over the summit was still closed with snow which is a shame because it is spectacular, but we went anyway and were blown away with it. We were also sorry to see a lot of the forest had been subjected to wildfires in 2018 – 2019 as had the area around Waterton Park, but that also meant we had better views of the Lakes and Mountains than we otherwise would have had, so swings and roundabouts I guess.

Some interesting facts: Elevation above sea level. 

Cut Bank USA –1,150m

Mount Kosciusko Australia – 2,228m

Traralgon Australia (hometown) – 60m

Highest elevation on our travels today – 1,840m

The entry to the Glacier National Park.

I remember freaking out a bit at the bear sign when we last visited, now a Visitor Centre has popped up as well.

The tiny spot you can see in the lake between both the bikes is called Goose Island (I don’t know why). Never thought a goose would come between us two silly old geese…..

Stopped for a pic and wondered what the flowing water sound was.

I had thought this photo was in the same spot as a tourist took a shot of us both on the last trip but when I searched it, I discovered it was much higher up the highway than we could go to today. So many mountains!

Froom the Jackson Glacier Overlook where the road was closed with snow. We took photos as we departed as the pull off areas were on our side of the road then.

And almost back at the park gate and the weather begins to clear.

The railway bridge as we came into town complete with train.

The railway bridge without the train and with a bike instead.

Cut Bank Creek which literally cut through the floor of a vast wheat producing plain.

I saw this sign on the way into Cut Bank and loved it so went back and took the pic. Says it all. Domestic Violence is a people problem, nothing else and is unacceptable.

Last nights accommodation:

Aspen Village Waterton Park.

Budget accommodation with parking included and nearby restaurants which give a discount to hotel patrons. Comfortable bed, hot shower and we were warm and dry.

We spent the majority of our day riding through great tracts of farmland which looked immaculate and skirting around and through foothill and mountain regions so lots of great scenery to see and we had no rain except a sprinkle as we got into our accommodation at Waterton Park. Yay. We came via the Frank Landslide site as we had come across it about 11 years ago and were intrigued by the story. Back then it was a sealed road which wound through massive debris, now it is a massive road with parking lanes each side and talk of making it a 4-lane road. The whole area had grown incredibly in that time including coal mining, and logging and the arrival of a few oil donkeys, wind turbines as well.

Some interesting facts: Elevation above sea level. 

Waterton Park Canada –1,290m

Mount Kosciusko Australia – 2,228m

Traralgon Australia (hometown) – 60m

Highest elevation on our travels today – 1,507m

Turtle Mountain which experienced the land slide at 4.01am April 29^{th, 1903,} when a wedge of limestone over 1km wide, 425m long and 150m deep broke from the crest smashing apart as it slid downwards breaking into boulders that rolled and bounced down the side of the mountain and spread across the valley covering part of the Frank township. 70 people are known to have died as a result.

And the other side of the road and valley.

The Foyer of the Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Park built in 1926 – 27.

And the view through the window to the Lake. We had a hot chocolate on the LHS of this area. Lovely.

Looking upwards in the foyer. Wonderful craftsmanship.

The view of Waterton Park from the hotel.

And a shot from the outside, with some bikes of course. The wind was so strong it nearly blew me over a couple of times walking to the hotel before I was sheltered from it. The lake is apparently known as the windiest in Canada and I could believe it.

Last nights' accommodation:

Best Western Plus Suites Downtown Calgary.

A generous space and comfortable room with kitchenette. Was nice to have room to spread out. Breakfast included and parking for a small fee. Guest Laundry on site which was great even though not listed on the website but in the process of being refurbished literally from the basement up and it will be lovely when done. Helpful staff and booked us in early which was appreciated. No pic.

A short ride to Starbucks at Canmore for breakfast and then we headed off on Highway 1 (the old highway) to Calgary. The weather was cold but clear and we loved the initial surrounds of rugged mountains but missed them, apart from the view of snow-covered peaks in our rear vision mirrors the further we progressed to Calgary. We pulled off at Cochrane for a stretch and ice-cream just before we headed into Calgary proper. Huge amounts of development around Cochrane with a pretty mind-numbing sameness about it. Such a shame. As for Calgary, well it’s another big city but at least the sun came out this afternoon.

Calgary Canada –1,048m

Mount Kosciusko Australia – 2,228m

Traralgon Australia (hometown) – 60m

Highest elevation on our travels today – 1,370m

Last breakfast in the mountains for a while at Canmore.

And into Cochrane, serious about their western heritage and this is considered the historic downtown but looks newly built to us. Quirky all the same.

And again.

And again, and there was even an old guy on the veranda playing a piano, sounded good.

And an old codger with his 1940 V8 Ford which was built on the day he was born.

Last 2 nights' accommodation:

Charlton’s Banff.

A nice comfortable and spacious suite with plenty of room to stow all our gear and a roomy shower as well as a bath. Parking available under the building for a small fee. Normally breakfast included but not until the official season in June. Not to worry a discount is available at a neighboring hotel and plenty of options nearby. Real china again, how grown up do we feel!