2021-08-15-Sunday-Great Falls MT to Billings MT-296 miles

 

Smokier and smokier..

Well there are two reasons now to wear a mask. Delta covid and the smoke from the western fires. More and more places are following the CDC recommendation for everyone, vax or no vax to use masks inside which is no big deal because we automatically carry them anyway. The sun last night was bright red and this morning it was even redder. When we ask it seems that a few days ago it rained and that helped clear the air of smoke somewhat but they are predicting more smoke until it rains again a few days from now. We saw a sign for free meals for the firefighters and the Forest Service folks have been sent of to fight fires.

We left Great Falls, which is actually a pretty busy, vibrant town, and found Rt 87 south toward Billings. We decided not to do Lolo Pass because of the smoke and we decided to end the trip and head home. It's just getting a little creepy out here.

We had a nice quiet ride down Rt 87 then Rt 191 (the Canada to Mexico road Deb & I want to drive), then Rt 12 then Rt 2. When you approach Billings this way you first see it from the top of a wall so you look down on the entire city, like coming in on a plane. But we could barely see the buildings with all the smoke.

We took a break then headed to Pompey's Pillar. This is an unusual rock formation that Clark found on the return trip in 1806 and he scratched his name and date on the side of. It is now a national monument so those nice BLM folks gives talks and have volunteers answering questions. It is on the Yellowstone River and the reason Clark stopped here in 1806 because it is a natural buffalo and elk river crossing (so wagons

Billings through the smoke

could cross here as well), and it easily identified (big conspicuous rock), and he thought it was a natural place for the Native Americans to already trade. We heard a talk about the wildlife balance here, then climbed the stairs to see the place where Clark wrote his name. A guy there regaled us with Clark tidbits, which filled in a lot of holes for us. We love these National Park/BLM/Monument people.

We booked a room in Billings. All the hotels in Billings are twice the price as anywhere else, which we can't understand. So I used some credit card points and got a free stay for tonight.

Odometer: 5622-5326=296 miles