Bozeman

We had about an hour ride south down Hwy 4 from Lethbridge to the USA border control station at Sweetgrass on the Alberta/Montana border. We were asked a number of questions by the border control agent and then our passports were stamped and we were back in the USA. I was relieved that the harley wasn't stripped down to a pile of nuts and bolts while they looked for drugs!

The Montana countryside was expansive and vast. We were in the high plains of what is called 'Big Sky' country. Due to the altitude there was still a bit of a chill in the air as we rode. We rode for another hour to Shelby for a fuel stop and then continued down Interstate 15 to Great Falls for lunch. We rode through some very interesting rocky landscape before another fuel stop in Helena. We then turned right on to Hwy 12 East and then on to Hwy 287 South before connecting with the Interstate (I 90) that took us east to our stop for the day at Bozeman. A good ride of 588 kms for the day.

We are now only about an hours ride from tackling Yellowstone National Park tomorrow. Back in 2010 we rode from Billings over Beartooth Pass (met some biker friends from Boise, Idaho - Ron & Michele), stopped a night in Cody before entering Yellowstone from the east entrance, exiting out the south entrance and riding through the Grand Tetons to Jackson Hole. This trip we will enter from the northern entrance and exit from the east entrance to Cody. Apparently you are more likely to see grizzly bears in the wild by following this route. So that is a key objective for tomorrow - to see a grizzly bear.... not too close....still sitting on the bike while taking photos....with the engine running...