Our route through Montana
Tomorrow, we cross the border into Montana. In the past week or so, we’ve spent a good deal of time thinking about our route alternatives through Montana. No matter what route we take, we will end up spending more time in Montana than any other state on the tour. So, it’s worth the extra effort to make sure we find the best route through it.
Our original route had us entering Montana in its southeast corner and heading northwest through Great Falls. You can see our original route here:
As it turns out, we were able to trip some miles off of The Dream Tour route by changing the way we approached Bowman, North Dakota. I wrote about that change here:
Now we’re going to make another change in our route across Montana. This will save some miles, but it will also give us an opportunity to visit some very good friends of ours — Larry and Nancy — who live in Bozeman, Montana. We’ll be taking a more southerly route that takes us right to Bozeman. We’ll spend a couple days there to rest and visit. Then Larry will join me in riding the remainder of the way across Montana. It will be good to have company across this very difficult (i.e., mountainous) section of Montana.
Here’s a map of our original route across Montana:
This route is 990 miles long. Now here’s our new route across Montana:
This new route is 125 miles shorter and saves about two days of riding.
September 3rd, 2006 at 7:18 pm
Nancy and I are looking forward to you being here, and then my riding with you. What about Harlowtown White Suppher Springs-Townsend vs. Harlowtown, Big Timber-Livingston-Bozeman-Three Forks-Townsend? Could save even more miles, letting you and Pat just drive down.
Hopefully the Big Timber fire will subside. We have extensive smoke in the valley the last few days, and it is probably worse in the Paradise Valley (Livingston area). We’ll keep in touch, as nothing could change until Harlowtown.
September 4th, 2006 at 7:59 am
Hi Pete — As you know whenever we have been with a group of people the one question seemed to be, “But how are they going to get through the mountains?” At that time. back in Indiana and Minnesota, those answers had not developed and the concern didn’t seem that relevant. Well as you can imagine this latest blog and comment from Larry were a great relief to your M&D and others traveling the country with you on their computers. We send special big hugs and words of encouragement to you and Pat during this last leg of your tour. Looking forward to your travel-blogs and photos. M&D