 |
| Maybe we need to get a camper like this one! |
Get up early, as usual, on Sunday and turn on The Open (
www.theopen.com ).
 |
| The Open in the morning. Sunday with Scottie Scheffler in the lead! |
I do laundry because we
counted our remaining clothing and realized that we threw out too much (note:
it cost $12 to wash and then $3 to dry in the hotel laundry room, and you have
to pay with a credit card).
 |
| Hotel Laundry |
 |
| $12 to wash clothes (pay by credit card) |
I find out that they filmed some of Season 5,
Episode 1 (“One Hundred Years or Nothing”: John Dutton is sworn in as Governor
of Montana. As John settles into the powers of his new office, he makes bold
moves to protect the Yellowstone from his opponents. The bunkhouse and the
Duttons enjoy the Governor's ball) at the Hilton Garden Inn (we’ll have to
watch.
We geared (without all of the luggage) to head to Lolo for
breakfast at KT’s Hayloft Saloon (and casino and gifts and liquor store) before
doing Lolo Pass (we’re not sure we’re going to go all of the way to Kooskia (or
just to Losha Lodge, which is 57.8 miles from the hotel). It’s not as windy as
Saturday!
KT’s Hayloft Saloon (https://www.facebook.com/ktshayloftsaloon/
) is right on Hwy 12, the start to Lolo Pass. It’s about 15 minutes from the
Hilton Garden Inn. They have internet service and we load up Hulu to watch The
Open. Scottie’s on fire! KT’s is filled with locals gathering. It took a while,
but breakfast was good (nice crisp hashbrowns and homemade sourdough toast with
my omelet).
 |
| Watching The Open at KT's (Scottie birdies this hole) |
We leave and see a ground squirrel before we leave.
 |
| Ground Squirrel |
Information about ground squirrels:
Ground squirrels are rodents of the squirrel family
(Sciuridae) that live on the ground or in burrows (unlike tree squirrels, that
live in our attic and are just “better dressed rats”). The larger ones are more
commonly known as marmots or prairie dogs, while the smaller ones are known as
chipmunks.
We head out on U.S. Highway 12, also known as the Lewis and
Clark Highway and Lolo Pass.
Lolo Pass in our case, starts out in Lolo, Montana, and is
residential and farmland before getting wooded, with a creek running along the
road. It’s pretty (and more wooded than the Utah and Idaho riding we’ve been
doing) and curvy, but not really curvy. There are lots of wildlife signs,
including Moose Crossings! But we don’t see any critters. When you get into
Idaho and the pass and the road and elevation and curves increase (and it gets
much colder), and it’s newly paved.
 |
| Advisory sign (not that bad if you've done rides in Tennessee like Tail of the Dragon) |
 |
| Cows! |
 |
| Moose Crossing Sign (we didn't see any) |
 |
| Back into Idaho! |
 |
| The Iconic Lolo Pass Sign: "Winding Road Next 99 Miles" |
There is definitely no cell phone service between Lolo and
Losha Lodge and back (where we stop – there is a gas station, cabins, a
restaurant and a gift shop). I tried to pull up Hulu to watch The Open, but no
service.
 |
| Next gas if you're heading west is in 90 miles after Losha Lodge |
 |
| There's a Great Dane at the store |
 |
| Losha Lodge |
We turn around and head back to Missoula.
 |
| Marshy area (no Moose) |
 |
| River looks cold! |
 |
| Back in Montana! |
It’s a Montana, Idaho,
Montana short ride day. We stop at the Visitors Center on our way back into
Montana. When we get into Lolo, internet comes up (and Hulu) and I see that
Scottie Scheffler has won The Open (while he started off hot when we were
having breakfast, he finished at -17, same as when we left for our ride).
Short, under 150 mile day!
Some good ride reading on Lolo Pass: https://www.motorcycleroads.com/motorcycle-roads/idaho/the-lolo-pass
Tomorrow is a short day: Missoula to West Glacier. We’re staying
at the rustic Belton Chalet (https://www.glacierparkcollection.com/lodging/belton-chalet/
).
 |
| Belton Chalet (picture pulled off the Internet) |
The Belton Chalet is located on US Highway 2 in the village West Glacier,
Montana, just outside the western entrance to Glacier National Park. It is
across the road from the historic West Glacier Railway Station, and just east
of the intersection of US Highway 2 and the Going-to-the-Sun Road.Description
of our Classic Lodge Room (according to:) Our queen-bed rooms, with private
bathroom and desk and views of the Flathead National Forest) are the perfect
mix of modern and historic. Each one retains original fixtures, hardwood
flooring and crown molding paired with airy spaces and plush linens. Property
does not have air conditioning, but there is complimentary Wi-Fi (I don’t think
TVs are in the room, but if we have free Wi-Fi, I can pull up Hulu on my laptop
if we want to watch anything). But we’re on the west side, right next to Going
to the Sun Road (the reason we’re staying here).
Note: I am not a photographer and most of the photos and
videos are taken on the back of a moving motorcycle.
Comments