I took an early morning walk in Dillon. This place was just too interesting to not take a closer look. It is for sale if you are looking to become the American Picker of Montana. Of interest on the chalk board is a 1975 Chrysler claimed to have eight thousand miles on it for ten thousand dollars. The store was not open, and I was not carrying that much cash so I did not investigate.
My Honda is an ’81. Even though it has been garaged since new the mufflers were rusted through. I mentioned that I was hesitant about tackling the replacement. Without hesitation my brother-in-law said “Bring it over, I’ll take care of it.” . Dave was a machinist in a former life, meaning his margins are measured in thousandths.
He quickly sized it up and finished the job.
Fixed my motorcycle, put up with my sister all these years, can he possibly get any better. “I’ll buy dinner.” he says. Somebody pinch me.
Heading north on I-15 take the Spring Creek Exit to the recreation road. The sign at the exit says no return to I-15 north. Silly sign, the on ramp is at Wolf Creek a few miles up the road. These pictures are of Prickly Pear Creek, less than a mile up the road. In the photo that looks like two streams, the left one is a beaver pond. I spied the local construction team with this years young a few times while I was here.
The long grass shot is about 50 yards upstream from the pond.
Mid-morning on the south side of the Missouri. The Dearborn River runs from the Bob Marshal wilderness to spill into the Mighty Mo just past the railroad bridge on the right side of the first picture. There is a Yurt in the Y formed by the rivers. A semi-permanent tent on steroids type structure. They are gaining popularity due to ease of assembly and durability.
Department of Transportation was inspecting the bridge. The orange inspection vehicle hanging precariously high above the water.
There were a lot of Mackenzie boats and float tubes with fly fisherman on the water. One of the chase vehicles was this Suburban with light weight trailer made for hauling a boat the fisherman can carry to and from the water.
I stopped to watch an elk herd grazing on the Kantorowicz Ranch. The ranch has been absorbed by a big ranch in the neighborhood since old man Kantorowicz can’t operate it, but in my mind it will always belong to that cantankerous old man.
These pictures are from the recreation road. The elk like to graze just as it gets dark and are in the shadow of the trees opposite the hayfield from me.
The first two pictures are as the sun was setting and a storm rolling in. Being a gearhead, I had to get the Honda in one of them.
The last photo is proof that I had dawdled too long. It is after dark in a rainstorm. It may not look dark you say. I say the photos look different during a lightning strike. Yes, I was huddled under the Interstate bridge shooting away.
Highway 12 bypassed this bridge long ago. Take the Toston turn off to get a look. This is the on Missouri River.The first look is upstream. The family floating the river got out at the fishing access site where the sign below is.
I took a ride up I-15 to Craig. Then north on the frontage road a few miles to my sisters place for dinner. This is near the I-15 bridge just north of Craig, MT. The 1981 Honda CB750C was recently purchased with 16K miles on it. I predict double that by summers end. The ride home after dark was cool, clear, comfortable and bright. A few deer came on the road trying to get a closer look at the bike. Can you blame them? 
Montana Big Sky Country 