Linda and I did a 180 Mile RTE - Ride To Eat

It was such a good idea.
Go to Wheat Montana Farms Deli and Bakery at Three Forks, Montana for lunch.
After all, it's only 90 miles away and what's 90 miles to Iron Butt Riders?

It was a little cool, only 55 degrees on the thermometer.
7:30AM I sent a quick text to Linda.
"It's cloudy and cool, do you still want to go?"
The answer, of course, was "Darn Right!"
So by 10:30 when it had warmed up to almost 60 degrees, Linda in the sidecar and the Honda VTX 1300 giving off a nice soft rumble we were off to Three Forks.
Riding my age we made a short trip out of the first leg of the trip on I-15 to Boulder.
The guys in that Lennox Air conditioning truck were waving and giving us a thumbs up as we pulled off at the Boulder exit.
People love seeing that sidecar cruising the Interstate.

After a quick stop for gas we moved on to MT 68 a really neat 35 mile ride through some Montana back country to Cardwell, MT.

 Here we joined I-90 for the last 18 miles to Three Forks.

This is real Montana country and the first five miles is all up hill.
Semi trucks and RV's are right laners through the pass and the VTX 1300 leaves them in the dust.
This is a pretty mountain area and there is lots to see.

The higher elevation makes it even cooler, but the piece of foam Linda put by the windshield keeps the wind down some and, after all, the coolness doesn't really matter.
The RIDES the thing!


What a great morning ride through the back roads of Montana.

The first half of the trip is almost over and we see the signs announcing the Wheat Montana Farms exit.
There are usually several bikers in the parking lot of the Deli and Bakery, but with today's cool cloudy weather we see only two other bikes, both of them Goldwings,  and the riders are bundled up for the ride.
The place is bustling though, with lots of tourists, including the couple from Lewiston who said they had driven through some pretty good rain on their way down.

Linda said, "Get whatever you want, I'm buying."
Hey, this is getting better all the time.
Wheat Montana Farms Bakery and Deli is known far and wide for their great sandwiches and the monster sized Turkey-cheese version did not disappoint.

It's fun to watch the tourists as they have a sandwich and then shop for the wheat and bread Wheat Montana Farms is known for.

With the construction on US 287 complete the ride north to Townsend doesn't take long.

The Eustice fire which has burned over 9,000 acres is barely visible as we move past Toston.

The fire which has occupied several hundred fire fighters has cooled off with the rain and cool temperatures give the fire crews some respite.

A quick stop for gas in Townsend and we are on the last leg of our cool and cloudy Montana morning RTE.

A good ride and some scenic Montana vistas to pass through.
Good ride Linda and thanks for the great turkey sandwich.
It was well worth the travel.

Watch for me, I'll be in the Right Lane America.
 Del "Lonnie" Lonnquist