Montana!

Wonderful trip across Washington and Idaho to reach Montana today, even if it was hot and smokey. I took a wrong turn somewhere around Mt Rainier and wound up riding through the park at 7am - no traffic and great parking. Temps started rising as soon as I came out of the park and approached White Pass on US-12. 90F by 10am, 105F for a good portion of the ride from the Trip-cities through Lewiston and towards Lolo Pass. Thankfully it cooled off once I started climbing.

Very smokey all the way across Washington and Idaho. Most of the smoke in Idaho and Montana seems to be from fires in those states (unlike our smoke which has been donated by Canada).

Highlight of my day - US 12 over Lolo Pass. Let's call it a perfect storm of no traffic, good weather and no (yes, I said no) road construction. I think I passed one car the entire 100+ miles. I have never enjoyed that road so much.

Tomorrow takes me on a short trip down to Idaho Falls to visit friends. I have one memorial stop planned in Hamilton, MT. It will be a short day of zero interstate riding.

Here's a few pictures I took - the sun was interfering around Mt Rainier. Guess I should have ridden on the other side!

Along the Lochsa River on US 12. Time for a shade break to cool off.

Great riding in the park today. The secret is to go early.

Best I could do with all the sunshine. Mt Rainier.

No one around to interfere...I like going early.