The ride from Bigfork to Livingston (approx 510kms)started out very cold through a large forest (approx15okms) . Then it was through some very pretty farm land but not that good a land for farming (a guy told me that they measure the farms by the 1/4 mile square and most would be several 1/4s square ) . Then onto the freeway the rest of the way to Livingston . The one good thing about the freeways are that the speed limit was 75 mph and most were going around 85mph , so a lot of ground is covered very fast .
The next day it is onto Sheridan via Little Big Horn (Custer's last Stand 25th June 1876) . Again the day started quite cold but by Mid day when we arrived at Little Big Horn it was hitting approx 35c (but a very dry heat ) . Again the whole set up was very interesting and well done .
For those who didn't know Custer was sent to sort out some renegade Indians (Sitting Bull being one of then ) . Custer had 600 troupes and Sitting Bull and his mates had approx 7,000+ , Custer underestimated there number and split is company into 3 units of 200 . He sent Major Reno to attack the south end of the Indian camp and the rest is history , Reno got a hiding but Custer got a routing on last stand hill . Three days after he got routed by the Indians troupes arrived to find them all where they fell , so they marked the spot and buried them where they fell , so today you can still see where it all happened . The Indians chased him for about 5 miles before he made his Last Stand with the last of his 40 men , in all they killed 220 of Custer's men over that 5 miles . There is no record of how many Indians were killed because after the battle they took all there dead away .While we were there we run into Damon Good a kiwi doing the same trip as us .
Our next stop was Sheridan an great town with lots of character , we had a couple of beers in the Mint Bar (famous over here , the photo of the guy on the bar ) . That night they had a street fair with just about the whole town out having a good time .
Before we left for Cody we stopped into Kings Saddlery , what an amassing shop and museum , they have every thing a cowboy could want and the museum has over 500 saddles dating way back . We were told to go there by a kiwi guy that we run into in Canada (Bob Bourbon he came from Sheridan) . He told us to ask for Don King and we did, and got a grand tour and hats to boot (the photo)( they were just such friendly people and really interested in our trip . The only condition on the hats was that we had to take a photo with them on, in some exotic place and E mail them a photo .
The ride from Sheridan to Cody over the Big Horn Mountains (approx 250km) was another great ride with heaps of switch back corners and great scenery once again . It got very hot back down on the plains again today approx 32c
Today we arrived in Cody made famous by Buffalo Bill Cody who started the town in 1909. Tomorrow a new tyre for the bike and a good look around town . We will be here 3 days
Photos
Mountain Goat , On the way to Livingston
Last Stand Hill (Custer's head stone is the one with black on it )
In the Mint bar Sheridan ,
Us out side the King Saddlery
Big Horn Mountains
good lotto, any maori land over there lotto
ReplyDeleteHi Guys,Forgot to give you Colns email address when talking yesterday so will send an email. Kids just headed to Coromandel for the night. Time running out fast now, they fly out this Sunday. Got to beat the feet for 2 days,no car but mild & sun trying its hardest.That is one big goat ah? Your right,you'd have to be there to believe the scenery.Your giving us a bloody good idea though. Take care XX
ReplyDeleteHi Roger and Ruth...we certainly enjoyed meeting you today and will follow you thru your blog as this amazing adventure unfolds. Safe travels. Mark and Dale Bruss.
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