Day 9: Missoula to Seeley Lake, Mont.

Last night after dinner, we took some time to finally do a proper load of laundry in the hotel. With clean clothes, we headed out to check out the brewery which was immediately adjacent to our hotel. When we went to order, however, we were informed that per Montana law, the brewery is only allowed to serve their beer onsite between the hours of 10am and 8pm. It being 8:20pm, we were not able to try their beer. The bartender recommended we go somewhere with a regular saloon license, which we did.

This morning, we’d decided to skip our scheduled rest day and continue on a shorter day to Seeley Lake. Knowing it was a shorter day, and being in a new time zone, we got a later start than usual, and headed out of Missoula around 9am. The first 40 miles saw pretty heavy traffic, but a nice wide shoulder along highway 200. We stopped into the grocery, tavern, restaurant, casino in Potomac, Mont., where they were celebrating the US World Cup victory in France.

Scenery was mostly similar to the last few days riding through the National Forest in Idaho. We passed through the University of Montana’s “experimental forest” which, admittedly, looked like a normal forest to me. I did not get too close to the trees though so, I can’t say for certain there wasn’t something experimental about them.

We stopped for a gas station lunch at the junction with 83 and it was clear that there was a lot of recreational traffic headed out of town, with a long backup turning off 83. After lunch, we continued the last 15 miles to Seeley Lake and traffic was still heavy, but our shoulder had disappeared. So, although it was a short day, we were glad to be off the roads as the recreational traffic roared on.

We attempted to walk up to Lake Seeley, but the “half mile” to the public access quoted by our motel was more like 1-2 miles along the same highway, so I think we will enjoy the beauty of the lake from across a highly “no trespassing” signed lawn.

Tomorrow we will head to Big Fork, Mont. before we enter Glacier NP Wednesday. We’ve had some spotty showers for the last two days, but the forecast through Going to the Sun Road looks good for now!

By the numbers:
Miles traveled: 54
Total climbed: 1900 ft.
Lbs of chicken consumed: 6
Bull trout country signs: 4
Island resorts passed: 1

 There are a lot of bear statues in Montana.

 Ed coming downhill on 200. No raincoat, so it started raining shortly thereafter.

 Ominous. Mysterious.

 Somewhere along highway 200. Banks of the Blackfoot River.

Leaving Missoula this morning.

 Views from today.

Scenic lunch in Clearwater Junction.

Bears on the shower curtain, even.