Helena to Kalispell

Day 4:  Helena, MT to Kalispell, MT (225 miles)

This was the final leg in our drive and we intentionally left this as our shortest day.  We got a late start and were northward bound by around 9AM.  The route was the most scenic route of our trip and we were treated to blue skies and nearly unlimited visibility.  This was the first day that we were really IN the mountains and the views were fantastic.   Our route was Helena to Garrison along Hwy 12, then north on I-90 just past Missoula, north on Hwy 93 to Poulson at the southern end of Flathead Lake, then Hwy 35 along the eastern shore of Flathead to Bigfork where KC's buddy "Big Ern" lives.  Big Ern's is where we dropped off the trailer and bikes.  From here, it was a quick trip to our hotel at Kalispell.

Before leaving Helena we stopped by an Auto Zone to see if we could get a reading on whatever fault codes were triggering the persistent "Check Engine" light we've been getting on and off since we left.  We got a reading, "Random Misfire", but no real insight to what was causing it and there was nothing we could do to eliminate the issue.  We drove on and had no problems from the truck.  KC is going to take the truck by the Ford dealer in the morning to see if he can solve the issue.

Just west of Helena on Hwy 12 we began climbing and at 6,000' we crested MacDonald Pass which offered a stupendous view of the valley stretching out below. 

As we pulled into a turnout to take a look at the view there was a guy in runners garb running up the highway.  No idea where he was going, but a 10 minutes later we passed him as he continued running up the mountain.  I could do that.

Once we came down from the pass Hwy 12 wound its way through gorgeous country with the either the Little Blackfoot River or the Clark's Fork River (not sure which) just off to right.  We commented to each other how much clearer the air was here than yesterday...Pilot KC described it as CAVU...ceiling and visibility unlimited.

At Garrison, MT we merged onto I-90 and headed for Missoula.   Here we were treated to views of the Blackfoot River for roughly 40 miles before arriving in Missoula.  There is no doubt in my mind that the Blackfoot is a first class trout stream although I saw almost no one fishing it.  As we approached Missoula we agreed that it was a good place to eat and I spotted a sign for Five Guys...BINGO!!!

Across the street from Five guys was a walking bridge that crossed the Blackfoot.  The walls of the bridge were chain link fence and they were covered with "Love Locks"...padlocks that couples, like Justin and Shelby, snap onto the chain link with their names to proclaim their undying love for each other.

As we looked over the edge of the bridge and into the water below I saw the unmistakable motion of a trout rising to take an aquatic insect, in this case a may fly, from the surface.  I showed KC where the fish were, and there were dozens of fish rising in this area, and explained what was going on.

From Missoula, which is a very attractive city, full of millennials and hipsters , we took Hwy 93 north towards Poulson and Flathead Lake.  The route took us through some beautiful ranches, wheat farms and wildlife management areas.  There were tons of potholes and I spotted swans on several of them.  Along the road the hay fields had the old time hay stacks that ranchers create with old wooden devices called "beaverslides".  We saw several of these beaverslides near the hay stacks which must have been 25' tall.

Beaverslide loading a hay stack

About halfway to Poulson we entered a valley with the Mission Mountain Range to our east.  Imposing granite peaks made a statement for sure.

Descending into Poulson we had our first glimpse of Flathead lake which I learned from Big Ern, is the largest lake west of the Mississippi.  We drove its entire length along the eastern edge and it is breathtaking. 

Along the hillside we noticed orchards, but they held no fruit.  Mile after mile these trees were everywhere.  Since Google IS MY FRIEND, I soon learned that these are Cherry orchards and to our great disappointment, the season is over.  We are already plotting to acquire a load of them next year.

At the north end of the lake we turned for Big Erns place.  His lovely wife Liisa was there to greet us along with their energetic dog Reese.  Soon enough Big Ern emerged from the woods on his tractor where he'd been moving trees for a neighbor. 

Big Ern does his best to slow cars down

We spent an hour or so with him catching up, swapping jokes and stories, unloaded the trailer and made plans to meet Ern and Liisa for dinner this week.

After a brief tour of Bigfork, a terribly cute place, we headed for our hotel...another Hampton Inn.

I'm dead tired and ready for bed.

CYA.....