Mountainous Montana
we're just doing our own thing
In Montana the thing to do is what's best for you.  Don't trouble yourself with consideration or the safety of others.  Or at least that's the way it would seem from time to time.  Like many places, a large number of people drive faster than their ability to control their vehicle if the unexpected should be encountered, like a cyclist traveling in the same direction.  Another reality of cycling in Montana is the frontal assault.  That's when one oncoming motorist passes another as if you, the cyclist, don't exist or are not considered oncoming traffic.  For whatever reasons, I did not see such unpleasant behavior in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, or Wyoming.

Montana is also a wonderful place to cycle.  In fact, I suspect that if more people cycled these roads more often that traffic would adapt, become more courteous, and make at least token efforts for the safety of others.  Montana just needs more cyclists like Roland, Jeanne, Dick, Nora, Mark, Griff, Zoe, Jack, and myself.  So come on out and experience the mountain joy.

On the whole, I wouldn't recommend the route I took from West Yellowstone to Ennis to Townsend to Lincoln to Missoula to Seeley Lake to Big Fork to Apgar inside Glacier National Park.  Although the alternatives are not necessarily better.  The sections that were the least fun were from Townsend to Helena and Missoula to Seeley Lake.  The best parts were from Seeley Lake to Big Fork and West Yellowstone to Ennis. 
The Campfire Lodge is about 15 miles north of West Yellowstone and is a great place to eat.  It also looks like a great place to stay. Mark pumps up the tires on their bikes while Nora looks on.  Nora, Mark, Zoe, and Griff are biking from Virginia to Oregon.
On my way from Ennis to Townsend I ran into Hawaiian-style bicycle rest stops. These rest stops were set up for cyclists on the Montana ride to support AIDS research for a vaccine.
Oops.  Over my shoulder is the road I traveled.  Flesher Pass is a wonderful way to cross the continental divide heading north and west from Helena.  If you try this, bring plenty of water. Looking back from the pass toward Helena and the eastern side of the divide.  The route takes a quiet road that transitions from high plains to the Mountains - in only 30 miles.
Looking forward from the pass toward the western, wetter side of the divide. The owner of the campground on the west end of Lincoln feeds the deer each morning.
I had lovely coffee conversation with Diane (left), Vicki, and Kathy (not pictured) in Ovando.  Roland has toured all fifty states by bicycle and stopped to have a soda with me.  His wife Jeanne is also a touring cyclist.
I had the best treat possible in Missoula.  My wife Pat flew out to spend the weekend with me.  Circumstance allowed Jack to join us for dinner. Dick Webber is an accomplished touring cyclist and intends to keep doing rides that are a month long or longer for as long as he can.