Deer Lodge & Beaverhead Co.

Deer Lodge County Courthouse

Anaconda, MT

Pop. 9,417 Established 1864

The Highway 1 loop from Phillipsburg to Anaconda was terrific. I arrived in town about 5PM. An old factory town, Anaconda was showing some signs of wear and tear. The upper dome of the Courthouse is in need of restoration. I would be a shame to see it deteriorate and have to be taken off. I think this is one of the more beautiful courthouses in Mt. I took a break at the rest stop near I-15, laid on the grass and took a short nap before mounting up for the run to Dillon, my planned camping spot for the night.

Beaverhead Co. Courthouse

Dillon, MT

Population: 9,202 - Founded 1864

After scoping out the KOA and camping sites in Dillon, I decided to push down Hiway 41 towards Twin Bridges. Glad I did even though it was the deer dodging time of day. I pulled into Twin Bridges about 8:30 and had to find a nesting spot before dark. Wow, did I ever find a spot! It was one of the highlights of my trip.

My Mountian

Can you see
the ART?
Kinda looks like a
security scribble for
web site verification.
Ok. The hill in front
cuts of the legs of the R.

Powell and Granit Co.

Powell Co. Courthouse


Deer Lodge, MT


Pop. 7,180 Est. 1901





August 28, 09. After a two week hiatus, I hit the road for the South West section of Montana. I zipped down the interstate to Helena, rode 12 to Garrison, then I-90 to Deer Lodge. Deer Lodge in Powell Co. is home to the state Prison. I think they might count the prison inmates as part of the population. Nice warm day, lots of traffic as folks were taking advantage of the last week of recreation before school starts.



Back tracking West on I-90 to Drummond I picked up Highway #1 for the gorgeous ride to Phillipsburg in Granite Co.

Granite County Courthouse
Phillipsburg, MT
Pop. 2,830. Established in 1893

Phillipsburg has reinvented itself as a destination attraction for visitors. The Sweet Shop is a must see stop for you chock-o-holics. I fueled up on some tasty milk chocolate. As I was loading the camera gear up, I notices the ski hill nearby had carved my initials on the mountain. It's a stretch but if you saw my handwriting you would
swear I wrote it myself.

Wheatland Co.

Wheatland County Courthouse

Harlowton, MT

Population 2,259 - Established 1917

Harlowton is an interesting place. Tons of railroad history and has a kick butt rodeo in the summer. Hit the road after snapping the photo. Wanted to get home and had two hours of road time to get there.

Musselshell & Golden Valley Co.

Musselshell County Courthouse - Roundup, MT

Pop. 4,497 in 2000

Established 1911

Cousin Craig and I parted in Billings, and I rode North on 87 towards the Bull Mountains. A ride of scenic contrasts. As I approached the foothills, it started to sprinkle, so I pulled over and put on the rain gear. A couple on a Gold Wing from Nevada passed me and made gestures like "What? A little sprinkle tough guy?" About five miles down the road it started to rain hard, and I passed them along the road huddled under what looked to be a plastic garbage bag, digging through a bag no doubt looking for rain gear. Roundup is a pretty town. Loved the bronze sculptures in a well kept garden offset in the front of the courthouse. Turned on to Hiway 12 for the 36 mile run to Ryegate. Loved the ride. Kept the rain gear on.

Golden

Valley County Courthouse

Ryegate, MT

Pop. 1,042 Est. 1920

Looks like I had a few water spots on the camera lens. Some one tried to tell me they were spirit spots, but after cleaning the lens I can verify they were rain drop spots.. albeit very spirited ones. Met Cindy Ceiluch and her assistant at the gas station. Cindy was the wedding photographer at Bobby and Kendall's wedding, and she and I had worked together at KRTV. Sun had broken up the clouds, and warmed up considerably. Fun ride along the sandstone cliffs on the way to Harlowton. Snakes were sunning themselves on the road. Always concerns me that I might get hit one and it wraps arounds my foot and bites me. The things you think about at 70 MPH.

Big Horn & Treasure Co.

Big Horn County Courthouse -
Hardin, MT

Population 12,671 in 2000 - Est. 1913



Cousin Craig put me up for the night in Hardin. Kinda funny, I ran in to him at the Hardin gas station, so I was able to follow him home, which was good as it was dark, and I had not been to his home in years. We left early the next morning for a dual ride to Treasure Co. To this point I had not ridden with a partner. New rules for riding.Its so tempting to ride side by side, but that can lead to trouble. It was a breezy but sunshine filled day.

Treasure County Courthouse - Hysham, MT

Population 861 - Established 1919



Here I am looking at my wallet. The weather was warm. Got lots of looks from the locals peeking out the window to see what two men on bikes were doing in front of the courthouse. Really cool museum and movie theater in Hysham. I'd come back just to experience a film here.








How cool is this. Yucca Theater - Hysham, MT

Yellowstone Co. and a Wedding!

Yellowstone County Courthouse - Billings, MT

Population in 2000 - 129,352 - Established 1893

The plan today was to wander down to Sheridan, Wyoming for Bobby and Kendall's wedding, and stay with my cousin Craig in Hardin that night. Craig had recently purchased a Vulcan and we talked about taking a short ride on Sunday.

Hit a bit of rain just over the MT/WY border, and looked like it could be a wet wedding that was planned for out door. I had arranged for my wedding clothes to be taken to Sheridan by another guest.

The weather cooperated and the wedding came off with a hitch!