HARRIMAN STATE PARK TO DILLON, MT

The last day in Henry’s Lake, I headed 25 miles south to Harriman State Park Wildlife Sanctuary (without the dogs, who are only allowed in the parking lots). I took a trail along the Henry’s Fork River for a bit, then decided to be brave and do the 5-mile loop around Silver Lake, with its many waterfowl and beautiful marshy meadows.

It was the perfect day for a hike: sunny, but with a cool breeze, and the loop turned out to be mostly gentle hills or flat. I was rewarded with sightings of Western Tanagers, Pine Siskins, many ducks and pelicans, and a small flock of Wilson’s Phalaropes.

Back at Henry’s Lake, my evening vigils to see wildlife finally paid off, as I saw two young moose cows fairly close by, in the meadows below camp. The small ponds and meadows with their willow thickets are a haven for lots of birds and animals, including moose, mule and white-tail deer, pronghorns, foxes, muskrats, beavers and otters, ducks, pelicans, and sandhill cranes. Early on the last morning before I left, I heard an eerie call, and realized it was the cranes calling as they left to feed for the day.

One last shot from Henry’s Lake—I could not resist. People actually ask them if they pull their rig with that car!

Then it was off to meet Russ in Dillon, MT. The way north into Montana was an angler’s paradise, and catering to fishermen was clearly big business in the area.

I stopped for lunch in Virginia City, and ended up touring a lot of the restored buildings, with their recreations of businesses of the mid to late 1800s. Most businesses were dog friendly, so the boys had a nice outing (travel days can be very confining for them) and they got to stay with me on the outside dining deck of a local pub while I had a burger and fries (shared with them, of course)

Ran into Russ, chatting with two other bicyclists, just 15 miles from my campground in Dillon. By then, the wind was howling, and it took Russ a long time to make that last 15 miles. He is mighty tired of headwinds. I remind him that he gets tailwinds all the way home, but he is not appeased.

I gotta say, Montana has the best clouds!

So, then Friday…

I was so sad and angry over the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade that I’m afraid I was quite unbearable to Russ (he agrees with me, but the issue doesn’t hit him personally). I finally took off with Moe to find the nearest trail, preferably a strenuous one, leaving Scooby to nap and Russ to fret over his own shit. It was a good diversion. I never cease to be amazed at the profusion of wildflowers on these dry hills.