Lewis and Clark Trail Back Home 1805 — 1806

Day 25: September 5th, 2001 Livingston — Billings

As usual I ask for a nice place for breakfast when checking out. I get two recommendations, whereas only Kedee’s is open today. It looks like this place is only visited by locals. Everyone knows everyone. Every time someone steps in a conversation starts with the people already here. I am happy with the breakfast and it is really tasty.

I pay half past eight and drive on to the post office. This time it is open. The clerk gets real big eyes when he realizes that I need stamps for nineteen postcards to Germany. It is getting really expensive. I have to pay almost $15 for all the stamps. But that’s what you do for friends…

I finish my stop at the gas station around a quarter to nine. Now I am ready for the next part of my trail. From now on I follow the Yellowstone River all the way to the Missouri. The mountains are left behind. Only some hills might be in the way. I could drive on I–90 all the way to Billings. But as usual I prefer the smaller roads.

Old Clyde Park Road, MT

I leave Livingston on Old Clyde Park Road. It wasn’t easy to find the right exit out of the city. But eventually I made it. I follow this backroad to Highway 89. After a short drive on the highway I want to leave on Convict Grade Road, another nice backroad.

Yellowstone River, Convict Grade Road, MT

Yellowstone River, Convict Grade Road, MT

Convict Grade Road, MT

Convict Grade Road, MT

But I miss the exit and I suddenly cross the Yellowstone. I have to turn around and give it another try. The second run is more successful and I discover the right exit. I follow Convict Grade Road now all the way to N Yellowstone Trail Road.

Deer at N Yellowstone Trail Road, MT

N Yellowstone Trail Road, MT

Permit Gate, N Yellowstone Trail Road, MT

Unfortunately there is not really much to see of the Yellowstone River on this backroad. But at least I am not where the main traffic runs. I am able to follow the backroad for a very long distance. But at the point where the road is down to a dashed line in my map the road ends at a gate.

Deer at N Yellowstone Trail Road, MT

N Yellowstone Trail Road, MT

N Yellowstone Trail Road, MT

There is only a very short distance to go. But for this portion of the road I would need a permit from somewhere. Great! Seeing all the deer along the road does not really compensate for that. I have to drive all the way back to Duck Creek Road.

Now I am able to get to the other side of the river. All in all this detour took more than an hour. Not really great when I look at my already tight schedule. It is also pretty cloudy and I don’t want to drive on the backroads in the rain. The drive two years ago on the backroads is still burned in my memory.

I cross the Yellowstone River and follow on Highway 191 the river banks all the way to Big Timber. There is my next try to be back on the backroads. I follow Highway 191 over the river and turn onto RD7. I turn to the south on RD7A. But I am again not lucky. After a short drive I arrive at the entrance of a big ranch and I have to turn around again.

This deducts another hour from my schedule. Back in Big Timber I follow the Frontage Road as far as possible along the river banks. The next try to be on back roads is on RD8. I cross the Yellowstone once again, but I also have to turn around soon.

In the meantime the bad weather has reached me. Looks like I will have a chance to use my 4WD. I still follow the Frontage Road to Reed Point.

Trees Road, MT

Now I cross the Yellowstone River once again, this time on Trees Road. But like all the other times before I am not able to follow the river banks on the backroads. I have to turn around again due to private property. Now I am following the Frontage Road and Old US 10 to Columbus.

In Columbus is my planned stopover to complete my Country & Western outfit. The Montana Silversmiths are located here and they have a factory outlet store at this location. Their accessories are sold all over the country. The buckle and my bolo tie, which I bought three years ago in Ft. Worth, TX, were also produced here. Now I have the chance to buy directly at the factory. I am able to find some real nice articles which are even more than 50 percent off the regular price. Additionally I buy a Montana shirt. I finished my shopping after almost an hour — and with a bunch of dollars less in my pocket. But everything I have found here is worth every dollar.

Yellowstone River, MT

I follow again the Frontage Road and Old US 10 to Park City. When Clark was riding along the Yellowstone he was in search for some trees big enough to build canoes or boats. But it took him until he reached Park City. There he found some cottonwood suitable for his plan. He cut two trees for one boat which he burned like the Indians did.

This way he caved the trees and he put on some timber from side to side and a platform on top. It looked similar to a catamaran of today. Most of his men continued the journey on these boats. Four soldiers had the task to ride the horses over to the Mandan villages.

I continue my journey along the Frontage Road and some other small roads paralleling the Interstate until I reach Billings. My destination for today is the local Motel 6 where I arrive around 5pm. It looks like I reached the absolute peak, because there are already three ahead of me. But after 10 minutes it’s my turn to check in. This time I am lucky and get a room downstairs!

After unloading my truck I drive to Walmart to fill up my water supplies. I have finished shopping around half past six and drive to the Outback Steakhouse. This is along the way back to my motel. I order my usual 12 ounce Outback Special steak. After a great dinner I drive back to my motel to get prepared for the next day.