Wilson Price Hunt Trail (‘Astorians’) 1811 — 1812

Day 14: August 26th, 2006 Baker — Gillette

Today will be a long day. Therefore I am really happy, that I woke up so early. But the motel opens not before 8am in order to check out. So I leave first for breakfast. But also for breakfast, there is not a huge choice. Finally I choose Jane’s Home Cabin. This is again one of these typical American small town cafes. However, it is one with the worst coffee service, which I have ever seen. A bit disappointed I pay and drive to a gas station. Around 8am I drive back to my motel to finally check out.

Because I am so super happy to be eventually back on the road, I completely miss the exit to my Highway 7 and I continue on Highway 12. This costs me now another half an hour. But then I finally made it to the correct route.

Highway 7, MT

Highway 7, MT

On Highway 7 I travel now these 35 miles back to Ekalaka.

There I turn onto Highway 323.

Hammond Rd, Boxelder Creek, MT

On Hammond Rd I finally have gravel under my wheels again and I cross Boxelder Creek. Then I turn onto Ridge Road.

Pronghorn, Ridge Rd, MT

Sheep, Ridge Rd, MT

Ridge Rd, MT

Cattle, Ridge Rd, MT

Ridge Rd, MT

Ridge Rd, MT

Exceptionally, I pass a herd of sheep on Ridge Road, before I once again must drive carefully through a herd of cattle. All in all I am a guest on this private property and I don’t want to put stress on the animals due to my driving.

Chalk Buttes Rd, MT

Chalk Buttes Rd, MT

Chalk Buttes Rd, MT

I continue on Chalk Buttes Road.

Powderville Rd, MT

Powderville Rd, MT

Partridge, Powderville Rd, MT

Powderville Rd, MT

Powderville Rd, MT

On Powderville Road, a partridge runs in front of my car, which gives me a nice opportunity for pictures.

Ekalaka Rd, MT

Ekalaka Rd, MT

Ekalaka Rd, MT

Ekalaka Rd, MT

This time I am really lucky with my backroads. Although a lot of these roads run through private property, I am allowed to drive there. Also the landscape is really great. Only the roads itself are sometimes real bad wash board roads due to the longitudinal ribs.

Powderville East Rd, MT

Powderville East Rd, MT

Powderville East Rd, MT

Pronghorn, Powderville East Rd, MT

On Powderville East Road I drive over a nice little wooden bridge.

Big Powder River East Rd, MT

Little Powder River, Big Powder River East Rd, MT

The Big Powder River East Road is still gravel, but already much wider. I cross the Little Powder River on a beautiful wooden and steel bridge combination.

Highway 212, MT

Then I drive on Highway 212 once again over the Little Powder River.

Horse, Highway 544, MT

Highway 544, MT

Highway 544, MT

Soon after that, I turn onto Highway 544, which is again a gravel road. On this road I continue, until I reach once again a Ridge Road.

Ridge Rd N, MT

Ridge Rd N, MT

Ridge Rd N, MT

Ridge Rd N, MT

Ridge Rd, MT

This Ridge Road N is a bit more hilly than the last one and offers again a great landscape.

At the state line from Montana to Wyoming, the road changes its name to Rocky Point and Ridge Road.

CoRd 145/Rockypoint and Ridge Rd, WY

CoRd 145/Rockypoint and Ridge Rd, WY

When I slowly approach the area of Gillette, I am forced to loop around in quite a distance, because I am finally stopped by private property.

Deer, Rockypoint Rd, WY

Deer, Rockypoint Rd, WY

But therefore I encounter so much deer around here as never before! And I am able to approach them pretty close, before they start to flee. I definitely have to take this opportunity for some nice shots with my camera.

Jenkins Rd, WY

Pronghorn, Jenkins Rd, WY

On Jenkins Road I have to drive once again through a small cattle herd.

Unfortunately I was forced to leave my originally planned route. So I am continuing now on D Rd/CoRd 68, before I try to reach my original route again via LA Ranch Rd and Deadman Rd.

D Rd/CoRd 68, WY

D Rd/CoRd 68, WY

D Rd/CoRd 68, WY

Pronghorn, D Rd/CoRd 68, WY

But that does not work out. Therefore I drive on D Rd/CoRd 68 a bit more to the east than on my original route in southerly direction to I–90.

Then I continue in direction of Gillette. Unfortunately there is absolutely no gas station on my way, although I have reached the Interstate and I am driving parallel to it. But the village, where I hoped to get some gas, had no gas station.

Literally with the last drops in my gas tank I reach the city lines of Gillette and take the very first gas station. I just put in 5 gallons, which should be enough until tomorrow morning…

Absolutely relieved, I continue my drive and look for my destination of today: The Motel 6 in Gillette. Around half past seven I check in and even receive a room on first floor. My dinner will be at “The Chop House”, which is an old hotel in downtown with an first class restaurant on first floor. The dinner is outstanding, also the service. However, the price is accordingly. After having plenty of food, I drive back to my motel happy and dog tired, where I immediately fall into my bed — this day today was really very long…