Interesting Helena Houses

Headed back to Great Falls on the old Wolf Creek two lane. Only excitement was when a hornet rolled over the windshield and was sucked into my helmet (I was wearing my full-face helmet). It must have looked odd to see a biker hitting himself repeatedly in the chin, but he was stinging. Managed to squash him without crashing.

Morelli Bridge

Another view of Reeder's Alley and Morelli Bridge gateway to Reeder's Gulch and (in the day) potential riches from gold.

Reeder's Alley

Oldest intact area of Helena. Has interesting shops and two great restauants. Only in Montana would one drive 89 miles (like driving from New York Plaza New York City, New York to New Haven, Connecticut) to dine at a nice eatery; many here do.

Grandstreet Theater

Grandstreet Theater in Helena with an older Harley sitting in the weeds.

Original Lewis and Clark County Courthouse

Original county courthouse converted into an arts center.

Lewis and Clark County

Helena is also the county seat for Lewis and Clark county--license plate 5-A0000. Pictured here is the new county courthouse building.

Montana's State Capitol Building

The flower bed is composed of red geraniums with dusty miller's forming "Montana 2010." The equestrian statue is of Thomas Meagher (the county is named after him) an Irish expatriate, Civil war general, and first Territorial governor. Interesting individual worth "Googling." He drowned at Fort Benton, the evening of July 1, 1867, when he fell overboard into the Missouri.

Townsend houses

Townsend has a variety of Craftsman style houses. These two were located next to the courthouse. The spruce was on the lot line separating these two houses. Across the street were two more interesting examples; however they were directly against the sun. Pictures did not turn out.

Broadwater County

Townsend is the county seat for Broadwater county. License plate is 43-A0000. The sign on the front of the courthouse was constructed of strap iron. With the shadow it appears that one is seeing double. Townsend is a ranch/recreational town located on the south end of Canyon Ferry lake. It is a popular ice fishing spot in the winter; a boating attraction in the summer.

Meagher County

White Sulphur Springs is the county seat for Meagher County. License plates are: 47-A0000.

Plan the trips on weekends to be assured of a parking spot in front of the court house. This time there was a car parked smack in the middle. Mike suggested that I ride the KLR up the sidewalk; however a deputy sheriff was fueling up 30 yards away. While we were saddling up, he drove slowly by and waved. Discretion is the better part of valor.

Great Falls to White Sulphur Springs

Taken at the Riceville overlook looking west toward the Sluice Boxes. Belt creek is on the left and the Belt mountains are in the background. If it is a good snow year this area is great for XC skiing.





Departed Great Falls at 7:00 and headed south to White Sulphur Springs via Neihart. Rode the KLR to complete the break-in mileage. Mike rode his Harley.





On the hill going into the canyon, a wild turkey.
crossed the road and we had to slow for him. Which was fortunate because about 200 feet further a group of six Whitetail deer were standing on the edge of the road about to cross. Traffic was light. We met more motorcycles than cars before we arrived at White Sulphur Springs.