2021

This year's plan was to run south of the north border. We will be heading to South Dakota, through Big Horn National Forest, up to Glacier National Park, and then back through North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

The South of the North Border Tour

June 4th - 5th (Travel Days)

We left St Louis with 2 travel days ahead of us. First stop was in Sioux City, IA and then on to HIll City, SD the next day. We have stayed in the Black Hills area in 2015 (Sturgis rally), 2018 on the way back from Alaska during the Sturgis Rally, 2020 (Aug 7th in blog) and now this year, 2021.

June 6th - 9th In the Black Hills

June 6th - Our first motorcycle ride of the trip was the Needles highway through Custer Park (as seen in other blog posts from other years) and on to Iron Mountain road with a stop for lunch at the Blue Bell Lodge. Trip loop was 103 miles.

The Needles Highway is part of Highway 87 along the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway and is located in Custer State Park. The Needles Highway stretches from the junction of Highway 16A in the east to Sylvan Lake in the west. This view is getting ready to drive through Needles Eye Tunnel.

Look closely through the tunnel, you can view Mount Rushmore from afar.

Buffalos of the Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Road Drive.

If you get the chance, take the Old Hill City Road between Keystone and Hill City, SD where you cross of the railroad tracks no less that 14 times.

June 7th - Spearfish Canyon & Deadwood Ride

Another great day for a motorcycle ride. Today we headed up to Spearfish Canyon and then to Deadwood for lunch and through Nemo, SD.

Riding in Spearfish Canyon

June 8th Needles Highway

We have seen the YouTube video of a big coach bus going through Needles tunnel, but that’s nothing like seeing it happen live. This video was shot in a little under 9 minutes, but was edited to a little over 2 minutes.

Weather radar picture of incoming storm in the Black Hills.

June 9th Travel Day to Big Horn National Forest

Coming out of the mountains into the lowlands was very warm, 95 to 100 degrees. Arriving at Tie Flume campground at nearly 8300 feet was a nice reprieve from the hot temperatures.

The morning after the storms in Hill City, SD. Next stop Big Horn National Forest.

Tie Flume Campground - Spot #20

Big Horn Scenic Byway.

June 10th R & R Day

In the morning we walked along the South Fork of Tongue River. (lars drone photo) and then enjoyed the cool weather, high of 74 and low of 31 degrees. Overnight there were big, wet snowflakes and light dusting of snow in the morning.

June 11th Out and About

Went to Bear Lodge for lunch and some internet connection, then traveled down Big Horn Scenic Byway (US 14 towards Sheridan) to check out other campgrounds and look out over the valley floor from the roadside Sand Turnout. Checked out Eagle View Inn Lodge for dinner and then on to moose watching. (DRONE Vid, Sand turnout PICT).

Sand Turnout looking toward Dayton, WY

Beautiful sunrise along the South Fork of the Tongue River

Mouse watching along Hwy 14 near the Sheeley Creek

June 12th R & R Day at the campground

Today we did sightseeing via drone shots.

look up info on Tie Flume and the area to put int blog

South Tongue River off of Copper Creek Road

Sky view of Tie Flume campground and South Tongue River.

June 13th Jeep Day

We went over to Dead Swede campground and scouted out some potential spots for the next visit. We also took Red Grave over Woodchuck Pass to see the wildlife and view the lakes. (add Drone footage).

The Dead Swede Campground is named for The two graves that are marked “Unknown.” A historical data file of the U.S. Forest Service compiled in 1951 asserts those two graves are those of itinerant timber workers whose identity has been lost. A ranger contacted several of the old timber workers who were there at the time, and while they remembered the deaths, they were unable to provide details regarding identity or circumstances of the deaths, but according to the campfire story, one of the Swedes had a case of cabin fever (stir crazy )and slammed an axe into the other Swede's head ~ true story?

George B. Henton, the other gravestone in the campground is the only headstone on the site that positively identifies the occupant of the burial plot. The circumstances of his death were reported in The Sheridan Post Feb. 25, 1910. Henton had been a logger working at the Woodrock sawmill, but had abruptly quit his job two weeks prior and had gone to Ranchester, where he spent his life savings on a drinking spree. He then made his way back up the mountain and returned to the tie camp in poor physical health. He was unable to procure any additional liquor there and “appeared to be a nervous wreck.”

Henton, who was approximately 50 years old, approached the company doctor about obtaining some laudanum, a tincture that contained powdered opium, the era’s equivalent of morphine. Suspecting Henton intended to overdose, the doctor instead prepared another solution that was harmless. When Henton realized the preparation was not going to work for his intended means, he inflicted self-harm with an axe. Read the full story at thesheridanpress.com

June 14th R & R Day

We were suppose to leave for Jumping Creek campground near Neihart, MT but being the temperatures were warmer than where we were we decided to stay put for another day. We enjoyed the music, breeze and cold drinks.

June 15th Travel Day Big Horn National Forest to Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest

Heat warnings posted for lowlands like Billings, MT. (Temperatures 100+). As we came through Billings, MT we took Hwy 3 which is just above the Rim Rock Road and the view over the city and parks are worth the drive.

Lars in his happy place at Jumping Creek Campground in the Lewis & Clark National Forest.

Leaving Big Horn National Forest.

The local radio station announced there was a wildfire that started over the weekend and a search & rescue helicopter went down in the area of the fire today. This may be what we saw on our way to the campground.

June 16th - 2nd Travel Day: Glacier National Park Next - Many Glacier Campground

Heading to Glacier Park on Hwy 44 near Frances Lake.

Many Glacier Road under construction for most of the 12 miles.

View from our campspot.

June 17th Swiftcurrent Lake Trail

We haven't hiked in awhile so we started with a short, then on to the medium and finally a long hike.

In the first 1/2 mile of the hike we encountered a grizzly bear 🐻. An older gentleman announced "bear on the trail" many times and we proceeded to step off the trail and let him pass. He was probably within 6 feet of Lars. He came up from behind on the trail and made eye contact with each of us but kept walking.

After returning from the hike and at our camp spot, the hour park rangers came by to tell us to stay by our rv, they were trying to usher a moose and her 10 day old calf across our campground loop path to the woods. We were able to get a video and it's below under the June 22nd blog entry.

Mountain morning glow from the early morning sun.

Bear on the Swiftcurrent Lake Loop.

June 18th Jeep Day - Chief Mountain and Shelburne Lake

Today we went up to the Canadian border (which was closed due to Covid restrictions) and took some drone shots of Chief Mountain and Shelbourne Lake outside the park.

View from Many Glacier Road heading back to camp.

June 19th Grinnell Lake Hike

About 16 years ago on our Northwest Loop we (Melina, Dennis, Lars, and I) hiked the Grinnell Lake loop where we saw two grizzly bears and the hanging bridge just before seeing the Grinnell Lake. Today Lars and I did the same loop with no wildlife in our path, but still a beautiful hike. We returned to the campsite just before the evening rain set in.

Grennell Lake Hike map: The red route is about 8 miles round trip from the Many Glacier Campground.

Hang bridge where we saw the grizzly bears in 2015 (which can be seen in the slideshow)

Snack time at Grinnell Lake

Grinnell Lake and Glacier view

Up by the hang bridge you can take a little side hike up to Hidden Falls.

Upper Hidden Falls

Lake Josephine

June 20th Father's Day

We went into the town of Babb, MT to get internet connection and to video chat with Melina and Lars sister in Sweden. It was also the morning after it rained and which provided some nice pictures of the clouds around the mountains.

Looking toward Mt. Grinnell as the clouds lift and along the Swiftcurrent creek.

Driving toward the town of St. Marys, Mt in Glacier National Park.

June 21st Bullhead Lake Hike

Today we saw the back of the peak of where we are camping, hiked to Red Rock Lake and Falls, and then onto Bullhead Lake. We saw a bull moose on the way back the trailhead. (lg video clip 18 sec)

Hike path up to Bullhead Lake, approximately 8 miles roundtrip from the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn parking lot trailhead. The hike is part of the Continental Divide and Swiftcurrent Pass Trail. This map show all 3 days of hiking: blue trail is Bullhead Lake, Green is Grinnell Lake, and the red/orange is the Swiftcurrent Lake loop.

Bullhead lake with glacier views and a nice lunch spot.

Red Rock Lake

Lower Red Rock Falls

Upper Red Rock Falls

Bullhead Lake with North Swiftcurrent Glacier and Mountain in the background

Swing bridge on the Bullhead hike

Heading for the mountains on this day hike.

Trying to stay agile crossing the creek:)

June 22nd R & R Day

This was the last full day in Glacier National Park so we hung around the campground. and got another video of the momma moose and her calf being ushered out to the river in order to keep campers safe.

June 23rd & 24th Travel Days

Our travels sent us across Montana on Hwy 2, a road less traveled, that ran parallel to the Canadian border as we traveled east. We overnighted in Trafton Park in the city of Malta, MT. The little public use park had water and bathrooms with a walking trail for five dollars a night.

As seen on CBS Sunday Morning we embraced our inner tourist and saw the Geographical Center of North America, Rugby, ND on our second day of travel.

Trafton Park camp spot with the ballpark and full moon as the backdrop.

Geographical Center of North America

In January 1931, a US Geological Survey determined the center of North America in Pierce County, ND. The center is marked with a monumentis a pyramid form in shape and the base is a heart-shaped foundation. It was built across the highway, northwest of its present location. The structure was moved in July 1971 when Hwy 2 was made in to a four-lane highway. Read more at www.roadsideamerica.com

June 25th Eastbay Campground - Rain Day

Evening photo of Devil's Lake from the boat ramp at the campground.

June 26th Travel Day to Elk Lake Campground

Elk Lake Campground near Hoffmann, MN. Located on the southern tip of Elk Lake, this city owned campground has 26 sites. A public watercraft landing and beach are adjacent to the campground.

June 27th Kensington Runestone Park

When we arrived at the campground we realized that it was late Saturday afternoon and the plan was to see the Runestone Museum to see the controversial Kensington Rune Stone. That didn't happen on Saturday since they were only open 8 more minutes and we were nearly 30 minutes away from the museum and it was closed on Sunday and Monday. So plan B was to take the motorcycle on Sunday to Kensington Runestone Park and stay until Tuesday morning to see the museum. We had a nice ride around the area and also go to see the place where the runestone was taken.

What is the Kensington Runestone? The Runestone which is actually in the museum is a historical artifact enduring a mystery based on its origin. This intriguing artifact was discovered in 1898, clutched in the roots of an aspen tree on the Olof Öhman farm near Kensington, MN (15 miles southwest of Alexandria). The Runestone has led researchers from around the world and across the centuries on an exhaustive quest to explain how a runic artifact, dated 1362, could show up in North America. It is believed the Vikings (norsemen) inhabited the area way before Christopher Columbus "discovered" America.

Lars with the Kensington Runestone replica at the park.

This tablet was placed in the Kensington Runestone Park and claims to be the spot that the runestone from 1362 was found.

In the city of Alexandria, MN that take pride on the being the birthplace of America.

June 28th Lunch in Alexandria

Along the way we have had the opportunity to connect with many people that quickly became friends and today we met John and Bev for lunch in Alexandria, MN. We met them on a hike looking at a bull moose on the Bullhead Lake hike. So much fun to share trip stories over a nice lunch.

June 29th Travel Day to LaCrosse, WI

We arrive at Pettibone Resort on the West Channel of the Mississippi. What a nice camp spot on the river with eagles to watch in the early morning.

June 30th & July 1st Motorcycle Days

Both days had great weather for taking the motorcycle out and checking out the Great River Road of Wisconsin as well as traveling through Bluff Country in southeast Minnesota. The area had valleys along the Mississippi River and and limestone bluffs.

Not quite the same as Stockholm, Sweden... Population 66 in Stockholm, MN.

The Mindoro Cut in Wisconsin is the second deepest cut built by hand in the western hemisphere. Not only is it one of the deepest cuts built by hand, but it's touted as the oldest functional cut, which hasn't been improved upon.