America's Favorite Pastimes

Rider/Reviewers: J.C. & Shawna

Have you ever really explored the place where you live?  Growing up in southeastern Montana, we were stunned by what we discovered, that we never knew existed, in a great bike ride through our own back yard—that’s back yard Montana style!

My name is Shawna, and my husband, J.C. and I recently toured a wonderful portion of Montana on an Electra Glide Classic, courtesy of Beartooth Harley Davidson/Buell’s rental program.   Owner Barry Usher met us at the shop and got us lined out on the weekend’s agenda and made sure that we had a bike that was up to the trip. Funny thing is, J.C. grew up in Montana but on this trip, we went to places he’d never been before! We started out in Billings for lunch at George Henry’s where J.C. ordered a juicy mushroom & swiss and I had a salmon filet on a bed of greens - very tasty food, great service, and friendly atmosphere!

Next we were off to the Western Heritage Center. The facts about eastern Montana available through diaries and photos carried you back to the time and place—to the wild horses of the Pryor Mountains, to wonderful displays of Crow Indian Artifacts, and to the diaries of the Bozeman Trail.

We checked into our hotel, the Best Western Clock Tower Inn, and were very happy to discover how easily it was to unload our gear.  We were able to pull right up and settle into the beautiful room we would call home for the night.   Before we knew it, it was time to get ready for the Billings Mustangs game. I just love the smell of fresh cut grass and hotdogs! They have an amazing field with lots of seating and plenty of standing room around the outfield fence. And the best part is, they beat the Casper Ghosts!  After the game, the coach of the Mustangs walked through and signed a few balls.  That was definitely a treat!

The next morning we loaded up the bike and headed to Broadus. The heavily wooded area and rolling hills made for a great ride.  We rolled into Broadus and found the Judge’s Chambers Restaurant. This was the home of Judge Ashton Jones and has been since restored by the new owners.  And boy does Chef Ginger really know her stuff! She grows most all her vegetables and herbs, including the grapes she used in her grape bread. We had a fabulous meal made from her homemade pasta and sauces—a four-cheese stuffed portabella mushroom cap topped with parmesan cheese and a white sauce, and J.C. had spinach stuffed ravioli topped with sautéed shrimp and a white cream sauce. Very delicious food – a must eat!

Across the street in the old Chevy car garage, was a huge gift shop, the Copper Moon. The owner, Laura Lee, says she has the recipe for world’s best milkshake, and she isn’t kidding! I had the mandarin orange-flavored shake, and J.C. had a strawberry cheesecake shake. Wow, thick and creamy…yum! Inside the gift shop she had several rooms divided up and each had a different theme. Each color coordinated with the next, and she demonstrated very detailed decorating. I loved how she took a smooth wall and painted it to look like brick, very creative!

We were really looking forward to the fair in Miles City, especially the Terri Clark concert. All of the events were in full swing and we were right there having a ball. Outside, in the fresh air with a grand stand full of fans, Terri thrilled the crowd with songs like “Better Things to Do” and “Gypsy Boots,” which I really enjoyed. We also enjoyed her friend and special guest Anita Cochran, whose song “What if I Said” was a big hit. What can we say…great music and great entertainers at the Miles City fair!

We ended the night by stopping down on Main Street in Miles City to check out The Bison and Montana Bar. Both are located in some cool old buildings with wood carved fixtures. There was a roll-over jukebox to select some good old songs from.

The next morning we headed to the 600 Café for a home-cooked breakfast. Located on the corner in downtown Miles City we were treated to some piping hot coffee, freshly brewed iced tea, delicious chicken-fried steak, crispy hash browns and eggs. Believe me—no one should leave this place hungry! Comfy booths, tables, or a row of swivel stools to sit at, the Café had great silver tiles for a back splash with chicken décor.

For our last stop before we headed out of town, we went to the Range Riders Museum. This is a great place to see arrowheads, shot gun shells and bullets, all collected from the Yellowstone River and surrounding areas.  There is also a large display of guns donated by the Clark family at the museum, and seemingly endless rooms full of history, photos, and artifacts of the area.

Our ride from Miles City to Billings was my favorite because when we got to Forsyth we were able to jump onto the frontage road and drive to Hysham. We saw some wonderful old farm buildings and fields of snap peas, corn, and sugar beets. We also saw a field of alfalfa where they must have had about 15 wooden bee hives all painted different to collect honey. The Yellowstone River was fascinating too. We did stop along the way and got water from a natural spring.

This trip was truly an eye-opener. We went places that we would have never visited before and enjoyed the variety of activities. It is a great reminder that no matter where you are, you can find a treasure within. Some of the best and most interesting places can seem hidden, and to discover and explore them was fascinating. This is definitely one of the most memorable weekends we’ve ever had!

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