Monday 16th May:

New tyres today and so very happy.

I fitted Hankook Dynapro Mud Terrain (MTRT03) 37x12.5R17’s on some 17” rims I had been carrying on the roof rack for some time, whilst waiting to get the most from the XZL’s.

Now fitted, the vehicle tracks well, rides much quieter and smother and with a noticeable improvement in braking with more rubber on the ground. Also much better in the wet.

For anyone in Australia I have a pallet of these rims (17” x 8”) on a ship arriving mid June. USA rated for 113kph and 1585Kg and (USA) DOT stamped. Changing the dual wheels of the Canter or Isuzu 4x4 to  super singles converts it to a vehicle suitable for off road use. Dual wheels are useless off road !

Most have been pre-sold but I do have 2 sets of 5 still available.

Rims only, so you can choose BFG KM2’s (124Q = 1600Kg@160kph), the Hankooks (129Q =1800Kg@160kph), or your choice of tyre that is 37 x 12.5 R17.

.....e-mail me at [email protected]

p.s. They track the same front to rear.

Also replaced both Fullriver AGM house batteries that had collapsed. Very disappointed in their performance. Now using another brand which I will test over time.

So pleased to have left Billings,  was an expensive day!

Land ‘owned’ by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management), this is marked on most state highway maps, you can freely camp on.

He also kindly gave us the Montana Fishing Access Sites book that lists all the fishing sites, and at many of these one can camp. The book details precise directions to these out of way places and the amenities and if one can camp or for only day use only.

Taking advantage of this new information tonight is a Fishermen’s Camp, this time on the Yellowstone River.

Local farm house on way to camp.

Camp 90:   Yellowstone River Fisherman’s  Camp

Cost $Zero

N45* 59.862 W108* 07.790

Today: 222 Kms 

Total: 21,500 Kms.

Tuesday 17th May:

Today was an American History lesson day.

Started with a visit to Pompey’s Pillar where the Lewis and Clarke expedition of 1806 passed this way on their exploration of North America.  Cpt William Clark engraved his name in the sandstone walls as had done many since, and where the earlier peoples had also left hundreds of markings, and petroglyphs.

Clark named the outcrop after Clark’s nickname for young Jean Chardbonneau. The indian son of Sacagawea (the parties interpreter) and one of his men. Pomp means “little chief”

All around the outcrop of rock are hundreds of these marmots.

Clark’s journals noted that on August 1st 1806 that they had to wait for hours as thousands of Buffalo cross the river ahead of their canoes.

No history of America is told more than the Battle of Little Bighorn where Custer had his last stand.

I am pleased to see that this Clash of Cultures is well and equally portrayed.

Although the Lokota, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Sioux Indians under the leadership of Sitting Bull won this battle, they subsequently lost the war and thus put an end to their independence and the nomadic way of life.

Looking at the map we calculate that we have some  1,800Kms to drive before we arrive in Banff on the 20th (3 days) where we will leave our vehicle to return home for 2 months. Thus decided to turn north now and enjoy the drive rather than a race.

Camp 91:   Tongue River Reservoir State Park Camp

Cost $23.00

N45* 05.613 W106* 47.936

Today: 275 Kms 

Total: 21,775 Kms.

Wednesday 18th May:

Our time continues with American History but from the other prospective.

This is where an estimated 1200  Indians clashed with 1325 Fighting Forces of the Cavalry only days before the Little Bighorn/Custer battle.

Whilst we were visiting we were invited to join a group of 60 School children who were arriving and then told the stories of the event by actual descendants of the participating indian warriors.

To the Cheyenne this is known as ‘The battle of the girl who saved her brother’. The young girl on a horse, under and returning fire saved her wounded brother.

These gentlemen were the great grand children of this girl and also direct descendants of Crazy Horse. The stories they told have been handed down through the family. Some very first hand accounts and interesting accounts

Interesting was that one other Cheyenne also stated that they still have Custer’s 7th Calvary's flag.  “....and they won’t be getting it back !”

The balance of the day was a drive through the Bad lands of eastern Montana.

The vibrant red tops of these mountains was caused by the pre-historic burning of the coal layers below, slowly cooking the clay above.

As the plains flattened out they reminded us of the open rolling hills of Mongolia...excepting these were criss crossed with wire fences and roads.

One can imagine the hundreds of thousands of Bison free roaming these plains in past times.

Camp 92: Fort Peck Lake Camp (Nelson River)

Cost $Zero

N47* 34.197 W106* 13.215

Today: 455 Kms 

Total: 22,230 Kms.

Thursday 19th May:

The day of T-Rex discoveries.

The two fossil museums at Fort Peck and Malta both have ‘world’s best’ specimens of T-Rex and other Cretaceous Dinosaurs. Central America was once an inland sea and in the hills of Montana are found a full spectrum of prehistoric fossil records.

Peck’s Rex, (left) found in 1997 is one of the most complete specimens ever found. It took 7 years to complete the excavation and bring it to this presentation level

Heading North we arrive at the USA / Canadian border.....