Can you imagine the disappointment I felt when Peat Steakhouse Saloon was closed due to giving their staff a day off after all the recent 4th of July festivities? It must have been one hell of a good time here in Lima last week. No worries!

I left Lima this morning and not a soul was stirring, well except for the one house where I saw someone watching the morning news on a big screen television. I found myself back into the peaceful bliss of nothingness soon enough.

The first hour of the day was making my way to the Lima Dam on a really peaceful and nice road. I spent the time only thinking of just how lucky I am to be able to have these experiences. And then I made it to the dam house and enjoyed the whole dam thing.

I soon found myself in a beautiful valley surrounded by amazing mountains on all sides. The route runs from one side to the other before staying on the southern side of the valley and making it’s way to Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

During a break to eat a tortilla with peanut butter and Nutella, I started hearing cattle on the other side of the small hill. I figured I may have to wait a while if they were coming my way. As I went over the hill, I saw the cattle were actually in the field and being over watched by the cowboys and a cowgirl.

As I was continuing, I stopped and talked to one of the ranch hands and found out they were on a 21 mile cattle drive. The cattle needed to be moved to find better pastures, which the ranch owner will pay a property owner for the use of the pasture that would be their destination. This drive will take a couple days and they started the second day this morning at 4 am. They were taking a break and allowing the cattle to eat, drink water and rest when I rolled up on the scene. The ranch hand said being a cowboy is harder than what you see on television and I would totally agree with him after hearing their story.

Today, I would leave Montana and enter Idaho at Red Rock Pass. The climb was so gradual, it was a total nonevent. The time spent in Montana over the past week was a butt kicker to put it bluntly. The scenery was absolutely beautiful and the views were well earned with some hard riding. Thank You Montana!

The Red Rock RV Park is only about seven miles from the pass and I can already tell that Idaho will bring the goods to the party. Let’s do this Idaho!