Leaving Washington state on the nineteenth of September, I began an eastbound passage of the Northern Tier Route, however, I spent a couple of days in Ponderay, Idaho before even entering Montana. And then, when I did arrive in Montana, I was waylaid in the free campsite at Libby Dam, by the need to await for my monthly check to arrive. While I waited, I would go to the meeting at the Libby congregation of Jehovah′s Witnesses on (Day 597 TS) and was blessed with being able to enjoy the visit of a circuit overseer.

Then by eleven today, I pack out, drive north on US 95 through Sandpoint where I connect with the Northern Tier route and continue on this route to Ponderay, Idaho where I stop at the w-mart for lunch and more key pounding.

I find it much cooler here out of the large city and stay here until the late afternoon. When I do leave, I continue driving north on US 95 to Bonners Ferry, then east on US 2 heading east towards Montana along the Kootenay River, cross the time zone, continue along the Kootenai River until I arrive in Libey, Montana.

Here, I depart from the Northern Tier route as well as the Kootenai river and choose to continue on US 2 through the Kootenai NF which is replete with lakes along the highway. For the reason that I began my travel late in the afternoon, I select this shorter route to Kalispell, Montana where I end up after today′s drive.

After a stay of a couple days in Kalispell to catch up on my website work, I continue east on the Northern Tier Route.

Culturally significant for the indigenous tribes of the Kootenai, Pend d′Oreille, and Salish people because it served them for centuries as a travel corridor through the Rocky Mountains enabling them to reach the northern Great Plains to hunt buffalo.

During the early 1800s, Bad Rock canyon was the scene of a violent confrontation involving large numbers of both the Kootenai and the Blackfeet. The Blackfeet crossed the mountains, stole horses and then was going to take them to the North West Fur Company′s trading post, Saleesh House, on the Clark Fork River. The Kootenai won the battle and drove the Blackfeet back over the mountains.

In 1891, the Great Northern Railway built a line through the Bad Rock canyon on the north side of the river because the high canyon walls on the south side of the river were too much of an obstacle. However, the railroad did build a supply road on the south side of the river, but that roadway was build high above the canyon′s floor and when the wagons brought the supplies for the rail workers, the wagons had to be lowered down from the road with ropes tied to trees. The locals thus called the supply road, the Tote Road.

It was not until 1910, when the local county built a new road through Bad Rock Canyon, bypassing the old tote road with a easier to travel road. Then, in 1929, the Bureau of Public Roads built the first modern highway through the canyon.

There is a spring on the south side of the canyon that is used as a water source by many local residents. The spring ceased flowing through the fountain and a plastic pipe was run to a location just to the east of the fountain.

A sign atop the old stone fountain states: Shepard Memorial Fountain, Dedicated to the memory of Lion Don Shepard. Shepard was from Kalispell  (1833-1905).

This journey, I stopped at Apgar picnic area to cook a pot of my repast and to enjoy a refreshing swim in Lake MacDonald.

Methinks that the park was the most crowded that I have every seen it, so I did not stay too long. but continued eastward on US 2 along the Middle Fork of the Flathead river.

Stopping at Glacier National Park, I find a good location to stealth camp. The next morning, I drive to Sprague Campgound picnic area and prepare a meal. Then, I pack out and continue my drive east on the Northern Tier route, still on US 2.