Day 3 of our trip to Montana started early. He could wait for up-and about to check out 'Big Sky Country'. One will tell you, 'Big Sky "is exactly right. I felt like I was saved from falling into the blue open for a little magic glue that kept me anchored to the ground. I expect to be sucked skyward, a feeling akin to awe that I felt when I first witnessed the majesty of the Grand Canyon. The morning was incredible – not a cloud in heaven – only the golden glow of another spectacularly sunny day to ride.

Although not exhaustive we toured Missoula, we did see enough to know I love to stay, but the road was calling, so we went. My passion to see Montana was triggered by a movie, 'Last of the Dogmen' starring Tom Berenger and Barbara Hershey. The story centers on a dilapidated but clever bounty hunter [Tom Berenger] who is hired by her estranged father in law [Kurtwood Smith] to hunt down three escaped convicts loose armed Oxbow Quadrangle Montana. I was overwhelmed by the splendor of the mountains and decided to make my way. And Dang here we were just at the threshold of the proverbial Oxbow. YeeeHawwwww!

It was not until we arrived in Missoula and took a closer look at the map we realized a town in Montana took our name – Rollins. So we had to come and check it out. To get there, take I-90 west to MT-93 North bound in Flathead Lake and Rollins. The trip was kind of nice but unremarkable. However, the promise of seeing the "Dogma and our namesake mountain was almost as exhilarating as the sheer pleasure of riding ..

The trip to Rollins than 100 miles, took about 2 hours. Rollins is a small picturesque village on the banks of lake, post office, gas station / convenience store and hamburger stand [south of the city]. The later we noticed, advertising 'Buffalo Burgers'. So we stopped and frankly enjoyed our first and only Buffalo Burger. We call on the origins of the city and learned a boatman by the name of Rollins founded the colony in 1900. It was transported to customers through Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake in west of the Mississippi. Besides quiet splendor, the lake offers world class fishing with rainbows, murderer, bull, lake and brook trout and grayling Arctic, bass, perch, and pike. We had the team, but if you like fishing, Flathead sounds like a great place to spend a weekend or a week!

Rollins went south, down MT-93 or under 11 miles and took a right at MT-28. This was a very nice ride. The road was old but solid with traffic virtually no. About an hour down 93, will pass just east of a local hot spot, literally, Hot Springs, MT. Not stopping to enjoy the springs, but they said it is wonderfully relaxing.

MT-28 MT-200 crosses. We left and then about 5 miles south, we took a right onto MT-135. Now, get ready for one of the most beautiful walks of life. MT-135 runs through the mountains and beside a beautiful mountain stream – and oh, how lovely. The river is perfect to 'tame' tubes and observed a number of families observed inside the tubes of Montana sunshine. I bet you would have good fishing there too. Occasionally we pass a mountain resort, and I thought more than once, a family shelter here would be fabulous. I was disappointed when we the beauty of nature and returned to the concrete reality of the I-90 at St. Regis, MT.

St. Regis is a typical truck stop community. We have cameras gas in place, enjoyed refreshments and were on the highway north of Coeur d'Alene, ID. The trip to Coeur d'Alene is 95 miles on I-90, which runs east to west through the United States from Chicago to Seattle. The section of St. Regis to Coeur d'Alene Lopes through the mountains of Idaho, Montana, with exceptional views of pines and full of mountain landscapes. What marvelous beauty. What greatness of humility.

Aspect of the station placid waters of Coeur d'Alene Lake, the main attraction of the area, announced our arrival in Coeur d'Alene. The city of more than 50,000, are engaged primarily in tourism and has a budget of all hotels, motels, restaurants and services. We stayed in a popular discount chain I'll not mention or recommend. On subsequent trips we followed a Post Falls, ID. – Invite a smaller community, but more. In Post Falls, is a cool 60's restaurant – the Hot Rod Café ©. Bike Night is Thursday, May to September. Hot Rod's menu features a large selection of burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, desserts and beverages. And the food is as great as the tasting environment is fun.

That brings us to the end of the third day of our trip – a day of 'view Big Sky "and ride the quiet – the conclusion of Stage 3 of the best of our first trip to Montana.

Craig Rollins is a senior marketing communications professional. He and his wife are motorcycle advocates and love touring the US. Craig’s website is CraigsFavoritesList.com which focuses on motorcycling and products or services Craig has experienced that deliver excellence.

Broken Islands Kayak Trip, West Coast Vancouver Isl., May07