August 25, 2020: Malta to Culbertson, Montana:
Leaving Malta, I make a stop nearby at the Sleeping Buffalo Rock that has been moved adjacent to route 2. It is a rock with designs carved into it, actually there are two rocks, nothing very exciting, but it is a sacred rock to the Indians.
The adjacent road takes you to the Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs which are man made, by accident. As an oil rigger was drilling a test hole, at 3,100 feet he struck a gushing well of hot water with 500 psi. It was left to run for several years until a nearby rancher developed it into a mineral pool. It has evolved over the years until it is now a hot mineral water pool, a restaurant / motel and campground.
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| The importance of the Sleeping Buffalo Rock |
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| The Sleeping Buffalo Rock |
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| The smaller Medicine Rock |
Nest stop was the small town of Saco with a couple of interesting buildings, a small historic park and a monument describing how some cowboys roped a bear, witnessed by Charles Russel which became one of his famous paintings.
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| Downtown Saco view |
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| This building has some architectural elements |
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| Old church the Saco Pioneer Park |
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| A combine at work in nearby field |
I stopped at the town of Glasgow, it is a very nice town with an excellent museum, one that I visited a few years ago. There are also two great Bar signs, not to be missed.
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| The native people's life revolved around the Buffalo |
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| Beautiful brickwork |
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| Up close view |
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| The Post Office has a great mural |
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| The Hideaway is a beauty |
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| The Montana Bar has history |
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| Glasgow has a large freight terminal |
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| Great Northern Steam Locomotive mural near the rail yards |
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| The Milk River Valley Bank |
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| The Glasgow rail depot and Amtrak Station |
I make a stop in the town of Nashua right at the border of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. There is not much of interest there, but I always find something.
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| Vick's Bar is the spot |
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| Piling the wheat up on the ground |
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| The Beer Mug, first and best stop on the Fort Peck Rez |
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| You wonder why the Indians are especially troubled by Covid-19 ? In 1838, 94% of the Little Girl's band of the Assinboine Tribe died from smallpox. |
I then enter the huge Fort Peck Indian Reservation. It is the 9th largest reservation in the US at 2,094,000 acres spanning four counties. It is home to the Sioux and the Assinboine tribes.
The scenery along route 20 has changed somewhat from flat horizon to horizon wheat fields to more of a rolling terrain split between farming and ranching. It appears that the Indians have taken to farming and ranching on the reservation.
I continue east on route 2 to the reservation town of Wolf Point. It is the largest city on the reservation and quite civilized with a college, a cultural center and craft center. I think about staying there overnight for a minute, then decide I need to get off the reservation. There are not many options, the next closest town off the reservation is Culbertson, Montana about an hour drive away. An hour drive in Montana is no big deal at 70 + MPH.
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| Suicide Hotline |
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| Census sign on reservation |
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| Appears to be a tattoo shop |
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| A great bar sign, but in needs of a little maintenance |
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| The Water hole where you get fire water ? |
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| The county Courthouse on the reservation |
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| Interesting mural |
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| A craft store across from the cultural center |
The far eastern side of the reservation is grass covered, beautiful rolling hills and with the late afternoon light it was inspiring. I pulled over a few times to take photos where possible.
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| Chase the dream |
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| Indian horses on the hillside |
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| Beautiful grassland, how it once was |
Arriving in Culbertson, I soon realize that I’ve seen this place before, but again it was only a quick drive through. It’s a squeaky clean small town, no trash lying around here, a nice home town friendly market , I expect to see Andy and Goober at any moment. They have a small park / campground, basically a parking lot with a grassy tent area, but it’s free and quiet, that’s my overnight spot.
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| The buildings aren't leaning, it's a perspective issue with the camera lens |
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| It's straight in this shot |
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| A very plain City Hall |
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| How many Montana Bars are in the state of Montana ? |
In the morning I go to the Wild West Diner with their homestead history on the table and get a bacon omelet. It was sort of an unusual omelet, it wasn't real cheese and the bacon was ground up, but I’m not particular, it was okay as they were friendly and it was quite entertaining listening to the old geezers (probably younger than me) talking a few tables away.
My next destination will be either Sidney or Glendive, Montana depending on how much iI like Sidney.
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