Day 15: Swan Lake MT to Seeley Lake MT

The campground at the Swan Lake Trading Post was great. Hot showers, endless free coffee & reasonable $7 breakfast. My decision today was to ride the Swan Valley road to Seeley Lake about 60 miles on – since smoke completely masked the mountains & air quality was reported to be poor.

Fortunately, the road was not busy & the ride pleasant with lots of odd sights & deer to entertain me.

5 miles before Condon, set back along a gravel road, off to my right sat a small, pristine, white church which I discovered to be part of an idilic small community of 10 or so homesteads.

Elizabeth & Synthia Swan Valley Baptist Church

Before leaving, Elizabeth had roped me up with water & introduced me to the congregation.

In Cordon, the Swan Valley Museum, attended by two lovely ladies, Pat & Barb. Both passionate about the history of the Swan Valley area – which is surprisingly recent. Well into the 20th century, life was truly Wild West. Indian massacre (1908), trappers cabins, remote homesteads, 1st basic school houses1927, 1st bar 1940’s, Swan valley road 1959, etc. Therefore, for many people still living the valley’s history is their own, the pioneers who saw the land change from true wilderness To what it is today and that fascinates me.

Pat & Barb

The Fist bar in Seeley Valley (1940’s)

Arriving in Seeley Lake I met up again with Mark Hilary & had a very pleasant evening nattering before retiring. Tonight I am sleeping in a real bed & it’s pretty good!!