19 June 2023
Scottsbluff, NE to Baker, MT
The threat of severe weather in Montana had increased to a slight, so the prospect of a second down day was nixed. We were on the road by ten heading north and had a quick lunch at Taco John’s in New Castle.
By three, we were passing Devil’s Tower and Bill gave us a few minutes to take some pics.
We got to Montana by four with plenty of time to set up for the expected storm. We pulled off next to what appeared to be an abandoned silo and buildings just south of Ekalaka, but when we got out, some of us were convinced we could smell cigarette smoke.
Never did see anyone, but we explored the area. (Figured out later that it was likely the freshly mowed field nearby).
We played a little football.
Then we drove to Baker and turned west about twenty miles before turning onto a gravel road that went south over rolling green hills and not a soul in sight.
Bill settled on a spot, and at first, it seemed like the storm would pass left to right and out of sight.
Nope. Bill had dropped us in the perfect spot. For the next half hour or so, we watched this approach.
It produced a little bit of lightning.
As the rain approached, we took off in order to stay ahead of it.
We stopped to watch it for a few more minutes but it caught up to us.
It moved north of us and we found a side road to watch it. A local chaser pulled up behind us and noted that he was happy to see tour groups coming that far north.
Before it got dark, we went through Baker and then north where we spent about twenty minutes watching the sunset.
And a bit of lightning.
Then it got really windy and cold. That was it. The amazing storm was done.
We headed back to Baker and Bill arranged for almost half the group to go straight to the hotel while the rest got something to eat at a bar.
We got rooms at the Red River Inn while most of the others were at another hotel.
For some reason, the clerk said she needed to get all our details, including shoe size.
I didn’t ask.
Bill Reid’s entry for 17 June.
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