Great Divide Rally 2025

A few weekends ago E and Mitch (me) participated in the Noncours Great Divide Rally, a regularity rally in the mountains northwest of Helena. 

I only drove to get us there and back. E drove from the entire 103 miles of the rally itself. 

 Actually, E drove a good chunk of the way there as well.

The evening before the rally I took a walk on the flanks of Mount Helena, at a friend's suggestion. Helena is one of Montana's most nicely situated cities, I think. E wanted to be perfectly rested for driving the next day and stayed behind at the hotel.

The next morning I got the Wordle (tm) in two, which I took to be a very good sign.

This black Audi wagon is owned and was helmed by the L family, of whom RL alerted us to the existence of the rally. Thanks, RL!

And we're off!

This was either a bit before or a bit after going over a horrifying citizen-created speedbump (not sure how that's legal, but). The road book warned of its existence and E was appropriately cautious driving over it, but Ludwig's front license plate still scraped the ground. (The Ls said their car nearly high-centered on it.)

At the end of the first stage in Birdseye we got this obligatory artsy shot of the only other air-cooled, rear-engined participating vehicle: an orange (same orange as Ludwig) 1974 (same year as Ludwig) VW Type 181, aka 'Thing'. 

It is probably only a month or two newer than Ludwig (b. 10.24.1973). At least I think it's newer. I can't tell for sure from just the VIN.

The next stage climbed over the Great Divide at Flesher Pass on MT State Secondary 279.

The southern end of the Scapegoat Wilderness came into view as we coasted down the Pacific side of Flesher Pass.

In Lincoln the stage ended and lunch was had.

This is the entire field of competitors. Except for that white Dodge truck at left, which was a support vehicle. After Ludwig, the next two vehicles were, respectively, an RHD Toyota Land Cruiser and an RHD Toyota Prado SX5. Then an early-80s Volvo wagon.

Taking on the next stage, road book in hand.

It was all gravel to the top of Stemple Pass.

As we and the Thing were the slowest participants and the most likely to break down (humpf), we were always started last to eliminate the need for passing. 

Back down into the Atlantic watershed.

And back toward Helena. (Now there's a question: Is Helena the state capital closest to the Great Divide? It's gotta be, right? <checks> It is!)

E did an excellent job, especially given that Ludwig's accelerator cable is too long which means it doesn't allow for either full travel (that is, flooring it doesn't floor it) or precise control, both of which are kind of super-necessary for this type of rally. (At least it didn't break.) Also, his speedometer is off--way off--and I had to use Waze to report to her her speed, but in the mountains the signal was spotty. Anyway, on to next year!

Lake Superior Summer 2021 Day 1: Sully Creek State Park

Two Summers ago we had planned on driving Ludwig to Crater Lake and Redwoods and the Oregon coast and Rainier and all that, but there were a lot of fires out that way that year which threatened not only to negatively impact our breathing, but could outright cut us off of primary routes and send us hundreds of miles out of our way. At the last minute we decided to go to the tip of the UP instead.

Some of these pictures are E's.

landscape near Glendive

near Medora ND and Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Sully Creek State Park (Theo. R. NP was full)

miles (2)44,533 to (2)44,940

Ludwig Springs into Action

"Springs" is probably too strong a verb, but it is Spring. We took him to Missoula.

I can't drive but still, I would like to. 

 And I won't get out!

 

Doubters: it is possible to fit two--and I'm certain three--car seats in a full-bench Westy. More proof that '74 and '75 Westfalias are the best of the bunch.

 

Melissa drove there and back. 

Stinkerton, Ludwig. Ludwig, Stinkerton.

The other day our younger daughter got to ride in Ludwig for the first time.

 (Maybe I need a better internet name for her than "Stinkerton".)

View Stinkerton's First Ride in Ludwig in a larger map

Summer 2013 Journey Part 7: Central Wyoming

 The next morning: Casper behind us, not much in front.

That's par for the course in central Wyoming. I love it. Hell's Half Acre snuck up on me and we sailed past, something I regret a little.

 Getting lunch ready at Boysen State Park (note Tater Tot under the table).

Moving along again, into the first of a tunnel trifecta.

Entering tunnel two, with tunnel three beyond. Note that big rock straining against the boulder netting at upper right, next to the beam.

The tunnels mark the Southern terminus of Wind River Canyon, about the most gorgeous canyon you'll ever drive through.

This big herd of sheep was just downstream of the canyon and just South of Thermopolis, where we stopped to swim.

Afterwards we dined at Thermopolis' huge public park.

Ludwig stood watch. (Behind him's the place where we went swimming.)

 "World's Largest Mineral Hot Springs"

Speaking of minerals, on the way out we drove past Tepee Fountain...totally weird. In the early 1900s someone stuck a pipe into the ground to try to control the output of a particular spring. Over a hundred years later, this is the result. It used to be kind of triangular, hence the name.

Bellies full, we departed Thermopolis to the Northwest toward Cody.

Light conducive to picture-taking left us before we got to Cody where, after a spot of DQ, we had just a little further to our stop for the night, Buffalo Bill State Park.

click here for map