Now that it's cooled down out here, I did some bikexploring with the Fargo on Saturday from the Columbia Plateau Martin Rd Trailhead. After studying my DeLorme Atlas, the plan was to head a few hundred yards north to Cree Rd and take it down to Dewey Rd, to Cordell Rd, then to Mullinix. Then I would follow Belsby down to Hole-in-the Ground to Rock Creek, Pine Creek and the John Wayne Pioneer Trail like I did last year (
Martin Rd Trailhead to John Wayne [
gps]). I wanted to make a loop, trying to add a few more miles than last year, but ended up with an out and back with slight variation on the way back.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaTXWKpgtDRjgLIJE3mzJeNGI5FPsSlfo6k4FqG2DAJzl3vz-h7rhPw4poITXTI2x2b4Icmv6trmo05weUR7l7LIU2Fcs6F1THVg8gF_M3TGZ3M_sXsrbx3WedbBsJuzzk58uNmCW9AYg/s1600/IMG_1622.JPG) |
the patent-pending wileydogmapcap. the trailhead and
Cree Rd are in the upper left-hand |
Well that was the plan. There's a funny thing about the atlas, gps and actual on the ground road signs - they don't always agree. And it's awful hard to read tiny gps map screens in the bright sunlight with old eyes. I missed the first intersection on the Lincoln-Whitman County line, neither road sign had Cree on it and I went east instead of west. Link to the actual
gps of the ride. The map and gps call the road I took Stoner Rd, but I it was signed in a couple spots as Swift Rd. I'll have to go back and check at this intersection as not sure if I have it straight now.
This worked out pretty good as Stoner Rd becomes a rough dirt and rock road akin to the gated off Dunn Rd/Summer Road of the Midnight Century. A little too rough for most vehicles in spots, but perfect for 2.2" mountain bike tires.
Back to the start:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJD4BRBwQyW_EBmGAyF4Jm2MYT-s8_wvZaD-uFdeTRD9aSBCYurK8Db8rBPazHB6NhNCrPaRN_PIxOEAn9oZri7tthuonytRtuT-BZZYsEfMMKRRu4Jpzf_uUFhckopM4SfTAZ-ZeDk9Cc/s1600/GOPR0716.JPG) |
Cree Rd |
There must have been a hole in the barbed wire fence as I came across a calf on the road that took a little run at me, and then a group of 10 or so cattle loose on the road. Thought I was going to have to turn around. They panicked and tried to jump back over the fence, and then ran up the road ahead of me.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnUPqaJaE1XnI7kWVD8stAC3KHEdaCGpb-16p-dp4WS5vbXAlvIaJHi2iLIvkLvGXtc7-fV0rLNiOfb3kxDaRK3InkCxwjfeqE_9gGyHH4mYWw3iiCCcbhn3avaGQWJ8PAda7s8ay_p4J/s1600/GOPR0717+-+Version+4.JPG) |
felt like a bicycle cowboy |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomqNh4G_-jltmEc7RiKJGTMP2JoUWQl3Q44wgfiZnNn7waRuZXUaWr8C9s5hVBed728Pcs_Vjm8OIw3PfFRfWzk38ekMVetorwtbBltcdUDQUM6XNe9wnZFmgAt-E4NFClHuQjCrAReqO/s1600/GOPR0718.JPG) |
they finally found an opening near where the Columbia Plateau Trail
crosses Cree |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdbvz7jXFNiFlE68r5mtDChgnz7RCdtTmvno1MZd8hWwiiboHSVMUw8yDi1Ih6E8yN3KRpMSCUWmOm2bOjtrmKoW4fCTC7DRLdjz13dnGmRrD_VwzffZTRLlwgWT0FllAE1vx_Rvo8-E3/s1600/GOPR0720.JPG) |
the intersection where I turned right instead of left. the gps names
the road to the left as Elliot which becomes Cree again. i forget what
the sign said now. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZ4yvouwxvete4h506EzakyxXRkwsOjWyK8m0c6DfgmKaEdmr5XTAFdFg32VM94GknCeTIT1SCl7xb-rKvC6s_aAh5A-vaG-NZro0zRRqQdTfLG4Ul27SZh7_yRonnD7pRPvJ-AmgVyki/s1600/GOPR0722.JPG) |
Stoner/Swift Rd. |
The road is just a stone's throw away from the Columbia Plateau Trail in spots, and I remember we stopped for a rest by this road on our trip last May. I was tempted to stay on Stoner to see where it goes, but turned left on Dewey instead. I saw afterward Stoner/Swift will take you into Lamont.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheySVy5pFw_aEsGf0d2DjlBeioFMlMSROla6e37RqCZqjrGLDWBoXqqc49z9aKwgBybrmOpAV9kvJpoNae2dc3dXVrVxW7ol-b_cZ0hdP4ZovEEFKWbaKB-BVmf5UTQjQRTbtxMMUKQlFJ/s1600/GOPR0725.JPG) |
back on gravel on Dewey |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyafk4mz-VZVlNjieTrZ_DrQpgSVhmfIo6k94L98kfQ4hT7uk9gs0zUi4X7sScYPQ5XTWO0Oif0E-BGKlQ3P2nE9S_6WXsmErrSmehUAxr518_82kF7AsPEQa03y68l8Z9tDCWBbCSY0Qy/s1600/GOPR0726.JPG) |
what's that up ahead? a dirt summer road? |
Munson Rd. It wasn't in the plan, and I wasn't sure where it went, but I had to take it.
It finally popped out on Rock Creek Rd and after I got my bearings, determined I was way further east than I wanted to be. Rode northwest on the paved Rock Creek Rd before backtracking on Munson Rd back to Dewey. Rock Creek Rd wasn't the type of ride I was looking for. Also, may not have had my helmet and felt a bit vulnerable. Hardly any traffic, though.
Back on Dewey, passed Cree Road after awhile and so was back on plan, looking for Cordell.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxLWDzxpm3-hT_4MLwOPD-WbqUQ6WVpFRhK_35BW9jUdIhCuH0oWgSDJA5UqUSBKNdkcWiewEs9LVHZlywEQ33mrFAPqQKZxjvi2J8xwnTRXN7wNGsQPojL_D7QANUYAZq_a5cFyoopkk/s1600/GOPR0729.JPG) |
think this is off Cordell |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYEJuEK0Mr-kFd3KnNGQ_G4k_r_RSTmdyf9TzDz-hcn87TliXIvFd2unyKT_5DoOP6GTDXZl2TFHIoN3hECq6F5XY-Nko-EGh6rwczw6HOPxu5OoGfg9wsV5XA2nPyEzE_3lfo38yx27c/s1600/GOPR0730.JPG) |
probably Cordell again. really need to find some way to sync the
camera with the gps. |
I had been out for over a couple hours and didn't feel like making this an all day trip, even though I wanted to ride down Belsby, so instead took Mullinix to Martin Rd (Williams Lake Rd) back to the trailhead. Martin is a narrow paved road without a shoulder - think a more roundabout way back down Spuller to Dewey to Cree looks promising.
Think will head back out in a couple weeks, getting an earlier start and follow the same way down Cree to Stoner to Dewey, skip Munson and head down Belsby. I like exploring these gravel and dirt roads in this area - the only problem it's an almost hour long drive to the trail head.
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