I hunkered down in Jordan, MT on Sunday, 6-2, to rest up for the 78-mile ride to Winnett on Monday. As I’ve noted already, this is the land of the dinosaurs. The terrain between Circle and Jordan that I’ve covered is famous among paleontologists for its fossil beds. Although dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures once roamed these parts, this was 60+ million years ago, and I am reminded that we have many reptiles who are still with us today. For example, when I checked in at the Sportsmen Motel in Jordan, I found this toad waiting on my doorstep.

The Sportsmen Motel was a decent place to hang out and rest up for a couple nights. It was acquired in February this year by new owners, Ike and Katy Pierson, who have a number of projects underway to upgrade the motel.

Here is Katy Pierson. She and her husband also own a cattle ranch, and in addition are part of a family-owned business, the Pierson Fossil Company, that leads fossil digging tours on the fossil-rich grounds here known as the Hell Creek Formation. Katy told me that a number of locals, including a cousin, have been featured in the Dino Hunters television series available on the Discovery Channel.

Jordan is a small town, with a population of only 343 and a high school graduating class of only about a dozen students. It does have a couple of bars that also serve food, however. I had a Tombstone Pizza at Ranchers Bar and Cafe, and I had two meals at the Hell Creek Bar depicted below–broasted chicken and the hamburger steak, both of which were excellent. I understand that the film Jurassic Park III features a clip from the Hell Creek Bar, as well as excavation scenes from the nearby Fort Peck Reservoir.

My Sunday afternoon also included a trip to the local laundromat. Nothing too exciting there, but I thought you might find interesting this notice posted on the wall asking guests not to use the machines for items that have been used by animals, such as horse blankets.

I recently learned that just outside of Jordan was where an anti-government group known as the Montana Freemen was located. Members of the group declared themselves to be “sovereign citizens” not subject to any other government authority. After foreclosure and eviction proceedings were commenced against the group in 1994, an armed standoff arose, pitting the group against the FBI. Following 81 days of negotiations, the longest such standoff in the history of the FBI, the Freemen surrendered peaceably to authorities, and several of their leaders were convicted of various crimes and sent to prison.

I plan to get an early start tomorrow for my nearly 80-mile ride to the next town with a motel, Winnett.