Day 32, July 1, 2019

Henry's notes for today:

 Day 32: We had a fairly long ride planned, with the added challenge that there would only be 3 intermediate VERY small towns available to stop for nourishment or fill up water bottles in the 100 mile run to our destination. Such is eastern Montana. Our path today would meander a little bit west, then turn essentially straight north to connect into what Montanans call the "Hi-Line", or that stretch of Highway 2 extending from ND to Glacier National Park.  The ride today was hilly, but the grades were manageable. The shoulders were narrow with continuous rumble strips, so we had to ride to the left of the white stripe all day. As everyone knows, speed limits tend to be a suggestion in Montana, and some vehicles pass us too close for comfort.

Our first stop was Lindsay (pop. 162). There was only a gas station on the road; nothing else. Fortunately, it was open, and had a freezer stocked with Schwan's ice cream delights. We took advantage.

Lunchtime in Circle

2nd stop was Circle (pop. 615). We had lunch and met a biker going west to east. He was not particularly talkative, but he did inform us that part of Highway 2 west of Havre had been washed out due to heavy rains this spring. That's a few days away, but we will have to find out more as we get closer. He had to take a troublesome gravel/mud detour, and still had PTSD from that. 

We encountered 3 more bikers going the opposite direction in the afternoon.  Most eastbound riders are heading to Portland, ME.

3rd stop Vida (pop. 70). Gas station was open, where we had a Coke and talked to a couple locals. One of them had a farm auger injury to his right hand 4 days ago, and he had gone to the clinic in Circle. It was fortunately minor, and I did not have to get involved.

Final destination Wolf Point (pop. 2,760) on a Sioux reservation. We crossed the Missouri River again, and I would say we had our first true Big Sky Montana moment as we pedaled downhill to the river valley on our approach to town. The land,sky, and clouds were laid out expansively before us. Quite a metropolis, relative to the other towns earlier today, and there is even a McDonald's.  While at a converted drive-in for dinner, there was another torrential downpour.  Hail was forecast, and numerous cars took shelter under the drive-in awning. We were relieved to not have been caught riding in that storm. 

In our last 4 riding days, we have covered over 420 miles. Jeff is sometimes 1/2 mile behind taking pictures, but almost as if propelled by an invisible slingshot, he is suddenly a mile ahead of us and swiftly becomes a tiny speck. Tim has ice cream-fueled metabolic bursts too. He is often in the lead, but suddenly can be at the top of a hill, 2 hills ahead. Over the last 2 days, Tim bought a set of Croakies and a headband. So now he doesn't have to waste any energy pushing his glasses back up on his nose, nor does he have to exert any effort wiping away sweat dripping into his eyes. As a result, without these distractions, all power is routed to his legs, and he seems to be even faster. Linda keeps plugging along. She complains of not having the advantage of as much testosterone flowing through her veins and bathing her muscles, but she is quietly determined and it makes me happy inside when I catch a glimpse of her smiling as she rides. Thankfully, we will be moderating our distances over the next couple days.

As luck would have it, we were heading northwest today, and the wind was coming out of the southeast. Our helping hand continues to nudge us along. It won't always be there to support us.

Sometimes the pedaling seems endless, but it is at those moments that I focus on the wind rushing into my ears, and the steady hum of my wheels gliding over the pavement, especially during those glorious long downhills. Music, indeed.

Maps of today's ride:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3803253614

https://www.relive.cc/view/u3639935218