Nancy and I drove to Hell Creek with the doggies. The 25 miles on gravel was very rough jarring. I’m pretty sure I still have all the fillings in my teeth that I started with. Enjoy the views, the trip was definitely worth the bouncing.
After that we stopped into the Dinosaur Museum on our way back to the campground. There is a lot of history here, the curators are the people that discovered the first complete T-Rex skeleton It was discovered in 1988 by Kathy Wankel and her husband Tom. T-Rex remains are only found here in the Hell Creek area.
The sun was rising as I set off in the cool morning air. With a long day ahead, 76 miles, the early start would get me to Jordan, MT. late afternoon.
I stopped at a rest area just past Mosby to have a snack and read the historical exhibits.
Sand Springs was my lunch stop. A small town of eight residents and big in services for cycling tourists. The one main building housed a gas station, store, cafe, and post office. This building also had a restroom and shower for who chose to camp behind the building.
Leaving this small town to continue my way to Jordan I enjoyed a brief sprinkle. The wind began to pick up, this was not enjoyed.
With 32 more miles to finish the day, I plowed through the wind. I reached Jordan and few hours behind my prediction with time to relax and shower before dinner at a local restaurant/bar with Nancy.
I packed up and left my little cabin behind and crossed the road for breakfast at the cafe/casino/bar/gas station, the only game in town. The morning was cool with some light sprinkles. Lewistown is 45 miles away so I didn’t need to hurry or leave early. Check in is 3 PM at the Yogo Inn so the compromise is to get there before it gets hot and not so early that I wait too long to check in.
Riding the road that stretches ahead forever a car slow while passing and the passenger asks, “Are you the guy that started in Delaware and is now riding back to Massachusetts? Surprised, I told him yes and he told me to enjoy the trip and be safe. The car sped down the road.
I got into town at 1 PM just before the heat builds. I decided that a 2 hour wait in a cool lobby is the better choice. This is where the problems begin. Last night the Inn was booked full with a wedding of 300. This morning only 2 of the 8 cleaning staff showed up to work so my room was not ready at 3 PM and not until 4 PM was I able to get into my room. I thanked the two women and told them that without their persistence I would not have a place to sleep. The elder apologized because I overheard her swearing and complaining about the situation. She said that’s life, either sunshine or shit. I told her that life needs shit to fertilize it. She smiled and cried, and we hugged.
I went to my room with my bike and gear and then went to the Big Spring Brewery across the street for dinner. I had a fabulous meal while telling my story to the waitstaff. They mentioned to the owner and the IPA was on house.
I set out again after a nice breakfast, Nancy cooked eggs as I got my gear packed and ready. Back on the route the sun began heating the day. Nancy also was also getting ready to move to her next campground, Hells Creek. Just before Belt, MT. she drove by with the horn blowing and light flashing and pulled to the roadside and stopped. She handed me a cold Dr. Pepper, perfect, I was already thirsty.
A bit later I followed my route off Route 200 onto a nice side road into the Gem of a small town, Belt. I stopped at the grocery and got some eats and drinks. Before leaving, a man struck up a conversation about bicycles, touring, and good beers. Belt has a very good brewery in town with a very good Porter, on his word I haven’t tasted it, called Pig’s Ass Porter.
It didn’t take long before the heat emptied my water supply, I drank a lot of water today. I ran out with 10 miles to go and no place to refill. I saw a pickup parked on the roadside and as I approached a young man flagged me over to offer me water. I thanked him while refilling both bottles and drinking the Gatorade he handed me. We had a nice conversation before he dove off, he was going home to Tennessee.
Finally getting to Stanford I checked into my cabin for the night, this RV Park does not have tent sites.
After a few days of enjoying the area I began riding east away from the mountain and onto the prairie.
The 64 miles to Cut Bank, MT. without the long climbs was fast and easy. I finished mid afternoon. The motel is next door to a grocery, this made getting dinner and food supplies for tomorrow quick and easy.
Today I hiked with Nancy in East Glacier. We drove to Saint Mary and rode the park shuttle bus.
Glacier views.
Snow angels.
Squirrels.
Mountain goats.
Longhorn Sheep.
More views.
A while back a freak heatwave with 128° temperature the sap caught on fire and trees burned from the inside out killed the trees and left behind a ghost forest.
A thunderstorm came through overnight but all was dry in the morning. I wanted to leave and start the climb on Going-to-the-Sun Road, bikes are not allowed on two sections between 11AM and 4PM. This is a long climb, 31 miles, to the top of Logan Pass. I opted to leave a bit later and have a hefty breakfast so I began climbing at 8AM.
The grade was gradual along Lake McDonald.
The views up to the tunnel at the hairpin.
Now I am riding on the side of the road next to a 15 inch high stonewall, the only thing between the road and a 2,000 foot drop to the valley floor.
I stopped for a 30 minute break at the summit visitor center and visited with the people waiting for the shuttle bus.
The way down was steep with shape curves, many photo stops before reaching the bottom.
There was a traffic jam near Saint Mary Lake, a grizzly bear was feasting on berries about 50 feet down the bank on the side of the road.
In Saint Mary I stopped for food, ice cream and Dr. Pepper before heading to the campground. Nancy chose Duck Lake Campground for our meetup. My map showed two Duck Lake campgrounds, there has been limited cell service for the past three days so I have not been able to discuss which campground. Going by our last conversation I thought she was in Browning 46 miles away so that is where I headed. I get into Browning and the campground does not exit! I finally am able to contact Nancy, she is in Babb another 30 miles away. CRAP! Babb is 10 miles from Saint Mary where I had stopped to eat! Nancy drove to Browning, picked me up and drove me to the campground. I will stay here a few days to explore the Glacier Park together before continuing east.
