Forsyth to Lame Deer: I bike too much

Smart people plan rest days into their bike tours. In 2003 we had rest days in Missoula and Duboise, Wy. In 2007 we had short "rest" days into bear butte and Ithica, and 2 (I think) full rest days in Portland. I'm sure both tours had more that I am not remembering. Both had a few days off before RAGBRAI too.

The late end of the school year this year, combined with the tyranny of not wanting to miss RAGBRAI, means no rest days for me. Today, day 20, I needed one...

...but rode 60 miles of hot hills anyway. 4:30 on bike. My muscles were weak, a sign of overuse and over training, and I have some killer saddle sores. I managed to avoid them until a few days ago. The shorter days and occasional upright posture of hill climbing helped me avoid them. Doing long days, without much coasting, and in the same saddle position has brought them on strong. Ouch. For those of you not aware, it's like skinning your knee, only on your ass, and then sliding around on that for 5 hours in the heat while you sweat salt. All part of the game...

Luckily today I'm in a church in Lame Deer on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. I contacted Deacon Joe who I met in 2007 and set it up. The town is much more subdued this time around not being a holiday, so I am spending most of my time alone and recuperating. Joe is out of town all afternoon. This rest is great for me. I have a soft couch, and will go to bed very very early. I anticipate feeling great in the morning.

Lame Deer is one of my favorite towns, but it is struggling. I don't know if the recession that hit after 2007 made it worse or not, it's hard to compare a town with itself on a holiday, but it's hurting. It's a very small town, but walking through it feels like walking through Oakland. The church must be kept locked at all times, there is garbage everywhere, and I saw someone get jumped while walking through the one main town street. That's what poverty looks like, whether it's Oakland or middle-of-nowhere Montana.

It's easy to focus just on the negatives, but I really do love this town. There is tons of great art, people all about, children everywhere, and people laugh and smile. I'm very out of my element here (the main store doesn't even sell sunscreen beyond tanning lotion, much to my frustration), and also very aware that any observations I make are through my own biased filters. This town compared to all other same size Montana towns is so incredibly different, but just as friendly. Most towns this size have cell phone service and some internet too, but not here... I don't know what that means though.

I'm going to eat a chocolate bar now.