It's tell hard to know where to begin, so much has happened. I really wanted to do my 4th update from a real keyboard so I could also rehash my 2003 4th in Duboise, WY where we were asked to juggle in their parade, and 2007 in Lame Deer, MT where the rez lit their hill repeatedly on fire. However, I am once again updating from my phone, so you will have to look that up yourself on my old ride blogs linked in the bar to the right if you want the stories. :)
Last we spoke I was up on the pass expecting to get whomped by thunderwhompies. That definitely happened. The lightening was very close, but the winds weren't anything compared to Iowa storm winds. Still, I got to bed close to midnight for the second night in a row.
The ride into Helena was a 16 mile downhill, and I coasted most of it going around 40 mph. The town was dead due to the holiday, so it was easy to navigate and I got through it relatively easily after restocking a few items. Helena to Townsend was a 30 mile uphill headwindy suckfest, but I ended the day at only 53 miles and 3:30 on bike. The next town was 65 miles, so I had to stop. It was a good thing.
I struck out at a few churches in town (no one home), and checked in at the sheriff's to see if there were any parks I could stay in. They sent me out of town to an alright park that had no water or power. Bleh.
I always check for water first, so finding none I loaded up all my stuff and headed back in to town to fill bottles and bags. On the way back in I ran in to Tommy again who I first met a few miles before town. He is walking from Seattle to Portland, Maine and is on day 43 of 150ish.
We hit it off well so after resupplying at the store we decided to share some ice cream in another park. I asked some folks around if I could stay in that park (it had water, power, and was by the store) and they said no-one would care. Score! Tommy decided to stay as well, due to weather and the promise of fun.
We ended up sharing the shelter with a family having a 10th birthday party, and they kept us well supplied in cake and fireworks. I returned the favor by juggling and playing music for them.
Thec town didn't have their own official display, but it erupted anyway with crazy amounts of personal fireworks. I've never seen our heard anything like it. We were surrounded by displays; every part of the sky was filled. Tommy and I walked around a bit soaking it all in, and eventuality got to sleep around 1am. Sigh. Another late night. However, I did get around to re-waterproofing my tent bottom from supplies found in Helena, and I was able to do my favorite sleeping arrangement: pad on picnic table under shelter. Efficient!
As I write this I am 68 miles in to a 95ish mile day finally able to chip away at my time deficit. Until now I had to follow the 2007 schedule that the girls came up with, because, frankly, it's perfect. They knew what they were doing, but I must move faster, and this is my first chance. I'll write today up later.
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