Biking Dude Blog

After many trials and tribulations (wasn't that bad, at least looking back at it), I now have what appears to be a fully functional phone. Huge thanks to the folks at the Glasgow post office. Not only did they look the other way when we didn't mail my phone the proper way for general delivery, they helped me retrieve my spot device when I dropped it down a grate in front of their building and they had to find the right downstairs window to open to get it back. Seriously going above and beyond, and have now saved my bacon twice. Man, I haven't had bacon in a while. Maybe next time when I'm at a cafe... Hopefully will start getting caught up on posts soon, and get that millage updated. Next big challenge is getting tires for my bike. I'm confident I can get to Havre, but I definitely need to get a new set there.

I traveled about 106.9 miles today.
Transcribed from notebook, July 7: Possibly the most difficult day yet? Strong headwind from NW (possibly reaching 20 mph at points) made the fifty mile ride from Glendive to circle quite difficult. Got hot dog and water at gas station, continued to wolf point. Passed many other bikers going in opposite direction. Talked with one about places to stay near wp. It's weird seeing so many cyclists after being of the aca routes for so long. Not that far from Seattle, so these ones must have started kind of late. Hills also difficult when coupled with wind. Library, brewery, food, library, rv park. Got to chat with the brew master, Kathy, at Missouri breaks brewery. Cool place, got a little sticker with their sand pike stout logo on it. Huge collection of growlers, saw one from Enki brewing in Victoria. Told them they should make a display case for the growlers and turn it into an attraction. Camping at rv park outside of town. $15, but that's ok from time to time. It's actually tough to find places much cheaper, unfortunately. I hope Dean can find connections from Havre on, I haven't even looked at that yet.

I traveled about 80.8 miles today.
Transcribed from notebook, July 6: Woke up to beautiful sunrise at medicine rocks park, on road by 6am. Met Dean in Baker - filled water and offered to connect me with his friends across Montana. Huge victory, incredible guy. Slow leak in tire, ran it to Wilbaux. Swapped tube in Wilbaux and add tire boot where rear tire had minute gash, not sure from what. Started biking interstate to Glendive, big clouds and rain looming ahead. Fellow named Ty pulled over and offered a ride. Said there was a big hail and thunder storm over Glendive headed my way. Gratefully accepted and cruised into Glendive just as hail started getting really bad. Glad Ty offered a ride, would have been an unhappy camper. Checked email at library, met up with Mutt at her office, then to her home. Great dinner with her and guest family from Marshall island. Drove through badlands formations on way to grocery store. Stopped to talk with older couple Pete and Karen tandem touring the four corners of the United States and also to Alaska, now heading back to New Hampshire. Cool folk. Have some options for places to stay tomorrow, though none solid.

I traveled about 130.2 miles today.
Transcribed from notebook, July 5: 115 miles from devils tower to Ekalaka. Got food (cliff bars and granola bars) at gas station in Alzada and filled up all for liters of water. Ate all food and drank all water by the time I reached Ekalaka. Medium headwind all day, also some decent hills. Very draining (not to mention dry). Good road for riding. Nice scenery, very little traffic. Saw many sweet and antelope running and jumping fences. Hit the road around 5:30 am, reached Ekalaka by 3 pm, so made very good time. Resupplied with bars, bagels, PB at local grocery and got early dinner at wagon wheel cafe. Burger, fries, big bowl of salad for $7. Full after eating, won't last (never does). Planning to camp at state up road about ten miles, called medicine rock. Biked through Custer national forest today. Scenic, if a little steep. Used library commuter until 6. Biked to medicine rock a little over ten miles. Good to shorten distance for tomorrow. Camped up on ridge. Deer walked by about fifteen yards away - very cool. Second dinner of pb on bagels and bars. Not great, but it's food. Feeling kind of sad today, not sure why, since there were many good things today. Likely just tired, this was a long day. Possible stress from phone situation, seems like stress is usually the cause of this kind of stuff, that and water. Sleep, water, food. Those are probably my the favorite things right now. A favourable wind is a close fourth. Beautiful sunset, a soft glow against hazy clouds. Watched from some sandstone formations.

I traveled about 6 miles today.
Transcribed from notebook, July 4: Rest day at Devils Tower. Biked to gate for lunch, postcard, snacks, sticker. Hiked about four miles on tower trail and red bed trail. Red trail very good, best way to see the tower. Met Frank in AM, had breakfast. Very interesting fellow, living the dream of living and working at devils tower. Phone completely shot by now, wrote out directions to Glasgow, should arrive by July 8, when a new phone will be waiting for me at the post office. Will be a fun few days to Glasgow (I'm excited, venturing into the unknown). A fitting way to celebrate the 4th of July. No fireworks (because it's so dry), just the wonder of one of the greatest places in the United States. During dinner, a big wind came through with some rain to the east of the tower. We saw a brilliant double rainbow stretching across the sky, with the upper arc touching down right on top of the tower. Far better light show than any fireworks I've ever seen. Early to bed, early to rise. Big day tomorrow.

I traveled about 60.7 miles today.
Transcribed from notebook, July 3:
Biked from church outside Spearfish to Devils Tower via Highway 24. Great ride, especially when road got better crossing into Wyoming. Could see devils tower as we approached from many miles away. An awe inspiring sight. Camped on Frank's property, haven't been and to meet him yet, hopefully tomorrow. Great view of the tower from camp. Met lots of climbers staying here as well, very friendly and generous people.
Met Juliana at a cafe in hulett, talked with her about the trip and climbing.
Food running low, will need to resupply tomorrow and find a place with power and wifi to plan next several days of trip and make plans for mailing a new phone.
Down, but never out!

I traveled about 68 miles today.
Transcribed from notebook, July 2: Continued phone trouble, trying to get new phone, without communications for the time being. Chris in Spearfish helped us find a place to camp behind his church. Lisa at Blackbird coffee very kind to let us charge our phones and use their internet. Nearby mountain (crow peak), has been on fire for a few days, can see smoke from spearfish (fire on the mountain, run boys run). Great ride through spearfish canyon, on par with the badlands. Hit 45.5 mph on 7% grade in black hills, new record for trip, lots of fun. Kathy was a great host last night, a former helicopter pilot and lawyer. Flat tire in morning, waiting until Havre to get new tires, still have some life left. Feeling stressed, down, but will persevere. Devils tower tomorrow, excited to meet Frank.

So, as you may have guessed, my phone troubles did not get fixed. Phone is currently non-functional, but I'm having a new one mailed to Glasgow, where I will pick it up in two days. I am writing this from a library computer. Finding the local library has pretty much become priority one when getting into town at the end of the day.

I've been keeping a written journal over the last few days that I will eventually turn into blog posts to fill the missing space. Here are some highlights:
- Ride through Black Hills, Spearfish canyon was excellent.
- Visited bike shop in Spearfish, very helpful. I decided to run my tires until I reach Havre before replacing them. A little risky, but 'should' be fine
- Rest day at Devil's Tower. Warm showers host really cool climbing guide. Took a nice hike around the tower.
- 130 mile day from Devils tower to state park just north of Ekalaka.
- Met Dean this morning in Baker. Really helpful guy, filled up my water bottle and offered to help find places for me to stay with his friends across Montana.
- Got a ride with Ty the last 20-25 miles into Glendive. He pulled over and offered a ride because of a big storm brewing. Good thing he did too.

Heading to Wolf Point tomorrow, Glasgow after. Things are going well, hope to reach Glacier in about a week.

Phone trouble seems to be resolved. Not definitive, but I'm feeling much better about it.

I traveled about 55.5 miles today.
Spotty cell service, so this will be short. Nice ride today to Mt. Rushmore, despite a good rain storm for most of the day. Rain system works well, first test of the trip. Rushmore covered with fog on arrival, cleared momentarily enough for pictures, but was lost in fog again when we left.
Black Hills beautiful riding, though hills do slow progress. Staying near Silver City tonight with Kathy and Jessie, our excellent hosts. Phone trouble still up in the air, will know more tomorrow.