Biking Dude Blog

I traveled about 66.5 miles today.
Today was the most mentally exhausting day I've has so far. Consistent head winds in the 20-30 mph range, combined with over cast skies, occasional light rain, and cooler temps really drain one's spirit. That, and my average speed was under 10 mph, which is just disheartening. It was 40 miles to Shelby from Chester, and the last ten of those miles had me really struggling to continue. A big thanks to Beth at the Shelby visitor info center, who gave me some good maps, a nice indoor place to eat lunch, advice to get hot soup from the gas station across the street, and for general being very nice. It was both nice and needs to get a bit of hot food and a break. The last twenty some miles to cut bank was much better, though still difficult. Meet up with Walter in cut bank, got a ride to his house nearish big sky colony. Will briefly return to Canada tomorrow on my way to saint Mary! I'm excited. My camping buddy from last night (Cadence, not cascade, don't know why I made that mistake earlier) hitchhiked to cut bank (smart), and we're gong to try to meet up in saint Mary. So, tough day that ended well. Looking forward to next few days. Many, many thanks again to everyone that's been helping me out. Need to start taking more pictures again, especially going through glacier.

I traveled about 105.3 miles today.
Biked all the way from Harlem to Chester today. Got some new tires (and tubes) in Havre. Big thanks to Roger, who opened up his bike shop for a bit today after I called yesterday asking if I could get some tires. Light headwind today, was draining when combined with having a mild cold. Staying in city park tonight, met cascade, who is biking from Minneapolis to Vancouver. Also passed Calvin on the road today, another east west cyclist. Storm coming through tonight, but park has a shelter that should be helpful. Very strong headwind tomorrow, will try to make cut bank. Cascade said that she might just try to hitchhike there. A tempting idea, but I'd like to give it an honest try on the bike first. Also, my bike has a name now (actually, gave it a name on the road to wolf point). Bullet Bill (yes, add in the super Mario baddy). Also, interesting thing from a day or two ago: I saw a truck driving on railroad tracks. It had attachments in the front and rear with train wheels that supported most of the pickup's weight, and the tires had just enough contact to propel the vehicle. Very cool.

I traveled about 97.8 miles today.
Not much of interest today, just pounding out miles. Stayed with Mary and John last night, really wonderful people. Mary made blueberry pancakes for breakfast, yum! Slept pretty restlessly last night, not sure why. I think I caught a cold in Glendive or Wolf Point, but it's not too bad. I sure won't let it stop me. The amazing Dean had been helping me find places to stay on my way through Montana, which has been great. Staying with Gen tonight in Harlem. Really cool warm showers host who actually did a research paper in college about touring cyclists. Been seeing lots of cyclists on the other side of the road the last few days, really interesting being back on the ACA route.

I traveled about 49.1 miles today.
Hit the road a little after 6. Cool day, but low winds make progress easy. Stopped at Bergies in Nashua about 30 miles in, since today will be pretty short. Got breakfast, and a scoop of homemade ice cream, yum. Got to Glasgow a little after 10 am. Read book at library while waiting for phone to arrive. Post office people were extraordinarily helpful. Staying with Mary and John at their cattle farm a little ways outside Glasgow. Regaled with stories if the road, life. Excellent dinner, fresh fruits and veggies. Super great hosts. Haven't slept in a bed in a week, looking forward to it. Long day to Harlem tomorrow. I should stop planning 100+ mile days, but I really want to get to Seattle. Feeling sick, may fave caught a cold in wp or Glendive.

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!