Saturday, June 22, 2013

Ride Day 111

Today I rode from the Longbranch Saloon to Forsyth Montana 82 miles and 2800’ of climbing in a light headwind that still slowed me way down even though it was a just light breeze. My biggest problem today was that there were tons of dead dear along the road stinking it up big time. The dead dear started appearing yesterday in big numbers but this morning there were just too many. I needed a breathing device or something to keep me from gagging on all the carnage. There were a lot of long slow rollers for hills that I did not expect to see. The hills combined with the headwind made the day very tiring. Then there were thundershowers hanging in the sky all day too. I timed it perfectly with just some dumb luck when the skies opened up I was just pulling into a café for another breakfast. It poured outside while I ate. I had a great hashbrowns, eggs, bacon and toast with coffee at the café while I waited for the cell to blow over. The rest of the day there was a light rain falling that did not even get me wet but there were threatening black clouds overhead all day long. When I finally arrived at Forsyth for the night I put my tent up at the Wagon Wheel Campground then went exploring around town. I stopped at a café and had a chicken dinner while I chatted with the owners. They helped me find the tire I need for my bike by calling around up the road for me. She arranged for me to call and meet a bike shop owner that is normally closed on Sunday but he is going to come down to the shop when I call him to help me with the tire. They were all very nice friendly helpful people. Then she told me about some murals that were in town that are painted by a guy using a crowbar. I went to check out the murals and I ran into the artist himself, Bob Watts and took a pic of him in front of one of his murals. He was also very nice and friendly. He was telling me his style and how he arrived at it when the skies decided to tell me it was time to make a quick dash back to the campground or get soaked. So now I am sitting at the campground charging my electronics and catching up with all my other stuff. The wifi just went out though so pics might have to wait until later…

Ride Day 110

Today I rode from Columbus MT to a bar called the Longbranch 65 miles with a couple thousand ft of climbing. I camped the night before in the free campsite at Columbus and I met another biker there. We talked a long time about riding and routes then went to bed after eating a bunch of food. There was a big commotion after I went to bed with sirens and police cars and ambulances racing around in the campground and people yelling and screaming. I understand that there was a fight between two guys and one got hurt somehow so the police were looking for him and the injured guy had to be taken to the hospital. Just a quiet night in Columbus. I had my morning coffee today at McDs so I could use the wifi then I hit the road planning on getting a new tire in Billings. My trip to Yellowstone Nat Park destroyed my tires because the roads were covered with a thick layer of sharp sandy gravel that just chewed my tires down. The gravel is spread on the road in the winter to improve traction for vehicles. I spent a long time trying to find a touring tire but all the bike shops had were racing style tires. Who would have thought that Billings Montana was a hotbed for bike racing. I ended up giving up on my search and am currently riding on a tire that will blow out if I hit a hole or rock so I need to be careful. I stopped for lunch at a bar called the Longbranch intending to eat and ride some more. Instead I had a pizza and a beer then someone bought me another beer and then someone bought some shots and another beer and the next thing I knew my plans to ride were shot too. I had a good time drinking talking and playing pool. Then a guy bought me a double cheeseburger that was good. I ended up putting my tent in the backyard of the bar for the night. I did not lose much riding time though because the thunderstorms started in the early afternoon and went on most of the night but I slept right through them…

Ride Day 111 by jimfrogs at Garmin Connect - Details

Ride Day 111 by jimfrogs at Garmin Connect - Details

Ride Day 110 by jimfrogs at Garmin Connect - Details

Ride Day 110 by jimfrogs at Garmin Connect - Details