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Well Carol you were right about the weather changing - thank you! It's our first break from riding today, mid morning. We just had an amazing, fast, really straight ride from Great Falls to Havre, MT. We were speeding along at 120 (I can hear Les laughing now), below Montana's Big Skies, a vivid blue today with scattered white cumulus clouds. Yellow prairie in front, behind, beside. Wild horses and their foals cantering alongside made for a wow moment. 30 Harleys riding towards us in a daunting clump, all waving as they passed, made for a wow moment. We rode through lots of cozy farmsteads, their small rural properties littered with assorted farm implements, clotheslines, dogs, kid's bikes, and rustic caravans.
John, if you are riding along with us, Ian says you owe us for gas! We haven't found the grilled cheese yet, but are now on the lookout. We must confess however that yesterday we pulled into a roadside diner in Lincoln and downed a couple of Monster Cinnamon Buns. Damn they were good! Sorry BDHQ, but sitting up tall, sucking in the abs and squeezing that tank with the knees all day burns alot of energy!
We
hope no-one is offended by the comments and perspectives in our blogs. We write them and edit them together with kind heart and humour, despite the sometimes dark descriptives. And so on that note, Ian says as much as he thought Alaska could be described as BC on steroids, this country could be likened to Langford on steroids.
We made it to Highway 2 at lunchtime and continued on with our speedy ride. We passed through Glasgow, Malta, Chinook, Harlem, Saco, ending up at Wolfpoint in the Sherman Inn. Our longtime companion, the river, has been replaced with railway line running adjacent to us for most of the day. We were between small towns, with not another vehicle in sight, open road ahead and behind, and 50 feet to the right a freight train approached. He started to blow his whistle, and when alongside us, hung out the window and waved like mad at us! Add that to the list of wow moments today - it was heartwarming and brought big smiles!
We each had a couple of Hole in the Hedge Fred frights today that got our attention in a hurry. Sideways insanely strong gusts of wind
that come at you from both sides at the same time and shake you into a violent zigzag wiggle that lasts a second. Grip the tank baby, be one with the bike and she will settle into her own balance and rhythm and will look after you. Sure enough, but encounters like that resharpen your focus and get your heartrate racing. Most of all, it made me think of my baby sis in England and her partner Fred, who rides a Honda 900 at crazy speeds throughout Lincolnshire and past many a hedge hole.
We stopped at a small store/cafe in Dodson, population 123. A kind, elderly gentleman, the proprietor we think, dressed in lumberjack shirt and faded well-worn jeans greeted us with a How ya Doin, we don't serve meals here ya know! More smiles. His store was sparce indeed, a few twinkies on the shelf and some cake donuts, but in the cooler a truckload of energy drinks. We bought a gatorade and a small bag of pretzels and stood outside in the front parking area to eat, eyed the whole time by an older lady standing on her porch nearby. In those few minutes, we counted
only 5 vehicle drivebys. Route 2 is definitely quiet, the road is in great shape, and there are very few semis! I can see why cyclists prefer it (although do you ride in the shoulder at times?).
And now to Wolf Point. We stopped here because we achieved 530 kms today and needed blood circulation back into the buttocks. It's a small dusty gravelly town, with many closed down boarded up shops. We walked past half a dozen bars and casino lounges, all in full swing, on our way to the grocery store. The locals are incredibly friendly. I actually just googled Wolf Point, because we wanted the history on the town. It is the largest community on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and has a population of 2621. Apparently, Lewis and Clark were here too - they got around. Route 2 is part of the Lewis and Clark trail. I missed that geography lecture at school, so am really happy I saw the Lewis and Clark IMax movie before we left on this trip. I have a much better appreciation of the distances they navigated, and I'm sure that many of the areas we have ridden through looked
much the same as when they were here. Anyway, that's it for today, we are heading to bed early so we can be on the road by 5:30am, breakfast in Willingston ND! I LOVE my bike. Love to everyone.
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Baby Sis
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Fun times!
So pleased you are enjoying your trip and taking time to look around and take it all in! Wish we were riding along with you. What fun that would be. Hoping to take time out from mucking out crews and moving sheep tomorrow and get out on the bike! Can't wait to get my speed thrills of 100/110 mph lol. I can see your face now Helli !! :) I do get a daily dose of shepherding on the quad with Meg (dog) riiding shotgun doing upto 25mph up the road to the yard with the wind blowing through my hair as no helmet. Hey, I could always follow you on your trail on that I suppose!!! Keep riding safe. xxxxxx