7/9-Naming the Rocks

Today was going to be another big mile day, only this one had about 3/4 of the ride on gravel. I left as early as I could at 6:15. It was nice and cool. I embraced it!

Enjoying the cool shade!

Oh, and there’s my shadow!

The first 24 miles were on pavement. I was carrying an extra two liters of water, so it seemed slow. I got an early deer sighting. 

I actually saw more deer/antelope today than any other day. 

My Garmin bleeped telling me I had reached about the 1/3 route completion mark. That means I’m still on track for an end of August finish.

1/3rd done!

I’ve been averaging 46.6 miles per day. 

Shortly after, Ben caught up to me. We chatted for a moment, then he jetted ahead. 

See ya!

I went by Stag Rock. I didn’t name this one. 

Also this forest of “hay trees”.

Funny way to set hay bales!

At the turn for the beginning of the gravel, I stopped for a mid morning banana cream pie and a Bai Coconut drink. Chocolate milk wouldn’t have made it (don’t worry, I had it for breakfast). 

Ben and I had been talking about the condition of the road, hoping it wouldn’t be muddy after last night’s thunderstorm. 

It was just fine!

There were a few short climbs, but mostly it was just gradually going up. The rock formations were very cool! I started naming them. 

I called these “Teepee Rocks”

This is “Squirrel and friend”

It was very scenic going up through forest and meadows. 

I thought I heard a cow. It was this windmill. 

Such a variety of greens!

I called these humps “The Jugs” (my Olympia gravel riding friends will understand).

The top was Diamond Butte. 

Diamond Butte

Then it was down (more so than the up had been)

The colors were really this vibrant!

Sadly, the red rock gravel came to an end, and I turned on to a plain ol’ gravel road. Actually, for awhile, it was horrible. I followed Ben’s tracks back and forth, looking for the smoothest part. Weirdly, after crossing a cattle grate, the gravel improved. I was in a valley with red and white striped hills on both sides.

for awhile it was cool to see. But then, the road just seemed to go on and on and on. It was 23 miles of this endless road. There was a decent breeze which sometimes was in my favor, but if nothing else, kept me cooler. 

I finally started coming to some civilization. I thought this mailbox was creative. 

I had done the last short climbs, but that wasn’t the end of the hills. It was a rollercoaster. In the last 4 miles before town, I went up and down 6 times! 

Finally I came to 212. Yes, I could have gone straight to Broadus on 212 in 44 miles instead of 72 on the gravel long way around, but it wouldn’t have been nearly as beautiful. 

Once again, there was a bike path. 

Looks pretty new. 

I’m in a motel again tonight (stupid expensive for what it is). I went to the Montana Bar and Cafe for a burger. Tonight I’m going to bed early. Two big mile days back to back have me wanting a bit more sleep tonight. I haven’t looked yet to see where I’ll go tomorrow. Hopefully there is something of a reasonable distance!

7/8-What Was All the 212 Kerfuffle About?

I knew I had a big day today, so I was on the road at 6:30. Cool thing about today was that there was a town of sorts about every 20 miles. So, every couple of hours or so, I could get something cold to drink, and a snack. 

This was also another day of Reservation riding, two different tribes. 

First up…the Crow

I also crossed the Bighorn River. 

And saw this sign that I actually turned around to take a photo. 

Didn’t see any pigs though. 

Today had way more climbing than yesterday. 

Going up into the hills

Then getting a bit of down

The first town I came to was Crow Agency. One thing I’d heard about Crow Agency was that there were a lot of dogs. That was true, but while they gave a bit of a chase, I just sweet talked them, and they gave up without me having to even yell at them. I didn’t tell a couple to watch out for the cars!

 I stopped in at the gas station for my standard chocolate milk and a banana cream pie (ooo…something different!). As I was heading down the road to find a shady spot for my snack, who should I happen upon? Ben! Last saw him in Three Forks, the day I was riding with Brian. We’d been messaging, so I knew he was near. He went back to the gas station to get a resupply. I found a shady picnic table and ate my snack. Two young Native girls walking to breakfast, stopped to chat with me. They looked to be 12 or 13. A woman pulled up in a van, and was asking the girls what they were doing (probably because they were talking to this strange lady on a bike). They went off to breakfast, and the woman got out of her car, and came to chat with me. Her name was Shonna. When I told her where I was going, she made sure to tell me how terrible Hwy 212 was. Now, I had already heard this from the guys ahead of me, who got the info from some Crow Agency locals. Those guys opted to go via Sheridan, WY instead of doing the “terrible” Hwy 212. According to Crow Agency sources, 212 had no shoulder, and the semis didn’t move over to pass you. I decided to take my chances. One thing I’ve learned is that you should not take it as gospel what a non-cyclist tells you about road conditions, and the danger of said conditions.

So I continued toward the dreaded 212. Along the way I stopped at this Warrior Trail Veterans Memorial. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get the best photo because the paint was wet (so the sign said).

Potentially wet paint. The sign also said to keep off the grass. 

Soon I arrived at the intersection to get on 212. I did have to wait a hot minute for traffic to clear, but this is what it looked like once I pulled onto it. 

Jeez! That shoulder looks…wait…

The turn for Little Bighorn Battlefield was just up ahead. 

I didn’t go to the battlefield. Honestly, I kind of feel like if you’ve been to one battlefield, you’ve probably been to enough. When we did the Trans Am, we went to Bighole Monument/Battlefield also in Montana. Besides, I really didn’t have time either. 

The hwy was quite rolling. There were ups that seemed like they should have initiated the Climb Pro, but didn’t. And all those semis? Yeah, most of them moved over, even though I had a huge shoulder. 

Next Rez was the Northern Cheyenne. 

And the next town was Busby. Not much to Busby, but they had a minimally stocked trading post. 

I got a Dr Pepper and, weirdly, a red velvet cupcake.

Funny thing, I asked the young clerk if they had a restroom. She said they didn’t, but if it was an emergency, I could go around the side of the building. Of course I have my p-style, so no problem!

From Busby, the next town was Lame Deer, about another 20 miles down the road. There, at the roundabout (I think my first one in Montana) was a kind of a “mall” of sorts. There were a few shops, one of which had ice cream. I had a bowl of huckleberry, and a bottle of water. In the restroom, I soaked my buff and my headband. Nearly the entire day was completely exposed in the sun. 

From Lame Deer, it was exactly 20 more miles to my destination of Ashland. In that 20 miles there were two significant climbs, both the longest climbs of the day. The first was just shy of 2 miles. The second was 5 miles. The grades weren’t bad, and I don’t think I ever got into my easiest gear, but after 60 miles, even an easier climb is exhausting.

Hmmm…some scenery!

This dog was hanging out by the hwy, when I rode by, it took off like a shot! Perhaps it knew it wasn’t supposed to be there?

Woo Hoo top of the first climb, and one of my favorite signs!

Top of the second climb! An even steeper descent!

The descent from the long climb was not as fun because the shoulder was narrower (because the uphill side had a secondary slow lane). 

There was one final short climb before I descended to Ashland. 

Still about 6 miles to go.

When I started to approach Ashland, I noticed this bike path. 

It made for an awesome ride into town.

My plan was to stay at the Western 8 Motel. I got checked in, and to my room. It’s definitely no frills. 

However, it’s a good thing I’m indoors. Just after I went to the convenience store, a thunderstorm came in, and it poured down rain. 

Good idea to be sleeping indoors!

So, the “terrible” Hwy 212 turned out to be just fine! In fact, for such a long day (84 miles-new distance record), it was kind of perfect (might have been better if it was a little cooler).

7/7-Not Much to Look at Today

Here’s my campsite from last night. There was a thunderstorm and it rained off and on most of the night. Still, it was one of the better campsites. Sure, there were a few cow pies, but it’s not the first time I’ve camped in a cow pasture. 

Right on the creek. 

Had to walk across this pasture, and through another gate. 

I was on the road at 7:30. I went through the rest of Pryor. Not much to it, and no services. 

I’m so glad I didn’t try to get to Hardin yesterday. It wasn’t difficult, but it would have been with the wind. Plus, it was so much the same scenery, and miles upon miles of straight roads, that I might have fallen asleep on my bike! Also, it would have been just shy of a hundred miles. Here’s what the day looked like. 

Becca told me I might spot a porcupine in the trees. I saw a dead one on the road, but none in the trees. 

Endless straight road 

A whole lotta nothin’

Even longer straight road

I had ridden 50 miles by about 12:15. Since there were no services (meaning no chocolate milk), there wasn’t much reason to stop. I stopped mostly just to pee, and eat some snacks. Half the time, I didn’t even get off my bike. The wind was much better today. 

About 1:00 or so, I finally made it to Hardin. 

The town down there

I needed some groceries, so I rode straight to the bigger grocery store. An employee at the store brought Wanda inside because some kid was looking at her. I thanked her. Wanda is now locked to the picnic table at the RV park. I did guzzle down a bottle of chocolate milk at the grocery store!

The woman who owns the RV park is kind of a crazy cat lady. Her name is Laurie. In the office I counted at least 4 cats (and a little terrier who likes belly rubs). She was telling me all about how her AAA status was taken from her, and how she’s going to sue and all that. But, the best thing about this place is at 7:30 there is an ice cream social. For $4.00 you get a big bowl of ice cream (many flavors to choose from). I’ll be doing that for sure!

Oh, and I did see a deer this morning, but it was too quick for me to get a photo.