7/5-The End Of Cutthroat, and the Beginning of Steppe

I had a lovely evening with Pete and Verna from Nebraska last night (but Pete had lived in Auburn). Finally had to excuse myself and go to bed. 

I wasn’t in too great of a hurry this morning. I thought I only had 45 miles to Cooney Lake State Park. Tuan was heading to Billings today on frontage roads. 

The first 15 miles to Reed Point were all on the frontage road. 

Morning on the frontage road

Some bird of prey

I thought it was cute how the one horse had its head I. The back of the other one. 

It was trending downhill, so I arrived in Reed Point at 9:00. The little gas station/convenience store was just open. It was a bit early for chocolate milk, but I figured I wasn’t going to have another opportunity. 

Coming in to Reed Point

Very western looking

Wanda and a friend. 

I started climbing as I was leaving the town. It was a 3.2 mile gravel climb with an average grade of 7%.

It’s going up!

Looking back down to the town

You can see the switchbacks

Looking back down. 

I was actually quite proud of myself. I managed to ride the whole climb! Of course I took breaks, but I didn’t walk!

The top, but there wasn’t really a descent

Lots of this long straight gravel

I was just riding along when I saw this calf on the wrong side of the fence. 

He ran along beside me for awhile. He was definitely looking for a way back to his friends. 

There was more up and down on the gravel. Finally I came to some houses. 

Okay, I’ll stay on the road

Interesting vehicle for gravel

The road became pavement, and I came down to the hwy, and the end of Segment 2-Cutthroat. It was 664 miles! I loaded up Segment 3-Steppe. Here I realized I did not go into Columbus. I had 15 miles to the state park. I figured I had enough water, so I stayed on the route. 

I turned onto the rollercoaster that was Shane Creek Rd. So many ups and downs! There were three climbs that initiated the climb pro. 

By now I was getting tired, hungry, and thirsty. I was starting to ration my water. My mouth was so dry. 

The road finally came down for a good bit. I even had a deer sighting. 

Thanks for posing

According to the route, the camping was on the north side of Cooney Lake. I was beginning to get a bit worried, but then I saw the sign for the north shore. It was another couple of miles to the first campground. When I arrived, I immediately went and filled a bottle, and sat down and ate a fruit pie. I drank a good liter of water. 

I have looked at the route for tomorrow, and I am not sure what to do. There is no camping or lodging for over 100 miles. I will be entering tribal land, so stealth camping could be tricky. I thought of going to Billings from Joliet, but then to get back to the route, I’d have to ride I-90 I think. I might just go as far as I can, and hope for the best. I think there is more downhill tomorrow than today. Today was very warm, and I think that made it harder. If I continue on the route, I’ll fill all my water in Joliet. 

Cooney Lake

My campsite