In a way. Mostly it was just fine. But did you know??? Montana has so many cows - at least this reason is my best guess - that it needs cattle guards on the entry and exit ramps, all of them that we saw, of I-90. Have you ever ridden over a cattle guard? It is not my idea of fun. Several sections of Friday's route were on I-90. I have no pride. I just kept getting off and walking cautiously across them. Just to make it a little more entertaining for passing motorists, the spaces between the bars are sort of big, or maybe my feet just aren't up to Big Sky standards. I had to place each foot ever so carefully to keep it from falling between the bars, all while balancing my skinny tires so they wouldn't fall between the bars. Got to do that about 8 times.
I managed to avoid 2, and in a way that has made Bruce very happy. He is one of many to have a problem with my unblemished driving record, so he is ever so pleased to be able to report that, when we realized we had gotten off one exit early, I turned right around and went back up the ramp THE WRONG WAY!
I guess we all have our wild moments.
We had lunch at the Grand Hotel in Big Timber. We were walking down the main street peering at one option, a bar & restaurant, when a pleasant woman came up and pointed to the Grand Hotel. She said we would prefer it, and while looking directly at the place we'd been considering, added, "You're not the type!" We never determined if she was right about that - never even looked inside. We just headed across the street & had a very good lunch & found ourselves talking to a few people who overheard us answering the where-are-you-riding question. We managed to pick up some useful local information.
When we headed out, some stormy clouds had materialized. We appeared to be heading straight for one massive cloud with what looked like a firehose level of water pouring down from it. It offered a lightning flash just to keep things interesting. But either we are fast or the cloud moved in a good direction or the road wound aroung helpfully, and before long it was off to the side. Now approaching us was a massive black cloud that seemed to be sitting right on the ground, and not too far away. Nonetheless, we had to stop to see the little prairie dog park. The prairie dogs were nice enough to pop right out and stare and sqeak and even to do a little dance-like display for us, so the threatening cloud had not advanced all that far when we moved on. We tried to keep moving to avoid it. We succeeded again.
Willie came by a little later to tell us that the night's B&B was really great. Bruce was tired & chose to hop in with her and spend a little extra time there. I was still having fun so I went ahead and rode some extra miles. They ended up being some of the best of the whole day. Although I felt a few drops it never reached the point where the rain gear came out. In fact, the only time it really opened up & poured was right after we all got back for the night and took chairs on the great porch. Then we had a short, spectacular and nearby thunderstorm. Then we had a great night's sleep.
Bunkhouse B&B, Reed Point. It may not be available long; our hosts are thinking of selling the house they live in noe and moving into the space we got. If you happen to be headed this way soon, it is really great.
Friday miles 76
Total so far 1181
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