montana is big

ummm, this state is large! i keep pedaling and pedaling and feel like i'm getting nowhere. the 105 degree heat and 20 mph headwinds aren't helping either. i didn't realize how much wind can affect riding, but a constant headwind becomes frustrating and exasperating. i much preferred the slight breeze at my back. where is that irish blessing when ya need it??? the road seems to be rising to meet me (or that may just be gravity), but the wind is not at my back.

anyway, i have pit-stopped in havre, montana. for lunch at debbie doo's restaurant/bar/casino/espresso/who knows what. they have lots of them up here, apparently they like their slots. now i'm at a best western across the street, waiting out a passing shower. hopefully that'll cool things down.

i gotta tell ya - i am tired. this 100 miles a day in 100 degree temps seems to be catching up to me. the heat is so draining, even if you do drink 40 gallons of water. maybe it's the vastness of the state too, it makes you feel small. like no matter how much you pedal you'll still be in the exact same spot. i have heard that north dakota is very similar... wide open spaces! it's not exactly how i pictured montana, to be honest. i was expecting beautiful big open sky, but instead it's flat hot and barren. and i thought ohio was flat and empty! rrrright. it is dry, almost desert-like. and windy. i was talking to some guys at the bike shop today who are heading in the other direction, and they said the upcoming stretch of towns that i'll be passing through are supposed to have some of the worst mosquitos in america. nice!
and, after the beauty of glacier national park, you're bound to be let down. at least a little bit.
plus i had two flat tires yesterday, so that didn't help things. actually, people stopped to ask if i needed help both times, so that was nice. they are very friendly up here. the first lady actually had a son that's riding across country the other way. he's currently in north dakota. small world. with the second flat tire - both of them were caused by small slivers of glass that had worked their way into the tire - a guy stopped and offered to throw the bike in the back of his pickup truck. at this point it was 7pm, i was hot, hungry, thirsty, and exhausted. so it was very tempting. but i reluctantly declined the offer, telling him that i had to pedal every mile. i suppose i'm stubborn, but if i'm going to ride across country then i'm going to ride across country. not ride in a pickup truck.
anyway, i finally made it into town, where i promptly marched into the bar/rv park/restaurant/casino/town meeting place - one horse town - and found ice cold crystal geysar water bottles in the cooler! i had 4 of them in 15 minutes. 16.9 ounces x 4 = thirsty and exhausted biker. i was a sight for sore eyes. white salt all over my shirt and face. the locals asked how many miles i had traveled, and i said 'too many!'. the guy that had offered me a ride was there too! he was super nice, he went back home briefly to feed his dogs and then came back, bringing me an ice cream bar for my efforts. i never did catch his name, but he was great.
turns out it's harvest time up here, i was learning all about it. they grow wheat and grain, and because of the hot temps they are harvesting a little early.

anyway, one of the hotel guests wants to use the computer so i should get going. i suppose paying customers have the right of way.

tally ho! back to the saddle, hi ho silver. away!