Stats: Today - 76 miles; 1241 miles to date
Elevation climbed: 531 ft; 41,570 feet to date
Temp. Low: low 50's High: mid 70's
Mix of sun and clouds, 10-20 mph tailwinds
After starting off on Hwy 2 with light tailwinds, our route took us off the highway for about fifteen miles. Though Hwy 2 has had light traffic in the morning it was nice to ride on a quiet reservation (Fort Belknap Indian Reservation) road similar to a quiet county road.
About a mile onto the road we were greeted by a dog who wanted to chase us. This is only the second time this has happened to us. I read in one bicyclist's blog where he would stop riding, get off his bike, get his bike between him and the dog (just in case), befriend the dog and try to get him to go home. It always worked. We also stopped riding and talked to the dog but it took some coaxing to get the dog to go home. He or she seemed to be trying to coax us to continue riding. Eventually he or she did go home. Maybe getting off the bike might have produced a quicker result. In both cases they were friendly dogs.
As the day went on the winds picked up a bit with crosswinds at times when we rode in a northeast direction.
About five miles before reaching Saco, our destination for the night, we started to get a little rain. When I stopped to wait for Mary I got bombarded with mosquitoes and gnats. I couldn't wait. I had to keep riding. Again I stopped to wait, but again I got bombarded, so on I went two more miles to Saco.
Mary was so far behind because she was bombarded by a couple of birds who didn't leave her until they deposited a big "SPLAT" on her leg and bike bag!
Once in Saco, a very small town, we planned to camp at the city park. It did have less mosquitoes, but it was next to the railroad tracks. We would have literally set up our tent within 25 yards from the tracks. Since the tracks run parallel with Hwy 2, we've heard the trains every night - many trains each night. Last night we camped two blocks away and we woke up each time they came through because they sound their horns.
So instead of the city park, we are in the small motel across the street. It should muffle the noise some.
"easy-like Sunday morning"
"Easy now, I'm leaving."
Our new friend.
cheap fixer-upper
Milk River
roadside flowers
The storm ahead. We only had a few drops.
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