Due
to the deep low pressure region in the US Northwest, we had to alter our
travel plans at the beginning of our trip, and after 4 days we are now
stuck in Whitefish, MT.
Arriving
in a snowstorm, Whitefish MT. Stuck in the
motel
After the snow disappeared in Whitefish and the sun came out
again, we finally loaded our bikes and made it back on the roads.
For most of our trip across Montana we had the BNSF
(Burlington-Northern-Santa Fe) Rail in sight or at least we could hear
it. There is much traffic on the rails with 2-3 engines pulling 70-110
cars. We love the sound of the blowing horns.
The first dozen miles or so were a bit uncomfortable because of the
heavy weight of the bikes. After Columbia Falls the landscape was great
and the climbs not too demanding. We crossed the Flathead River, which
was running high. The mountains of Glacier NP were all white and looked
beautiful in contrast to the green forest below. In West Glacier we took
a motel outside of town. We had no phone nor TV, but from our room we
had a great view of the Glacier Mountains.
 |
Near
Columbia Falls |
| Bridge
over Flathead River |
| First
glimpse of Glacier National Park |
|
Glacier
National Park |
Glacier National Park mountain peaks
On 6/14 we had to make it across the Continental Divide over
Maria's Pass to East Glacier. The famous and challenging
"Going-to-the-Sun Road" was still closed due to snowfall
earlier this week. But even Maria's Pass was challenging enough with our
loads. Fortunately we had a strong tailwind pushing us up the pass. In
East Glacier, we ended up again in a motel we had been in some 15 years
ago. That evening we relaxed on the porch.
| Early
morning riding |
| Middle
Fork Flathead River |
| Waterfall
along the highway |
|
Mountain
highway |
|
Marias
Pass |
On 6/15 out into the "flat" prairies. It started with
a killer climb out of a river valley and then the view became wide, very
wide. We rolled downhill with a few climbs in between. Browning, an
Indian town, was a bit depressing. We stopped at the "Town
Pump" for a coffee. Then we continued with tailwind on a wide
shoulder towards Cut Bank. Because it was Father's day, it was very calm
in town. While picnicking on a shady bank outside the store, we were
invited from a man (Harley guy) to stay in a cheap motel in town, run by
his girlfriend. The room was very large, but unfortunately had been
occupied by smokers before. We opened the door and all windows but were
not able to eliminate the odor. Most of the evening we sat on the front
porch.
| Looking
back at the mountains |
| This
is the prairie! |
| Following
Hwy 2 and the BNSF railroad |
|
Grain
elevators along the route |
On 6/16 we only had a short trip to Shelby, 24 miles away. We
reached the town by 10 am. We took a half rest day with laundry,
Internet and restocking food. We had constantly westerly winds and the
same was predicted on the Weather Channel.
On 6/17 we made it via Chester to Joplin (pop. 210). In
Chester I talked for a while with an old farmer. Before we restarted, we
ran into a young couple riding on the Northern Tier. That day they were
doing a century ride to Havre. Strong!! When we came into Joplin, we
found the City Park very comfortable, clean and quiet. We put up our
tent in the shade of a few trees and we sat in a brand new pavilion. In
the evening a father and son visited us for a longer talk. We polished
away a six-pack and had a nice conversation.
| Another
couple riding the Northern Tier |
| Joplin
City Park campsite |
| Resting
in Joplin City Park |
|
Variable
shoulder widths |
Next day, (6/18) after a breakfast stop in Rudyard (pop. 275) we made it
over plenty of hills (Hill County) into Havre, the first town of any
size. In the motel I could use the computer to inform the German friends
about our progress.
The next
morning (6/19) there was road constructions on Main Street in
Havre, which made for a longer detour . But once we were out
of town, a unusual strong tailwind pushed us ahead. During a breakfast
stop in Chinook we investigated about staying in Harlem, a town right by
the Indian Reservation. Everybody advised, not to stay in Harlem, but
instead to make it across the Reservation at least to Dodson. Huh, that
would be more than 70 miles for us. OK, due to the strong wind, we made
it on our own to Dodson. There was road
construction for the next 4-5 miles, so a friendly old gentlemen in the
store/cafe offered a lift, which was extended to Malta, where we reached
a motel after 78 miles.
Next day, 6/20, was a full rest day. Due to the unusually good rainfall this
spring, not only were the meadows were wonderfully green, but the mosquitoes
were fully active. Every stop by the road was immediately followed by an
attack of many of the beasts. We had to buy a can of "Off",
which worked well.
| Taking
a rest |
| Rest
stop in the shade |
| Having
a MIller Lite in the Dodson bar |
| This
is fun with a tailwind! |
| OB's
Cafe in Saco |
After the rest day it was predicted "tailwind" and
temperatures in the 90s. First we planned to go tol Hindsdale
(pop.150) and camp in the City Park. During the breakfast stop in Saco,
we decided to go to Glasgow, to have a motel room, shower and AC in
the heat. This was another 70 mile day. The heat reached 94 F by the
time we
made it to Glasgow.
6/22 - From Glasgow to Wolf Point was the hardest battle so far. A
very strong SE-wind made every pedal stroke hard. In Nashua, our
breakfast stop, the owner promised to find a ride for us to Wolf Point
among his guests, but we waited more than one hour in vain. Instead it
had heated up to 100 F and in the afternoon, a storm front from the SW
came closer. When we had checked in the motel, the thunderstorm started
with strong wind gusts and hard rain. Puh!!
The next day was much of the same. This time the wind changed to NE, with the
same power like yesterday. We made it to Poplar in the Indian
Reservation. During breakfast we decided to look ourselves for a lift in
a truck to Culbertson, some 35 miles away. There were so many friendly
people in town, there should be one ready to give us a ride. But when
you stand besides the road and wait for a vehicle, you realize that the
majority of them are cars and not trucks, even in this rural surrounding.
OK, a good hour later we sat in the truck of "Shep", an old
Indian Gentleman, who had served in the Army in Germany and still loves
the "Frauleins and Sauerkraut", no kidding. Due to the high
gas prices we gave him a reasonable cash.
| One
of many Beaver Creeks |
| Taking
a break in the shade |
| Escaping
the heat during a 90+ degree F day |
6/24 - We finally made it out of Montana and into Williston,
North Dakota. It started with a light headwind and increased to a
stronger SE/S-wind. Even in the morning we were followed by dark clouds.
At the breakfast stop in Bainville, people wished us to "escape
from the hailstorm" to come. That made our pedal strokes even
stronger when we climbed the last two noticeable hills out of Montana.
The shoulder along Hwy 2 in North Dakota was in much better condition.
With only a few drops of rain on our back we made it into Williston and
arrived at our motel just in time to have shelter from the now opening
thunderstorm, big enough to be reported on the Weather Channel.
| How
true! |
| Oversize
load |
| Waiting
for a lift |
| Shep
delivered us to Cubertson |
 
|
