West. Day 27.

July 5, 2016

Grass Range to Lewistown, Montana

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The ACA profile indicated a more than 1000-foot elevation gain in about 20 miles. Before reaching Lewistown, I had to cross the Judith Mountains--my first pass!

A peaceful scene before tackling the climb over the Judith Mountains.

Despite a few spots of pushing my bike, and rolling it into the ditch three times to let traffic pass on the narrow road, it was nice to pedal amongst trees again. (Not to mention more cover under which to pee.) The climb was long and challenging, but it ended.

I delayed my descent to chat with two riders pushing heavily loaded bicycles up the other side. The retired couple was riding to Virginia from their home in Oregon.

The woman attempted to dismount, but her bike's weight got away from her. She guided it to a soft landing. "Can I take a photo of you for my blog?" she asked.

Of course.

While she dug out her camera, her husband showed me the portable solar charger strapped over his gear. "It works pretty well," he said.

Eager for the taste of sweet gravity on the downside, I didn't bother to take a photo in return. The drop into Lewistown was GLORIOUS.

Fourth of July bunny in Grass Range.

No visit by Bunny like last night. Only a prairie dog scurrying back to its hole.

And no answers for me. I think I still had something to learn.

My original Facebook post:

POSTCARD FROM THE ROAD July 5, 2016

Michael, a violin and viola player from N Carolina and fellow camper at the Kiwanis Rest Park in Lewistown, MT said, "Patti, you are missing the most fabulous sunset."

"I know, I'm sitting the wrong way," I said, "but what about that?"

A few yards away across a dry grass field, a young man was wailing away on his fiddle. The mountain backdrop in the chilled evening air enhanced the mournful Americana tune he was playing.

Jimmy is an undergrad geologist from Nebraska working here for the last month with a doctorate student and his advisor. "I was born and raised in Washington DC," he said, "but my family is all Virginia." He and his wife are expecting their first baby next month. He is ready to go home.

A fiddle-playing geologist from Nebraska, a musician from NC who is losing his sight to muscular degeneration ("That's why I'm taking this trip while I still can," he said), an English couple who came to America last summer, bought a small RV and have been traveling the USA for a year ("We have to go east and home next month," she said), a couple from Houghton, MI traveling home from a family reunion north of Missoula, a crazy lady riding her bicycle from MI, all brought together by the slide of a bow across strings.

Thanks for the concert, Jimmy!