To sleep in the best cabin came with obligations. I was to provide pancakes & coffee for everyone. Invites were 7:30 for 8am. We all mucked in & dined alfresco on the patio at a pleasant 20C.
Diners included Sebastian Voorhees, Tom Grundy & Geolyn Carvin – who had just written a book “On The Trail with Boots McFarland – vol1” & was to fund her extravagant bike, Salsa Fargo Ti. She has a sharp mind & sense of fun, so I reckon it will be a good read. Because of the recurring theme of forever bumping into each Other along the trail, breakfast was chatty & familiar.
On leaving, I called by on my hosts to for a final thanks. Immediately John whisked me in for coffee & discussions on politics & how Artificial Intelligence will certainly make man (& woman) redundant!!
Helena, being the capital of Montana, was worth spending a little time so selected a shorter, 30 mile route which included a mix of gravel & metalled road, with ETA of 3:pm. It would also avoid a serious climb.
This ride was as spectacular as ever. Real, working ranches (not dude ranches), landscapes & mountains that seem to go on forever. Also, for almost 15 miles, the wind was with me so felt like I was being carried along on a conveyor belt at no effort.
To arrive in a city the size of Helena with my bear spray & bear bell still ringing seemed very odd & out of place. With MT having so much space, the suburbs stretch for miles with even the most modest dwellings occupying large plots of land. The city centre (old part) was smart but small & unimpressive but had enough bike shops to make any cyclist very happy.
Again I came across Mark, Nic, Geolyn & Tom. We still keep saying goodbye knowing now, it’s unlikely to be for very long!
John's Epic Cycle Adventures 