7-13-10
Thur. 7-8-10
Ended up sharing a campsite with Chris from Jefferson City MO.. He is riding from Antecortes WA to Jefferson City for a fund raiser for MO DOT workers families that have been killed doing road work. He crossed MT and to Bismark in about 4 days doing no less than about 120 miles per day due to the great tail wind.
Rode 12 ml., around Bismark on their excellent trail system. They have about 100 miles of trails around the city. Rode down a long the MO river and saw their L&C exhibit and steam boat exhibit.

Got picked up by Lori and family in the RV around 2:30. We drove over to Glendive MT. Camped out there. The next day we joined up with the Van pulling the bike trailer.

Friday 7-9-10
We meet up with the van and bike trailer in Lewistown MT and had lunch. We looked in a small museum and they had an exhibit on Yogo saphires, the ones used in Marta’s wedding ring. That evening we had a bus ride out to Decision Point where L&C had to decide which river was the Missouri. They chose right, the option was the Marias River. We then had a nice dinner at the local dinner and then a tour of Ft Benton reconstruction. They had an excellent speaker explaining the exhibits. He pointed out that this trading post prospered due to the arrangement they had with the indians. They had the indians do the trapping and such then sell to the post. The indians did not want the white man going out into the land. Very interesting. The post had the oldest occupied structure in the state.

Saturday 7-10-10
First day of biking with the group. We did 45 ml to Great Falls with a head wind most of the way. Ended up going about the same pace as Julie (taller than my friend Julia W. from PA, didn’t ask how tall she is Julia :)) We made it in pretty good time. That evening we had a bus tour of Great Falls, lots of neat big old houses from the late 1800’s, early 1900’s. Stayed at Ursaline Community Center, and old Catholic school, very pretty.

Sunday 7-11-10
We biked 60 ml to Wolf Creek, mostly down hill with side or tail wind. The perfect biking day. Stopped several places to rest and talk. Beautiful canyon about the last 1/2 the way.

Monday 7-12-10
Biked from Wolf Creek to Helena up over a c1000ft hill. I took the van over. did only 17 miles. The first were half down the canyon the other was on I15 as it was the only road. Luckily not real busy. Met with Mary Musial, Marta’s friend from her days with WIC. She is heading out Tuesday to IA for her dad’s 90th. BD. We are going to try and meet up when Marta gets out here. We are staying at Carroll College a Catholic College, beautiful old building.

Tuesday 7-13-10
Rest day here in Helena. catching up on this blog and going on a boat tour to Gates of the Mountains tonight.