June 21

Left Sula about 5:45.  Cold, cloudy, chilly morning.  We had to put on our woolies.  Had to do major climb right out of the chute. Chief Joseph Pass.  We had to climb about 2,600 feet, to 7,200 feet.  At that point we crossed the Continental Divide. Saw a mountain type wabbit with four white paws.  We saw those as lucky rabbit feet.  Went downhill into Wisdom.

Met Sue in Wisdom, Montana, about 37 miles, where we had our coffee and some blueberry pancakes.  Establishment was Fetty’s.  Service was not their strong suit, one waitress for about 23 people, but they did have barstools at the bar shaped like tractor seats.  I left my yellow jacket there and had to return to get that.  Still cold on the road.

One thing we haven’t seen many of us is state troopers and police cars.  As I was returning to catch up, I saw a policeman in the gas station.  On the next road we saw more state troopers and police cars than we have seen on the entire trip.  Montana mostly has 70 mph speed limits on all its roads, not just the expressways.  And most of them see 70 as the minimum speed.  We mentioned to someone at the RV Park about the surplus of troopers.  His response was that the “Rainbow” people were going to be in town, about 20,000 spread out over the area.  He described them as people born in the 40’s and 50’s who were big on the environment and being free-spirited.  They are not held in very high esteem.

Long, flat, straight rides.  Past ranches of thousands of acres.  Went into Jackson and went through to Dillon, Montana.  Total of about 105 miles.  In an RV Park again camping on a river.  Showers  again.  Not many people in Montana.  But everybody owns a pickup.

We have been seeing more cyclists doing the same trail.  They all have different stories.  Most are self supported which means they are carrying all their equipment and shtuff.   Most of them have 3 months to do their trip.  They are real troopers.  Some travel alone, some travel in 2’s and 3’s.

Wildlife report.  We saw some antelope, some deer, some prairie dogs (one of which I almost hit in the road, would have been good for stew), and some yellow headed birds.  Of course, there was the usual dose of cows, buffalo, and horsies.  Jack saw a pickup truck full of deerhead and antlers.  Go figure.

One question we have is why almost every town we go through, there is the first letter of the name of the town on a nearby hill.  Jeff thinks it is for emergency helicopters or planes to spot these small towns out in the middle of nowhere.  Like the 4077 in MASH.  Not everyone agrees. 

Tomorrow, we head for Ennis, Montana and then into Yellowstone on Sunday.

Jeff, Jerry, Jack, and Sue