Day 12: Helena to Bozeman

Another big (116 miles) ride and another after dinner blog post.  I made it to the hotel in Bozeman about 3:30pm but simply did not have the energy to start working on today's post.  However, after a big dinner and a milk shake from the nearby Five Guys I am now up to the task.  

This mornings ride was very nice as we spent most of the time on secondary highways with light traffic.  The passing landscape was once again spectacular with lots of cattle and mountains.

Our route took us through the Missouri River headwaters area crossing over both the Madison and Gallatin rivers as well as the Missouri.  We passed right by the Headwaters State Park, but had neither the time nor energy to take a detour to see it.

The 60 miles after lunch was not near as enjoyable due to a combination of fatigue and busy roads with little or no shoulders. On one of the quieter portions I passed by a llama ranch where the llama on the left seemed as interested in me as I was with him.

On the way into Bozeman I pedaled through the town of Manhattan, where it turns out my nephew Mark Specker owns property - evidently I went right by the entrance to the property. Coincidently,  Mark and several of his friends were there fishing as I passed by.  No, we did not see each other, but I had an email from him when I got to the hotel and we did talk by phone.  He and his friends might stop by my hotel tonight to say hello, but he only has 25 more minutes to do so before my 8pm curfew goes into effect.

Our hotel is about 2 miles from downtown Bozeman so I have not had any chance to see the town.  We do go right through downtown as we pedal out early tomorrow morning so I'll at least get some sense for the look and feel of the place. Tomorrow's 112 mile ride to Columbus MT will be our third big ride in a row - 353 miles in 3 days.  I am looking forward to the day after tomorrow's "short" 90 mile ride from Columbus to Lovell WY.

It's day 12 and I have not yet complained about my backside.  But ( no pun intended) that ends tonight.  I am closing this post by registering a formal complaint regarding my rear-end fatique syndrome (REFS). A bike saddle and a 70 year-old man's behind are simply not able to be in close proximity for 8 hours a day, day after day, without it becoming a real pain-in-the-ass for the behind's owner.  I well say no more.

Steve