When she returns, I carefully pack my bike and panniers into the trunk of her Honda Civic. It looked like a clown car when I finished; bungee cords holding down the trunk, back wheel hanging out over the bumper. Shirley insisted on driving out to Butte, so I couldn't refuse a lift. First, we stop at an amazing bakery in Three Forks, where I scarf down a giant plate of biscuits and gravy and a cinnamon roll the size of my head, covered in blueberry filling. I couldn't ask for a better way to start my morning.
We finish up breakfast and hop back in the car for the long drive to Butte. When we arrive, it is nothing but blue skies and a blistering sun, viciously heating the asphalt. I say goodbye to Shirley and give her a big hug before I set out down the road. The first thing I noticed about the bustling industrial park of Butte, was that every other building was a miniature casino. Everywhere I turned, cheesy signs flashed for a junky little gas station casino. I pedaled through the odd ball land of sad casinos and run down industrial facilities, till I finally reached the highway.
Despite the sweltering heat beating down against my back, I was moving along fairly quickly. The lush oasis of Wyoming and Paradise Valley were far behind me now. I coursed my way through the heavy traffic back into the desert plains. All around me were rolling hills of dead grass, sage brush, and the occasional patch of farmland. The roads opened up before me and the shoulders grew wide for a comfortable ride. I flew through the hills, a breeze to my back, and tank full of energy. Because of the fortunate lift given to me, I cut a few days off my new route allowing me time to catch back up with my old route. It wasn't long before I reached my exit into Deerlodge, MT.
The quaint little town was filled with strange attractions meant to bring in tourist revenue. Museums, stores, gift shops, novelty stands; all filled with trinkets and bobbles sporting the tiny town of Deerlodge. I made my way through the town until I reached a drive in, where I sat down and ordered a milkshake. A milkshake on a hot summer day is worth more than gold. While I was sitting under the gazebo, the weather took a dramatic turn and the sky filled with rumbling of storm clouds. I left in a hurry to find my campsite for the evening. Fortunately it was fairly close by and I made it before the rain came down.
After paying for my tent site, I sprinted under a pavilion just as the thundering crash of rain came down on the metal roof. The wind picked up and soon the rain was pushing under the extensive pavilion. I had to put on my jacket and rain pants as the rain and wind swirled all around me. From a clear bright sky to a mini monsoon. I waited until there was a lull in the storm and tried to leave the pavilion. As soon as I stepped out from my shelter, the rain came down in full force once again. I waited for about another 45 minutes until the storm finally cut out and I could escape.
My campsite had a thick pine tree where I could put my bike without worry of getting soaked and had a nice flat grassy space for my tent. Once I was set up for the evening, I went to take a shower after a hot day on the road. This campground had the nicest bathrooms I have seen on this entire trip. They were absolutely immaculate. In all honesty, this massive bathroom was nicer and cleaner than most hotels and homes. I was surprised and quite happy with the way things turned out. At last, I settled down and made my dinner for the evening. The rest of the evening was spent strumming my guitar and writing in my notebooks. When the sun finally went down and the mosquitoes came out, Ella jumped into the tent and I slipped into my sleeping bag for the night. Ella and I hope you are enjoying our adventures and continue to follow us as we head for the Idaho Border!
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| My awesome hostess - Shirley! |
That looks like a nice, cozy spot! Yay for Shirley!!!
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