Minnesota Mike's Ride Across America

Day 16, Thursday, Sept 7th, St Mary’s Campground – Browning, MT. 54 miles, total 973. Elevation gain 2,992

Broke camp early, started putting gear on bike at 5:30am. There was frost on my bags, I put all my layers on and started pedaling with all warm gear including gloves. Had a nice breakfast in the town of St. Mary’s then started out for Babb to cross over and go to Browning. I was told 464 is a better way to go. I got close to Babb and pulled in to a small convenience store. Was told by clerk and an EMT person don’t take 464 stay on 89 South and go thru St. Mary’s a much safer road with a shoulder and not as long. Wait! That’s where I just came from!! I turned around and back over climbing the hills I just came over. 18 miles wasted! Got back to St. Mary’s went into store and bought a sandwich to eat along the way to Browning 30+ miles away.

I started out again from St. Mary’s in the other direction. Took a deep breath and started a brutal 3+ mile climb. I thought these were over! This is worse than Logan Pass yesterday! Seemed to take forever, I got back over 6,000 elevation, before it leveled off. The Rocky Mountains are in my rear view mirror (if I had one.) Landscape has changed to rolling hills, horses and cows. It’s free roaming, I don’t want to hit one on a descent!

Entered Blackfeet Reservation. I am dodging broken glass all along the shoulder of the road, please I don’t want a 4th flat today!! I entered Browning, I want to stay in a motel, while on the reservation. There’s a nice casino and hotel just before downtown. No luck, full. Only other hotel is an 8 room one downtown, I rode thru town, very depressed. No vacancy. Just as well, I pedaled back to a campground on other side of town and found a site.

An Amish group of 6 arrived at campground to be my neighbors for the evening. Nice people from Ohio that were curious asking me about my trip. We can tell we are on the res, dogs are barking in every direction. And group of wild dogs are roaming in the distance eyeing us. Creepy!! Was a terrible night sleep as the dogs barked all night until about 2am, before it got quiet. I heard about a dozen times, dogs splashing into the creek I am next to, to cross over!

Day 17, Friday, Sept. 8th. Browning- Conrad, MT. 79 miles, total 1,052 Elevation gain 2,437

Well the dogs knocked over the garbage container outside my tent area last night. They left my bags alone that I had resting on picnic table, I was worried about them all night, I should have had them next to my tent along with my bear spray. Wild dogs are roaming everywhere. Time to get out of here!

I am heading to Cut Bank, 35 miles away and will have breakfast there. Cool morning, no frost like yesterday, a few raindrops as I broke camp. I am flying down these prairie roads. I am cruising at 17-18mph, I feel like I am flying compared to what I am use to. No climbs in sight. Yipppeee! On a downhill, I was clocked at 40 mph. Don’t tell my Mom in Heaven, she would be worried! Lost her this past Mother’s Day at 95. Missing my calls and visits with her. She would have been too worried about my adventure. Got to Cut Bank and it’s before 11am cutoff at McDonald’s I will have two egg McMuffins please!!

Got a little hilly outside of Cut Bank to Conrad. Wind was brisk out of the north and had cross winds and a short rain shower in afternoon. Had lunch in a small town at a park. Before getting on 44 with no shoulder. Cars are wizzing by at 80+ mph. Instead of logging trucks passing me I have rolled up hay being transported on trailers. Weird on one side of road to north it’s raining in the distance and to my south it’s sunny, I am on the dividing line.

After 3 nights of camping my Super 8 motel in Conrad is going to feel like the Ritz Carlton!! Bed feels so good! Running water and television! Feel like a king!! Convenience store connected to the motel, doesn’t get any better! Went down and bought a salad, chips and beer for dinner to eat in my air conditioned room.

Day 18, Saturday, Sept. 9th. Conrad – Great Falls, MT. Miles 64, Total 1,116 elevation gain 1,496

Had breakfast at motel lobby and grabbed extra for the road. Nice clear day with little wind. Should be a relatively easy day with just over 60 miles to get to Great Falls. I should do more miles now that I am in the plains, but have to gauge what is coming up on map and so much depends on what is available for food and place to stay for night. You can go a lot of miles without any towns or a gas station for food or water. Listened to music most of the day as ride is getting straight and quiet. Got to Great Falls at 3:30pm feel bad about stopping so early, but not a lot of options for a stopping point after Great Falls. I am sure one of these nights I will be sleeping in a ditch on side of the road, but not ready for that yet while I still have options. Staying at a Travel Lodge in downtown. Time for a shower and find a place to eat, maybe pizza it’s been a few days😊.