Archive for the ‘2005 Diesel and Dust Blog’ Category

July 1

Friday, July 1st, 2005

46d59.667,-109d35.557
Houston’s Odometer 2120
Near Lewistown, Montana

A slow start from Roundup, leaving at 9:30. Rode about 20 miles when the western sky started to look very threatening. Talked to Leslie who said a wicked little storm had just blown through. Marshall was going to head out on his motorcycle to meet us and lighten our load a bit. With the weather, deteriorating, we decided to upgrade the service vehicle to their 1962 Ford pickup. After we talked to them we rode a few miles further before the cross winds started to knock us off the bikes. We grabbed our rain gear and our tarp and settled down for another lightening dodging session in a ditch. Some nice folks from Florida stopped their RV a few hundred yards back the road (they also were getting bucked around). They spotted us, and crept up closer. They asked us in, and we spent the storm in comfort. After it had mostly passed, we said our good-byes, and started to ride again into a cooler and stronger headwind. We hadn’t gone more than another 5 miles or so, when Marshall found us and we gratefully loaded up for a ride to the ranch.

After we made a few stops in Lewistown, we headed southwest to the ranch. The afternoon was spent consuming and riding dirt bikes. A beautiful walk up on the hill at sunset helped us digest. A great way to start the rest days.

Jagged Little Pill

Thursday, June 30th, 2005

46d26.898,-108d32.512
Houston’s Odometer 2093
Roundup, Montana

That’s what I’m talking about. Who’s your daddy? We are not men, we are Devo.

That’s right. A century and then some, through the hills and into the wind, pulling the trailers. Now, can everyone just forget the Pittsburgh to Cleveland Booty Call Shuttle?

Highlight film:
Jersey Lily’s Beans
Music: Green Day and Jagged Little Pill

Extra notes from yesterday. Fresh muffins at breakfast on top of a brand new room, move the Restwel motel in Forsyth to the finals in the nicest motel on the trip. Highly recommended. Laos, thanks to the folks at the Visitor center, including the mayor for the goodies they gave us and the advice.

American Crick

Monday, June 20th, 2005

Houston’s Odometer 1456

(Relatively) Short day today, but very hot. Wind wasn’t so strong, but that wasn’t all good as it kept us slow (what was there was blowing from the south) and kept us sweating. Our choice was to stop at Chamberlain, or go another 27 miles to Fort Thompson. (There isn’t anywhere to stay on the Crow Creek Indian Reservation.) It was 2:30 before we got to Chamberlain and we were ready for some downtime. Had a nice lunch, and bought some groceries for dinner.

Houston jumped in the river. Garrett read and napped. Bought some bad beer to celebrate our decadence.

Evening was spent waiting for the damn sun to set.