havre, montana

It's harmless!

 To folks who do not pedal, a century is 100 years. To those who pedal, a century is 100 miles in one day. Sometimes a century is like a combination of both: 100 miles that seem like 100 years! But not today. We started early, 7:30, and headed to Havre from our Comfort Inn in Shelby. We knew the ride would be a little bit more than 100 miles and it was. We pedaled 102.11 miles. It was a good ride but it wasn't easy. Riding on flat roads sounds nice, but pedaling is required all day. There are no downhill rests, just pedal, pedal, pedal, and pedal some more.

It was a bit hot and windy riding the Montana plains. We were prepared for the sunshine and slathered ourselves with sunscreen, Noxema, Bert's Lip Balm, Chapstick, coconut oil, and maybe even Quicker State and WD-40. I think we were protected . . . I think. We do have unusual tan lines but we simply consider them badges of honor.

The hills were part of today's ride but after the mountains these hills were pretty much nonexistent. The windy was finicky, one minute with us and the next, against us. As a bus driver in Missoula, Montana, told me years ago, "The wind up on the plains blows all day, all directions, every day." I'm not sure how the wind can be so crazy but it sure has some crazy patterns on these vast Montana plains.

When we got to 52 miles, Phil and I stopped at the SnackWagon where we had lunch and a nap! That's right, a nap! Right out in the middle of nowhere Montana, we were blessed with spaghetti, a drink, and a thirty minute nap. After that, we were ready for the remaining fifty miles or so. Somewhere between our lunch stop and Havre, we took another break that gifted us with ice cream! Can't beat service like that.

Trains, grain elevators, and funky art was about all we had to photograph. In this part of Montana, only one photograph of the plains is necessary. It's all the same.

We did try to take a short break about every ten miles so as not to wear ourselves out before we reached Havre. And it worked. We finished our ride in Havre, ate supper at Murphy's Sports Bar with incredible food and a super fun waitress, and then came back to our rooms for soft places to get some good sleep. All in all, today was a winner, a great ride, and our first century of the ride.

Once again, I am reminded that Scripture tells us, "In everything, give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Well, count me in . . . I am thankful and even more excited about the days ahead.

We're goin' ta Maine!