July 1st Photos
See yesterdays photos from mile 12 and you will see just about all I say today. Here are some unique sights:
Mile 6: Historical Market – “The Oily Boid Gets The Woim”.
Mile 10: Historical Marker – “The Baker Massacre”.
Mile 15: Historical Marker – “The Sweet Grass Hills”.
Mile 65: Rudyard, MT
Mile 85: Kremlin, USA (Beware of Rattlesnakes/House In Background For Sale).
July 1st – Shelby to Havre, MT
What I Saw From Mile 0 to Mile 100 Today
July 1st Statistics – Shelby to Havre, MT:
- Today’s Biking Distance – 105.5 miles
- Today’s Average Speed – 16.9 mph
- Today Ascent – 1,507 feet
- Today Descent – 2,431 feet
- Today’s Ending Elevation – 2,473 feet
- Total Trip Biking Days – 13
- Total Trip Biking Distance – 965.2 miles
- Total Trip Average Biking Distance/Day – 74.2 miles
- Total Trip Ascent – 42,031 feet
What a ride – the longest and fastest ride I have ever accomplished, 105.5 miles at 16.9 mph (again thanks to a great tailwind and a net 900 feet elevation drop). We got an early start with breakfast at 6:30 am and departure before 7:30 am because in addition to the century ride, the weather forecast was for 30% chance of thunderstorms beginning around noon.
If we see lightning nearby during the ride on the prairie, we don’t have much of an alterative to stopping and hunkering down in the grass as we may be the tallest target around. Fortunately, the storm clouds (but not the overcast) remained behind me for the entire ride and I made good time arriving about 2:30 pm. My only stop was at 65 miles so I could buy two Red Bulls to serve as my lunch.
Shortly after lunch I had a personal encounter with a deer that jump in front of me – missing a collision by a matter of a few feet. I thought I left this kind of problem at home in Willistown, PA. Lots of what I believe are Prairie Dogs crossing the road in front of me but no collisions yet. At the city of Kremlin, MT (see today’s photos), a gentleman stopped in his Lincoln to tell me that there were rattlesnakes around and to watch out for them – they had killed a dozen this week in town. Sure enough, while I didn’t see any live ones (I was now paying more attention when I stopped), over the next 20 miles I noticed the remains of 4 rattlesnakes on the road.
Not much traffic (3 cars passed me in the first hour) and wide shoulder (however, rough pavement often made it bumpy). Other than a sore neck and shoulders, I am feeling pretty good.
For a perspective on the scenery, see the last 5 photos from yesterday – it didn’t change. I do be posting a few new photos later today.
Tomorrow will be our second rest day as we remain in Harve, MT, before doing some more century rides next week.
Steve Prichard's 2012 Cross Country Bike Tour 