A Father's Day Bike Ride

To Grass Range -- 51.4 miles, 9.7 mph, 1875 ft

It was so nice being with Dolores, Linda, and Gaylen that we pushed off our intended early start. Well, there was also the fact that Kylie slept through the 6:30 breakfast and wasn't moving until 8:00. Oh well, especially after the big push getting here yesterday, Dex and I even played a quick game of pool before getting on the road. And, of course, we had to say good bye to all the pets. It was a total delight to stay at the Hill Ranch Oasis B&B.

Dex and Kylie with Linda, Delores, and Gaylen

At 8:30, we finally pushed off along the mile and a half dirt road back to the main highway. To our surprise, there was barely a breeze for the first hour, and it wasn't until 10:00 that we really started fighting the winds again. Conveniently, we were able to stop at Winnett; “Go ahead and blink, we're still here," read the sign leading to town. Kevin had recommended the Kozy Korner Cafe, and especially the homemade pie. We were a might disappointed to learn after lunch that they were out of pie! Didn't they know we were coming? The waitress, seeing our dismay, handed us a card which would entitle us to pie the next time we were through.  Hmm, it might just be a little while....

Winnett, Montana

Bad hair day at the Kozy Korner

The rest of the day was against a strong wind. It’s still not a ton of fun, but we're learning to deal with it. The narrow or non existent shoulders also take their toll on Meg and me as we’re constantly trying to ride the line -- or whatever shoulder may exist -- as the semis and giant travel trailers sneak up fast.

When we got to our final destination, Grass Range, we met some nice folks at the Little Montana general store and Chuckwagon cafe. Tom had lived there his whole life and joked that the population had just broke a hundred.  He used to have a ranch, then worked construction before retiring a few years back. Everyone in the small constellation of towns around Lewistown knows each other. I mentioned to Meg the other day that it's kinda like taking the small neighborhood where we’re from and spreading it over a fifty mile radius. Going to the store, visiting a neighbor, attending a play, or watching your kids play basketball inevitably requires a fifty mile drive.

My special Fathers Day meal was at the Chuckwagon --  salad, chicken fried steak, hash browns, and a giant slice of banana bread with butter. And, for the second time today, we were shut out -- no more pie!