Williston, ND

Last post was short so we missed some stuff. We spent 2 days in Glacier National Park prior to busting multiple 100 mile days, where we took an off day. On our day off we rode as far up going to The Going to the Sun Road as we could, which was about 20 miles from our campsite in Apgar. On our way down we hiked 2 miles in to Avalanche Lake, a beautiful lake circled in waterfalls.

After our last post we rode a brutal 105 miles with a strong cross wind. We started out the day with a massive breakfast of 2 pancakes (honestly, 1.5' in diameter and 1" thick), 3 eggs, 4 thick slices of bacon and a pile of hashbrowns. Nobody actually finished the meal and we walked out with painfully full stomaches. We continued on to Wolf Point, after which I (Patrick Henneghan) bonked (a thouroughly not fun experience). After Wolf Point we continued 15 miles or so on to a late lunch, around 2-3 o'clock, where I was revived. The next 40 miles or so we enjoyed the company of Chip and Seth while battling crosswinds. We also found that Eastern Montana is beautiful in the same sense that the badlands is.

I was not the only one struggling that day. My dad was in incredible pain since his foot was unwilling to stay in his shoe, a problem caused by his ankle brace. With 7 miles left we talked to Jim Hellmer, a nice rancher who pulled up to talk with us. He informed us that the haze that surrounded us all day was caused by local fires and fires in Canada, something we were wondering about during the day. Jim offered a ride to us, Bill vehemently refused, but my dad took him up on the offer. We pulled into camp at about 7pm nearly 12 hours after we left camp that morning.

Today we only biked 45 miles, a great break after the last, most challenging century we have had. We are staying with Leroy Anseth tonight, Dr. London Cooper's (a local dentist) father. We are currently at their house using their internet and about to enjoy a dinner with them.

Roadkill Report:

Rattlesnake
Skunk
Fox (many)
Prarie Dog (many)
Songbirds (many)

Wildlife Report

Black Bear (which I zipped within 5 feet of without knowing at 20mph before seeing it)
Mountain Goats
Merlin (my dad is very excited about this)
Snakes
Weasel
Deer
Cactus
Tumbleweeds (absolutely hilarious dead plants, one actually attacked my dad)

--Patrick Henneghan