East Glacier, MT to Cut Bank, MT 49 Miles June 3

Rebecca, our waitress in Two Medicine Grill this morning regaled us with her story of how she lives in a Teepee in the mountains near East Glacier, MT for four months of the year. The reason she only lives there for four months is because East Glacier has snow for the other eight months of the year. Pam asked if she ever had trouble with bears. She said she sees bears all the time, but depends upon her three trained bear dogs for protection. Those must be some dogs!

Rebecca and Cody, Two Medicine Grill

While eating breakfast in the Two Medicine Grill I commented on the thermometer reading a cold 38 degrees. Pam said, "Oh, that's not bad, when it's bad is when it is 20 degrees." I agree that yes, 20 degrees would be cold too. But when we went outside to saddle up, I noticed Pam dug into her panniers just like I did to put on every stitch of clothing available.

We had a mostly downhill day with a tailwind all the way to Cut Bank. We were now leaving the mountains behind. The mountains which had caused us to work for every mile we completed. The mountains which presented us with cold stinging rain and sleet. The mountains which showered us with such extravagant beauty in every direction. So, as we were pedaling so fast toward Cut Bank I was surprised to feel so sad at leaving the mountains behind. I looked around now and saw endless green fields. Our highway was now paralleling the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Rail Road. The mountains were receding through my rear view mirror and I felt a lump in my throat. I began singing "America the Beautiful". It felt so meaningful looking at the mountains behind and the prairie ahead. I actually wanted to slow down and enjoy the transition.

The Mountains Receding

Pam flew to Cut Bank. She just couldn't hold her bike back and she arrived one and a half hours before Carol or me. When I arrived in Cut Bank I was informed Carol was at the optometrist getting her glasses repaired. Luckily this catastrophe didn't happen on her birthday. When we saw Carol, the best the Dr. had been able to do was a temporary job with duct tape. Her husband Billy will mail her glasses from home. Everything takes a beating on a bicycle tour: bodies, bikes, clothes, even titanium glasses.

Thanks to arrangements Pam made with Mike Koeke we are in the Priest's Rectory in the Cut Bank Catholic Church. Another gift.

Mike Koeke and Pam

Buffalo just as prairie began!