Well, something was bound to happen. My arrival in Montana on Saturday (Day 40) was momentous and my mapping logistics the first 40 days had been smooth sailing. Day 41 was my comeuppance. As a reminder, I use both digital GPS and paper maps from Adventure Cycling to navigate. Cyclists can take the Lewis & Clark route either NW or SW when you hit Montana depending upon which part of the state you want to travel. I failed to load my SW route so my GPS defaulted to the NW route. The conditions Sunday were stellar when I pushed from Glendive with a healthy wind at my back. I got “in the zone” and went 50 miles in under 3 hours, averaging over 17 mph. But, I NEVER looked at my paper map. When I arrived at Circle (appropriately named given I rode in circles!), I realized I was WAY off my route. I had to backtrack over 12 miles into the wind and then head due south for 40 miles…on GRAVEL and in the middle of nowhere. Ouch! There is a great pic of the horses when I left Circle and passed them again. Their stare said it all, as if they knew I was a total dumb*ss.
Riding 40 miles on gravel is the equivalent of 80 on road; your upper body is as active as your lower. I knew once I got back on route and ridden 100 miles (that felt like 140!), I had another 30+ to get to my hotel. Plan B went into action. Called the hotel to see if anyone was around to collect me in Terry right off Highway 94, but locating transportation on a Sunday was difficult. The eager, young front desk manager Benjamin sprung into action after he “Googled” me and found out I was going coast to coast on a fundraiser for CRI. He was worried about me and reached out to his contact at the Prairie County Sheriff Office. When I arrived in Terry, got a message the Cavalry would be there. Deputy Jason Grey Hawk showed up within minutes, I was humbled once again. Thankfully for Deputy Grey Hawk, who was among the second Army infantry to arrive in Afghanistan after 9/11, this was a much easier “rescue” than “Lone Survivor”. He could not have been nicer, particularly as he learned about my Thor Tour (of Duty). After landing at the hotel and refueling electrolytes/potassium, the first thing I did was make a donation to the Montana Police Association…keep the good karma going!
