26Aug08 Cut Bank, MT - Hulet, WY

Waking I found I would be packing up between showers, so I waited for lulls to dash to the 'facilities' and back for my morning routine. I've packed up inside the tent before, but never panicked the tent itself in the wet. As a consequence the fly got grass and dirt on it. I think I'd have been better served to take it into the facilities house and at least fold it/pack it there. I should have realized from it's location that Cut Bank is the home for many of the workers in the Glacier Park system, so traffic was pretty heavy beginning about 0500. Town is a 1950's Rte 66 kind of place with advertising and the 'camp' motels and diners. Despite the rainclouds it was a beautiful morning with patches of sunlight on the prairie grass. I was traveling down some of the same roads I'd ridden earlier in the summer, and recalled seeing Belt MT with it's very own Belt Creek Brewery. An interesting place, I'm sure. And I'm sure some would wonder whether I stopped in, and if not, why not? Well I didn't, and though I can't really explain why (when will I have the opportunity again?), it really doesn't matter. If you want to know, then you stop by. I was ridding my ride, and I did it my way, thankyouverymuch, stopping when it suited me, riding when it suited me, etc. Big rain clouds all about, but the liquid stuff was missing me. Mostly. But not the wind. Geez.

Stopped for coffee and breakfast muffin at Great Falls, along with the coffee clatch of retired AF geezers. About 4 separate tables, all talking about a) glory days or b) children. There's an F102 Delta Dart Popsicle right next to the Hardees. On through Billings, where I spent way, way too long at a convenience store - first to get coffee, then to jettison it. Did have a nice repartee with the clerk when she caught me doing a strip-tease in the parkinglot. Next was the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument, though I arrived 30 minutes after the last tour ended. I hadn't boned up on the history of the battle (though I did hear the final score was lopsided), so it wasn't as meaningful as it could have been. There is, however, a certain sense of reverence to the white markers, row upon row, for anyone who has served in the military. At the top of one rise is a large monument, denoting the spot where BGen Custer made his last stand, behind the carcasses of his horses. From there you can see scattered about the battlefield white and red markers where the bodies of soldiers and native americans were found. Interesting, and of significance to me was the fact that nearly every white (soldier) marker was paired to another or small group, while the red (American Indian) markers were frequently singularly placed. Consider standing back to back with your best friend knowing you were never going to leave that place. It was also significant that the Lakota Chiefs spoke in eloquence about protecting their way of life against aggression, not about conquering or defeating the white man. Their spirituality would be apparent again.


Pressed on MT212 to 24 to Hulet WY. Too far into the dusk and night. There were deer everywhere, it seemed, and I got the heebee geebee's (wonder where that expression came from) thinking about the consequences of a highspeed encounter. Finally at Hulet I lucked into the Screaming Eagle CG, which, although totally lovely with trees and thick soft grass, with two facility houses, was totally empty. Sign said OPEN, so I parked it and called it a night. I also called the number on the door, and in minutes Ms Victoria Bush showed up with extra toilet paper and gave me the grand tour. Her car, by the way, showed the results of an aforementioned encounter with Bambi. She was so happy to have a camper she let me pet one of her chihuahuas. 10$ for the night. Even with both of us and the dogs present deer were wandering right through as if they owned the place.