After two days of driving from South Dakota and across eastern Montana (driving, not our favorite activity 🤨), we were back on our bikes. Starting in Cut Bank, Montana, east of Glacier National park, we rode across the Blackfeet reservation and along the southern edge of Glacier National park.

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The eastern side of Glacier is closed this year. The Blackfeet tribe, their numbers decimated in the past by diseases like smallpox, have closed the eastern access points to the park which require travel through the reservation. Their decision, while difficult economically, makes sense in light of the severe impact of the pandemic on other tribes around the US.

Traveling along the southern edge of the park was marvelous with great scenery and little traffic.

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Jim, driving the van, ran into a long delay due to a road closure many miles long for road construction. The only way through was to wait for a pilot truck. Although he had to wait for the pilot vehicle, the construction flagger waved me through. I had a lovely ride with no traffic other than the occasional line of vehicles being piloted through. This made for an amazing solitary ride… until I saw a cougar crossing the road a short way ahead!! It was a really big cat and I was afraid to continue past the point ahead where I saw it. My heart raced as I pondered how to proceed. Eventually a line of vehicles came along. I tried to indicate that I needed them to slow down and let me ride along with them until we were past that point (with a cougar possibly waiting in the undergrowth 😳). The driver of the pilot truck thought that I was just waving to be friendly and simply waved and proceeded. I rode as fast as I could and managed to pass that area before the final camper passed me by 🚵‍♀️🚵‍♀️🚵‍♀️!!!

The following day we road through West Glacier, Columbia Falls, and Whitefish crossing some of the same territory that we rode last year. It made us nostalgic for our riding companions. Eventually the sky opened up and I was drenched in a torrential (but thankfully short-lived) downpour. Luckily the sun reappeared for Jim’s turn cycling along a beautiful valley northwest of Whitefish

Our final riding day took us along the Koocanusa lake, a long lake stretching 50+ miles from Canada to near Libby, Montana the result of a dam on the Kootenai River. We had perfect weather for our final day of riding. The western side of the lake has virtually no traffic and made for a spectacular conclusion to our cycling journey

We are so grateful that we had this opportunity to see remote, beautiful regions of the western US, especially during this difficult time. We passed through very sparsely populated areas where we rarely encountered anyone else and so could enjoy our travels without worries of contracting or spreading this virus. Amazingly, we were also able to carefully visit with old friends as well as family…such a pleasure. Thanks to Donna & Mario; Ras, Sherry & Kari; Lynette, Bumps,Bev and the rest of my South Dakota family; Bruce & Micheal; and Paul for finding the time and means to safely reconnect 💕. Now Jim knows that all of those stories about my youth are actually true 😇.

There were challenges: stormy wet weather with the occasional hailstorm, the attack of the errant scissors!, big headwinds and temperatures above 100 degrees F, and the cougar! Those moments of course are what make it an adventure, especially retrospect!

We’re happy to be home and the dogs are delighted to be back in their own territory.

Thanks so much for joining us and helping us to stay mindful of the wonders around us. Stay well! ❤