Shaun Rides His Bike

Trans Am, Day 84: Ennis, MT to Dillon, MT

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Shaun

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Today’s ride started with a nice climb. I try to start early every day to beat some of the traffic, but I am not sure that worked out well this morning. Maybe people in Montana just go to work really early? The road had no shoulder, and the speed limit was 70 MPH, and everyone seemed to feel they had to maintain that speed.
Therefore, I decided to just pull off the road onto the sandy shoulder when I saw a car coming, and that worked out pretty well, but slowed me down quite a bit. Anyway, by the time I got to the top, the sun was out, and I was rewarded with a lovely view!

On the other side of the hill, I love ghost towns, but Virginia City and Nevada City were a little too tourist-ey for me, so I didn’t stop or take any pictures. At any rate, nothing appeared to be open for business when I passed through either town.

The roads today alternated between luxuriously wide shoulders and no shoulders at all. A few people honked at me, and I just waved.

I forgot to tell a story from my bad day in Yellowstone: On one of the long climbs, someone honked at me – a long honk, usually indicating frustration or anger. As they passed, I looked up to see a hand going back into the passenger window. I assumed the passenger had made a rude gesture, so I got really mad and yelled, “PULL OVER!!!!” a couple times. They did. I rolled up to the driver’s side window. It was an older husband and wife, and the woman was driving. With a confrontational tone, I asked why they honked at me and flipped me off. They were horrified. It turned out they were just trying to warn me of their presence, and the husband, in the passenger seat, was just waving when I saw his arm go back in the window. I felt awful.

So, now, I just wave in a friendly fashion when people honk at me. That’s my usual strategy anyway, but sometimes I forget!

Also, afterwards, it occurred to me how stupid it was to demand a hostile driver pull over in Yellowstone Park, where some large percentage of tourists probably have cans of bear spray. That would really have messed up my day. 🐻

The view from near the top of Ennis Hill
The view from near the top of Ennis Hill
Roadside tool find! I left this one. 😁
Roadside tool find! I left this one. 😁
Another tool find. They're broken, but small enough to keep.
Another tool find. They’re broken, but small enough to keep.
I took this for my friend Machiko's son, Alder.
I took this for my friend Machiko’s son, Alder.
Shrek is a really experienced tourist, and lives in Roslyn, WA. He's done the Great Divide, and he's doing a four- or five-thousand mile loop, mixed gravel and road, this summer. He recognized my John Duggan water bottles! 😁
Shrek is a really experienced tourist, and lives in Roslyn, WA. He’s done the Great Divide, and he’s doing a four- or five-thousand mile loop, mixed gravel and road, this summer. He recognized my John Duggan water bottles! 😁
These German tourists are heading to Las Vegas.
These German tourists are heading to Las Vegas.
Beaverhead Rock - my first known brush with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaverhead_Rock
Beaverhead Rock – my first known brush with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaverhead_Rock

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