Aaah… Montana. Land of beautiful wilderness, big skies and fly-fishing-movie-stars. A relaxing and beautiful ride.Yet if we were time-warped to the area 150 years ago, the feeling would have been quite different.
We would have seen…
Legendary mountain men, those trappers struggling to make it rich before the beaver hat ran out of style.
Gold-prospecting pioneers being ambushed and robbed by corrupt sheriffs
Corrupt sheriffs being hanged by vigilantes in the lawless frontier land.
Nez Perce tribes being chased and massacred by US troops in one of the dark pages of American history.
We would have seen all that and more.
But Montana, luckily, is not too fiercely stuck in the past. It’s turned to the future. And as we know the future is bikes. Montana is indeed home to the headquarters of the Adventure Cycling Association, authors of the maps we’ve been following throughout the country. Stopping there was a milestone of our journey, as we got the chance to discuss our trip, eat free ice cream and go for a little photo shoot with Dynamite and Fireworks! What’s not to love!
Like usual, off to school (but this time for the last “pow wow” of my working life) after filling my heart, mind and imagination with your gorgeous post! I really wish I were there, even with the bears, and yes even with the chickens! Big hug ;o)
When is your last day of the ride? And what will you do with yourself when you go back to the old life..I think it might be a hard adjustment!