Day Ten: Sunday, July 29
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Randal and Larry are very proud of the effect they have had on me. First off, I am much more patient and less driven than I was one week ago, and they are taking all of the credit. I don't think it was intentional on their part to push me to relax - except to the extent that I would be less annoying. It is borne of necessity as as act of Congress could not get them off in the morning any faster. It just happened that I acceded to their morning habits. I am becoming very chill as a result.
Second, they also claim that they are making a human being out of me. They are making me more mannered and less abrasive - at least that is how they view it. Early in the week, they would tell people they are from Tennessee and Mississippi, and this is their friend from Chicago (pointing to me), like I had leprosy. They don't do that anymore. I think I'm having an effect on them!
Third, I understand their jokes, and I've taken to eating biscuits and gravy in the morning. They are intending to feed me grits. But what is a grit anyway? They claim I'm becoming more Southern. Now I just have to work out this whole gentlemen-thing.
Fourth, I went into the visitor center today without taking my pack inside! I trusted the world, and left my pack tethered to my bike. That is a sea change.
The only problem is that I've tried talking to people in a public setting - just like they do. People recoiled in horror, and look like they want to call the police.
I think I am a work in progress.
The morning began with warm temperatures and a cloudless, pastel blue sky. We left after my fill of biscuits and gravy, and the last bit of "loose gravel" on the road near our lodge.
In traveling to Missoula today, we had two options: the more traveled road which takes us around the east side of Flathead Lake, or the more bucolic route - where they say that there are so many deer that the roadway has a special truck to pick up deer carcasses from deer/vehicle collisions. While a deer will dent a semi, a deer/motorcycle strike is serious business. We opted for the deer-free road through the Flathead Indian Reservation.
The trip took us around Flathead Lake.
We then entered the reservation. Note how the signs are in English and the indigenous language. This sign references an "animal bridge," so wildlife can cross over the roadway.
The Indians are very polite.
Huckleberrys are big in Montana. Of course, we stopped in for a piece of Huckleberry pie before we left the reservation.
We made it to our hotel early, and began discussions about our next trip. The local mileage today was 143 miles; 3,142 miles from Wheaton.
Tomorrow, we all head for home.
Randal and Larry are very proud of the effect they have had on me. First off, I am much more patient and less driven than I was one week ago, and they are taking all of the credit. I don't think it was intentional on their part to push me to relax - except to the extent that I would be less annoying. It is borne of necessity as as act of Congress could not get them off in the morning any faster. It just happened that I acceded to their morning habits. I am becoming very chill as a result.
Second, they also claim that they are making a human being out of me. They are making me more mannered and less abrasive - at least that is how they view it. Early in the week, they would tell people they are from Tennessee and Mississippi, and this is their friend from Chicago (pointing to me), like I had leprosy. They don't do that anymore. I think I'm having an effect on them!
Third, I understand their jokes, and I've taken to eating biscuits and gravy in the morning. They are intending to feed me grits. But what is a grit anyway? They claim I'm becoming more Southern. Now I just have to work out this whole gentlemen-thing.
Fourth, I went into the visitor center today without taking my pack inside! I trusted the world, and left my pack tethered to my bike. That is a sea change.
The only problem is that I've tried talking to people in a public setting - just like they do. People recoiled in horror, and look like they want to call the police.
I think I am a work in progress.
The morning began with warm temperatures and a cloudless, pastel blue sky. We left after my fill of biscuits and gravy, and the last bit of "loose gravel" on the road near our lodge.
In traveling to Missoula today, we had two options: the more traveled road which takes us around the east side of Flathead Lake, or the more bucolic route - where they say that there are so many deer that the roadway has a special truck to pick up deer carcasses from deer/vehicle collisions. While a deer will dent a semi, a deer/motorcycle strike is serious business. We opted for the deer-free road through the Flathead Indian Reservation.
The trip took us around Flathead Lake.
We then entered the reservation. Note how the signs are in English and the indigenous language. This sign references an "animal bridge," so wildlife can cross over the roadway.
The Indians are very polite.
Huckleberrys are big in Montana. Of course, we stopped in for a piece of Huckleberry pie before we left the reservation.
We made it to our hotel early, and began discussions about our next trip. The local mileage today was 143 miles; 3,142 miles from Wheaton.
Tomorrow, we all head for home.
Comments
Post a Comment