Showdown at Big Sky

'Showdown at Big Sky, that day may be soon' - Robbie Robertson

The last fews days in Montana have produced our hardest riding yet. From leaving Eureka at the border after our first giant American burger we've had a few stops and are now in Bigfork on the Flathead Lake. 

The border run was easy but the ride soon got us into the mountains and onto the hardest climb up into the Montana woods. Many choice words were thrown out and the panniers were threatened with their lives. Everyone, including the panniers survived and we pushed on to Tuchuck campsite stuck in the middle of the woods. Our South Africa intiative produced the most ingenius fire and food stache that no bear would ever try mess with, although when Cam took the food stache down we were lucky to get out unscathed. Camping in Tuchuck also introduced us to Yakinikak river (pronounced: yak-in-a-kak), which wins the the 'ridiculous names in America game' hands down.

We decided that night that we'd try push to Whitefish in the morning, a recommended town on the map, but this meant a 100 km burn through the woods and backcountry. The challenge was excepted and the troops, armed with a kg of oats each, took to the battlefield. Flying rubble and beads of sweat greeted us with slaps to the face, but after 9 hours we staggered into Whitefish bruised and battered but far from defeated. Only a few words were muttered as we checked into our motel and crashed onto our beds.

The reward for 260 kms in 3 days was a rest day and we took full advantage. Our next stop was in Bigfork, a small lakeside town only 60 kms. It's scary that we now think of 60 kms as a short day. We cycled through iconic farm lands with wheat fields and homesteads - que a country song. Bigfork fits the stereotype of a small country town exactly, and its great. A day off here is recommended so we pitched tents by the lake and as only South Africans can we plan on getting a braai going with a couple polite g&t's. Perhaps the next big trip idea will be hatched tonight. 

The cycling is on hold for a bit as we take a few days off. Raine is leaving us tomorrow for San Fran and a flight back home and a few of us might take our chances at Burning Man. We'll see you back on the road soon.