Glacier to Galata, MT (93 miles)

Glacier Park (right, North), and Continental Divide (left, South)

Sorry, but we are not able to post any photos on our Thursday blog, as our internet signal is too weak.  We are posting our photos, Friday June 17, 2011. 

This (Thursday) morning at 7:00 when we woke up the temperature was in the lower 30’s.  The wind was blowing – to Cal’s delight it was blowing from the west to the east – the direction he would be riding.  Due to the wind, the temperature felt like 24 degrees!!  To begin the day Cal wore 3 layers of clothes, earband, gloves and hooded jacket.  I had a turtle neck sweater, sweatshirt, jacket and Cal’s fleece over everything. Unreal for June 16, it was cold!  The dandelions that are blooming had even closed up their blossoms – they were cold! 

Rachel Dressed for the Cold Morning

After a delicious breakfast at one of the East Glacier restaurants – I had French toast stuffed with cream cheese and Huckleberries and Cal had a Spanish omelet, Cal was on his way.  The wind simply pushed him along.  Simply said, “today was a dream for a biker”, very few hills with a strong 20 mph tail wind that lasted till 1:00pm.  Cal’s average speed was 15 mph, which for a trike is excellent.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe train with Glacier National Park in the Background

Fixing another Flat Tire

The sky had beautiful fluffy white clouds, so when the sun was behind a cloud it remained cool, but when the sun was out, it warmed you nicely. It was 11:00 before we began shedding clothes. The high today was in the upper 50’s.  Cal did not ride in any rain, but late this afternoon I drove through a rain & hail storm.      

When going east from East Glacier, you are on the Blackfeet Indian reservation for approximately the first 40 miles.  The landscape is rolling land for grazing, with the farmers growing wheat and hay.  As you drive east you must keep looking in your rear view mirror.  The view of Mountains in Glacier NP and the Continental Divide mountains south of Glacier was stunning. Today it was mostly clear or at least clear enough that it was beautiful.  I would stop for the perfect photo, but then I would drive father and it was an even more perfect spot for a shot.  At this point I do not know how many photos I took today, but thanks to digital cameras I can delete all but the best. The northwest central Montana landscape is so different from the mountains - round green hills.  Later we could see mountains to the north – they are along the Canadian border.

Wheat Fields with Mountains near the Canadian Border (40 miles) in Background

Wind Generator Farm

When going east from East Glacier, you are on the Blackfeet Indian reservation for approximately the first 40 miles.  The landscape is rolling land for grazing, with the farmers growing wheat and hay.  As you drive east you must keep looking in your rear view mirror.  The view of Mountains in Glacier NP and the Continental Divide mountains south of Glacier was stunning. Today it was mostly clear or at least clear enough that it was beautiful.  I would stop for the perfect photo, but then I would drive father and it was an even more perfect spot for a shot.  At this point I do not know how many photos I took today, but thanks to digital cameras I can delete all but the best. The northwest central Montana landscape is so different from the mountains - round green hills.  Later we could see mountains to the north – they are along the Canadian border.

We followed the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Rail line (BNSF) all day.  There are a lot of trains passing this way, however no coal trains like we see in Mt Pleasant - these are freight and grain.  Each grain elevator has a siding, as well as the other industries relating to oil and farming. The town of Shelby is a busy center for the railroad as it is junction of a north-south rail line and the east-west rail line. In addition to that, there is oil in this area as well as the agriculture.    

Loading BNSF Grain Car at Shelby, MT Elevator

Loading BNSF Grain Car at Shelby, MT Elevator

Due to the wind and mostly flat riding terrain, Cal decided if all goes well he wanted to ride 100 miles today.  Well he made 93! The place we are staying is at 93 miles from East Glacier. There are no vacancies in Chester tonight so we are at a little rest stop along the road – a gas station and motel – Galata. Actually the motel room is an apartment, and they have just opened for the season.  If we would have internet or phone service here, I would cook our evening meal, but we need to drive about 10 miles west for cell phone service so Cal can tether this laptop to the Blackberry and send this blog to you.