Day 13 - July 14 - A day fighting the Montana winds

Day 12 - July 13 - White Sulphur Springs, MT to Harlowton, MT- 59.6 miles (  kms) - total so far:  981.6 miles ( kms)


Distance: 59.6miles (kms)

Total time: 5hrs 35mins (including  lunch and a few photo opportunities) 

Average Moving Speed: 12.6mph (kph)

Maximum Speed:22.2mph ( kph) 
Calories burned: 2826
Elevation gained: 1699 ft (meters)

Weather:  Sunny and cool at first and sunny and warmer later from 64F (18C) in White Sulphur Springs to 86F (30C) in Harlowton. Very windy all day with winds mostly from the east in the morning and switching to the south east in the afternoon near Harlowton.

Powered by:  1 bowl of Raisin Bran, 2 slices of wholewheat toast, a banana and 2 small muffins  for breakfast; 2 liters of Gatorade and 1 liter of water, 1 protein bar, 2 bananas  and a peanut butter bagel   with banana with a huge dollop of peanut butter.

What was supposed to be an easy day turned out a lot harder due to the headwind that  I fought all day. Combine the wind with the dodgy road after about 30 miles, and it was a battle to get into Harlowtown. Though the route was generally downhill after a long gradual climb in the first miles, the wind precluded any swift progress towards the destination.

White Sulphur Springs on a Sunday morning

Towards the end of a series of climbs in the first 20 miles

A nice point for a break from fighting the winds

Coming out of the hills onto the plateau with a wide but gravel-strewn shoulder (margin)

Lunch-time; how many more bagels with peanut butter and banana can I eat?

I thought that Twodot was twice as important as 'a dot on the map' but it actually gets its name from a local cattle brand

After longer time than I expected, I rolled into deserted Sunday afternoon Harlowton to find a hotel.  The first hotel looked empty and closed so I headed to the second, which also looked empty and closed. I rang the bell and banged on the door to no reply. So back to the first hotel, which turned out to be not only open but quite nice in its new section.  Dinner was as at a combined bar-casino-restaurant as seems to be the usual option for meals in small town Montana.