Blacktail Creek Area, Montana to Libby, Montana - July 25, 2021

Route 56

I woke to a sunny morning on Clark Fork. After breakfast on a log, I cycled over twenty miles to a restaurant / bar, the Halfway House, on route 56.

I ordered coffee, a sandwich and salad. The food was extremely slow coming out - perfect. I relaxed from the heat and wrote in my blog. Wifi was available, so I posted a short YouTube video. I should do this more often.

The Halfway House

The Halfway House (Freedom Shirt)

While seated, a man named Dennis approached me, inquiring about my bike. We chatted for a bit. His late mother lived in Langley at the Creekside Apartments. She lived a long life (100 years). Dennis offered his phone number in Libby and let me know that there was camping next to the chamber of commerce in town.

Note: The woman at the bar kindly filled three of my water bottles.

I’ve noticed that there is a real focus on the word “Freedom” here in Montana. Shirt and sign companies are making quite a lot of capital.

What does this word mean for residents?

The Certainty of Signs

Note: Motorcyclists in Montana substitute bandannas for helmets.

Note: People are kind in Montana. Everyone that I have talked to has wished me well.

Taking a right turn off Route 56, I turned onto Highway 2. A short distance up the road I encountered a sign for Kootenai Falls. I locked my bike and wandered over to the Trail Head Grill. With a two-scoop huckleberry ice cream in hand, I walked down the trail to the falls. Wow…

Trail Head Grill

Kootenai Falls

I rode into the campground in Libby around eight o’clock. Sites were ten dollars. I took number thirteen (lucky).

A cyclist named Angus was soaping up by the water spigot when I cruised the camp. I later spoke with him. He had started in Chicago and planned on cycling to Seattle, then south to Colorado. He hadn’t seen many cyclists thus far. I enjoyed our chat.

In the men’s restroom, I noticed a drain in the middle of the concrete floor. I grabbed my 1.5 liter water bottle, locked the door and took a shower. The liquid was warm from the sun - not a river dip, but better than nothing.

When preparing my tent for sleep, I had a nice chat with Beth in the phone. She patiently listened to me blowing up my sleeping pad and inflatable pillows.

Note: The campground in Libby borders a casino and a large grocery store.