McGuire Creek, Montana to Fortine, Montana - July 27, 2021

Route 37

I slept well at McGuire Creek. That’s pretty typical for a bicycle tour.

I’m in the process of remaking my body. It’s interesting how a person conforms to the tools they use. This was the case on the commercial fishing boat in Alaska. The bike is steel; movement is effort. I’ll be a machine in another week. The challenge is being patient with the process.

Route 37 (Lake Koocanusa Bridge)

After breaking camp, I cycled twenty-five miles to Eureka. I immediately found the library, locked up and entered the space. Having had little connection to Internet, I did a little blogging and a touch of cryptocurrency research.

I’m invested in Algo, the coin associated with the Algorand Foundation. The team is stacked with geniuses - the founder, Silvio Micali, is a Turing Award winner and an MIT professor. I’m confident in its future value. Blockchain is fascinating to me; I’ve really enjoyed my research.

The librarian was very kind, offering water and showing me where the outlets were. I so appreciate people who serve society in this capacity.

Eureka Library Spot

Library Mural

Before leaving  Eureka, I stopped for food at the Montana Market and watered up at Exxon. A man pulled up to the gas station parking lot and offered route clarification. He told me to watch for bear. I nodded. People are caring and helpful here.

Note: I’ve never seen this many pickups in my life.

Note: Pickups can be driven at extremely high velocities, and are.

Shortly before pulling into Fortine, Matt and Czrina, who I mentioned yesterday, pulled up behind me. We chatted while pedaling into town.

Jerry’s Bar and Restaurant had RV spots and tent camping ($10). It started raining while I was setting up my tent. The air and vegetation needed it.

As there wasn’t a shower, I biked over to Fortine Creek and took a bracing bath.

Fortine Creek (Bath Stop)

Later, back at the campsite, I called Mom and Dad, then Beth. She’s begun her scooter commute to work. That’s a big (positive) change for her. I know that she’s put a lot of effort into making this happen.