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I have to admit that I wasn't thrilled with the prospect
of having to drive half way across the country with some
guy I'd never even met. But I figured if he's into Glacier
as much as I am then he can't be all bad.
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| Not a lot to see in Eastern Montana
on US 2 |
As it turned out I would be making this drive solo as,
weasel-boy Taj had supposedly hurt his elbow packing for
the trip a few days previous and didn't bother to call and
tell me he couldn't go. Yeah, right. I was a little pissed
off at the prospect of driving 1500 miles by myself, but
even more that he didn't bother to call me. In retrospect,
it was probably better that I didn't travel with a convicted
burglar and felon (Check
it out here).
I was able to get everything squared away and showered
by 3:55 and was on the road by 1600. I had a pretty good
idea of how long it would take me and had a large selection
of CD's at the ready. Not having Yumi along would suck,
but it would also be a little faster. I was planning on
peeing in a bottle if necessary just to keep the truck moving.
I had hoped to get to Minneapolis-St. Paul by 2125 but
made it to my first checkpoint by 2035. Great news for me
and I warmed up my middle finger for my customary one-fingered
salute to the Metrodome. As I sped through Minnesota I realized
how quickly I was going. Barring massive construction I
figured I just might make it to Many Glacier campground
by 1800 MST the next evening. That became my goal. By midnight,
satisifed that I had done enough mileage for the night I
began to look for a rest area and finally found one near
Valley City, ND at 0045. In just under 9 hours I had managed
to travel 615 miles---an average of just under 73 mph. If
I could keep that pace up tomorrow I'd be golden.
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| There were some trains to
break the monotony. |
I slept rather soundly until about 0530 only to discover
that my open truck windows had become a major attraction
to mosquitoes. I quickly moved my gear around and hopped
into the cockpit. At 0600 I crossed a continental divide
at a whopping 1490' and for gas at Jamestown a few minutes
later. I figured I was at about the halfway point when I
arrived in Bismarck at 0740 and began to feel like I was
getting somewhere. I also gained an hour and confirmed my
6 PM ETA. This was going much better than expected. Who
needs "weasel boy" anyway?
I stopped at Glendive, MT, for gas shortly after 9 AM and
readied myself for the long boring drive through eastern
Montana. There was a minor delay at Wolf Point but I got
through it OK. The small towns all seemed alike in daylight.
Glasgow, Malta, Havre until finally I reached Shelby at
about 15:45. NOW I was getting close. The beautiful Rockies
were now in sight and I could practically smell the park.
I gassed up and and was soon passed through Cut Bank and
Browning. While driving through the "Res" I thought
I saw fresh snow on some of the slopes at higher elevations.
Good news. Glacier isn't Glacier without snow on those beautiful
peaks. By 17:25 I entered St. Mary and 35 minutes later
was parked at Mike's campsite---6 PM. Finally, after 1480
miles and exactly 27 hours on the road I was finally there.
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