Route: Great Falls to Rocking Z Guest Ranch near
Wolf Creek, MT
Saya’s (age 6) two quotes of the day:
1. When we rolled into Rocking Z Guest Ranch, where we will spend the next two days riding horses, “This is more awesomer than awesome, more better than best!”
2. After I read a rude comment by a man named Phil Montgomery about an article in the Great Falls Tribune written about our trip (see below). “He reminds me of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Let’s call him Fussy Phil.”
1. When we rolled into Rocking Z Guest Ranch, where we will spend the next two days riding horses, “This is more awesomer than awesome, more better than best!”
2. After I read a rude comment by a man named Phil Montgomery about an article in the Great Falls Tribune written about our trip (see below). “He reminds me of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Let’s call him Fussy Phil.”
We awoke to find a front-page article written about our trip
in The Great Falls Tribune. Check it out here: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20130722/NEWS01/307220027/A-crazy-adventure-family. The accompanying video is cool too, including
an interview with Sho and shots of us riding the connected bikes. Most people we’ve met on this trip have been
remarkably kind, but we encounter naysayers from time to time. A man named Phil Montgomery had this to say
about the Tribune article: “Just stay on the other side of the fog line Chuck. It's hard
enough dodging deer, Amish, and drunks but now we have to watch out for idiots
on bikes.....Geeez!” See Saya’s
response above.
We enjoyed a breakfast of homemade muffins and bananas with
our host in Great Falls, John Nelson.
Terri had already left for work, and we left a thank you note. We were lucky to meet her and enjoy her hospitality. I told John and Terri to come for a visit to NYC, so we could return the favor.
We cycled 70 miles today, mostly on frontage roads with very little traffic next to
the grand Missouri River. I am not able
to describe the experience adequately with words: towering bluffs overhead, the
cool waters inviting us to ditch our bikes and take a plunge, pelicans soaring
low, their broad wings spread wide and cruising on the drafts... The hot sun and 90 degree temps made the ride
a physical challenge, but we had a powerful incentive to continue – a delicious
dinner waiting for us at Rocking Z Guest Ranch, a horse farm near Wolf Creek,
MT where we will spend the next two days riding horses instead of bikes. We arrived at 7:45 p.m. after nearly 10 hours
on the road, exhausted from the effort, but in good spirits. After dinner, Sho and Saya played soccer with
one of the ranch hands and excitedly socialized with the horses. I’ll post photos and write more about the
ranch in tomorrow’s blog.
Here are some pics:
I recently came across your family bike adventure while pursuing Kickstarter, and I've taken some time since then reading your site and catching up on your blog posts. As a fellow father of four, I, too, love doing many outdoor activities with my kids, but have never attempted such grand feats such as the ones you have with your kids. Kudos to you for dreaming big and doing what you do. Your an inspiration to many, including myself. Continued safe travels...and we'll continue to follow you in the days (and years) ahead. The Harness Family (Morristown, Tennessee)
ReplyDeleteScott,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the supportive comment and for following our travels. Your kids are lucky to have a dad like you who takes them outdoors -- they will carry those memories and appreciation of nature into adulthood. And you live in a beautiful place! I grew up in Nashville and spent a lot of time as a kid exploring the woods of Tennessee. I miss them now that I've moved away.
-- Charles