So to recap last night, Sandra and I went to a musical in an outdoor amphitheater. She said it's only a mile up the road from our camp, so I was expecting a nice little peddle to the place in my nice newly washed clothes. Unfortunately, I didn't hear the emphasis on the UP part. It was a mile all up-hill where the sweat started pouring after a quarter mile. We sauntered into the venue where I suppose the strange looks I was receiving had to do with the sweat extruding through my now, needs to be washed clothes. The venue for this small little town was unusual. Unusual in the sense I would expect the type of production in a major city. They had escalators running down into the amphitheater hole. Escalators! We're in Medora North Dakota, Population 100! Founded by some French guy no less. Musical was upscale nice, lot of great production, and man! Do they have it down to exactly 1.5 hours. Must be a German coordinator on site.
After the event it was pitch black. We were on bikes. Cars where...well, bigger. We waited until just about all cars, trailers and RV's had emptied the parking lot, then we coasted down the Torture Mile. Luckily I had kept some bike lights in my pack, so we were at least visible to the near sited 90 year old probably behind us as he waited for the parking lot to empty. Back in our camp, the temperature started to be reasonable, so we did not have to turn on the AC.
I recapped mostly last night, because after we did our routine (fill water tank, empty holding tanks, fill gas), we were on our way to Montana. We encountered along the way a bit of Sandra's historical ancestry with a town called Beach. Just to get it out of the way, no there was no beach, and I believe the closest body of water is 200 miles away. But, it turns out that Beach is where her Grandmother grew up. We pulled off and went into the town where there were no escalators...or singing too. Remember Footloose...this could be the genesis. Through serendipity found the church she went too, and wouldn't you know it, the care keeper was around and helped Sandra find the Graveyard plot so she could touch upon the past. We found it! We Saw it! and pictures were taken.
After that, we discovered Montana...the hard way. The wind was in our face, the roads were put together as an afterthought to comfort and there was a lot of grass. I mean a lot of grass, and nothing else. It was 6.5 hours before we hit Great Falls, and my hands had to be peeled off the steering wheel from the kung-foo grip I had on it. We are staying in another KOA, as we really liked the last one stayed. This one is even nicer--tucked between two shady trees, the temperature is closing in on 80, and the hot dogs are about the come out--following the recovery beer that is already helping the recovery.