Montana has molded me into a soul that discovers.
For that matter, since I've arrived in this lovely 41st State of the Union, I can't help but search for the road that goes "higher" or those roads that are unpaved.
But this is not the story of Simone.
Today, Father's Day, JT and I wandered up a known road - trying to find paths that we didn't take the first time around when, much to JT's frustration, we happened upon a bicyclist who slowed our progression. JT didn't want to pass him because we had already seen multiple ATV riders on narrow curves - ... so the jeep slowed... and slowed... uphill...
"Wait til' this next turn," I told him. Then you can pass.
And we did... and we both glanced at this bicyclist - wondering, 'what in the world is he doing this far, this high up... '
And we kept going.
Nearing a clearing in the woods, continuing up the mountain, - we stopped to let Dexter run. After 20-25 minutes I glanced behind our parked, bikini-less Jeep and said.. "Look. There he is again."
Walking now, his mountain bike alongside him, was the man we followed and passed before.
He called out, "You wouldn't have any extra water, would you?"
... A side note, for those who have not traveled with me... I pack like we're going into war, or the forest, or Carlsbad Caverns, or the Grand Canyon, or... just go with me... it's how I'm made... I'm predispositioned to be the person who packs with "what if... " in mind...
"Yes, we have water," JT called to the man. And so they worked out filling a bit from the ice chest and and a bit from our water reserve.
The stranger mentioned, "There aren't many signs around here. I think I missed my turn to Lincoln." JT glanced at me - I looked around. We have learned that most Montana folks don't typically take well to correction or direction - we explained we were recent transplants from Texas and JT offered the man one of our blankets (stored in the back of the Jeep) - he declined, thanked us for the water and continued UPHILL on his way.
JT and I loaded up Dexter, looked forward at the bicyclist and discussed, "Lincoln is not this way." "Not on this road." "Do you think he can fit in the jeep with his bike?" "Think we can get Dexter in the front and he and his bike in the back?" ...
I said, thinking of the determined men and my own determined soul - "Let's just go and we'll keep our eye out for him..." And so we did... We went up and up - on old paved roads - on roads that took us to the first Mason gathering of Montana (1862?) ... We walked around, took photos, scolded Dexter for moving logs to get mice or small animals .. and then we headed on our way...
And then... we saw him again... passing....
"You sure you're okay?" "It's going to rain soon."
He said, at the top of this mountain, "I'm okay, I have a down-sleeping bag here..." He pointed to a pink bag covering a pack on the back of his bike... for that matter, he had a pink bag protecting items on the front of his bike... and pink and silver strands on another area...
"Okay... " "Be safe," we offered...
As we drove past, and JT decided to travel a road that was not of my choosing, we discussed the man again... "Do you think he'll be okay?" "It's awfully cold up here..." "Did you notice the pink?" "Maybe it's for breast cancer awareness..."
I mentioned, "Did you see the camera he had recording us the last time we passed?" "Was that a camera?" "Yes, yes it was...."
And so we drove on - discovering roads that we have never traveled upon, drops of rain falling upon us ... "Look," JT mentioned - "there is a great camping spot." A few miles down the lane - crowded with trees, bushes, flowers - we look to the left and another camping spot presented itself. Soon - a mile or more - we see a more traveled road and look left and right - "Right" we decide, and off we went.
There were areas of cattle - lots of calves with their mothers, cattle guards, more calves, more mothers - a few bulls - another cattle guard - we realized a spot left of another T in the road and pulled over to take a break and do what nature requires.... about 10 minutes into our looking around and breaking I look at the crest on the rise we just crossed and ...
"There he is again!" We both watch as the man on the bike worked his way through the calves and their moms - he crossed the last cattle guard and then peddled our way...
"Is it dinner time?" he called.... JT and I both waved - smiled... welcomed this man that we kept passing and worrying over along this day's adventure.
He told us his name. He was, in fact, recording part his adventures for a movie he was making. There was a ride from El Paso to Alberta Canada - he had completed this ride last year, but this year decided to handle the Montana portion of the ride - his bearings were a bit discombobulated from the Garmin that was giving him great and not so great directions. He has a wife in Detroit, a daugther in Kalispell and was quite kind and agreeable.
He listened to our story - offered us his business card - and we refilled his water reservoir.
Before he went on his way he mentioned, "Make sure you email me and I'll send you a link to the movie - you're the people who saved me on Priest Pass..."
And on his way he went... we turned around and returned home on roads that we had already discovered... because it's Father's Day and JT wanted to watch a certain baseball game.
... and I sit here sending our prayers and good tidings to this traveler... I wish him well, I wish him good speed, God speed ... may kind souls cross his path.
And that, dear reader, is my blog for the day.
May you always offer water, be kind to strangers, and be aware of the opportunity to serve others.
Much love - it's crazy beautiful here....
- Simone
For that matter, since I've arrived in this lovely 41st State of the Union, I can't help but search for the road that goes "higher" or those roads that are unpaved.
But this is not the story of Simone.
Today, Father's Day, JT and I wandered up a known road - trying to find paths that we didn't take the first time around when, much to JT's frustration, we happened upon a bicyclist who slowed our progression. JT didn't want to pass him because we had already seen multiple ATV riders on narrow curves - ... so the jeep slowed... and slowed... uphill...
"Wait til' this next turn," I told him. Then you can pass.
And we did... and we both glanced at this bicyclist - wondering, 'what in the world is he doing this far, this high up... '
And we kept going.
Nearing a clearing in the woods, continuing up the mountain, - we stopped to let Dexter run. After 20-25 minutes I glanced behind our parked, bikini-less Jeep and said.. "Look. There he is again."
Walking now, his mountain bike alongside him, was the man we followed and passed before.
He called out, "You wouldn't have any extra water, would you?"
... A side note, for those who have not traveled with me... I pack like we're going into war, or the forest, or Carlsbad Caverns, or the Grand Canyon, or... just go with me... it's how I'm made... I'm predispositioned to be the person who packs with "what if... " in mind...
"Yes, we have water," JT called to the man. And so they worked out filling a bit from the ice chest and and a bit from our water reserve.
The stranger mentioned, "There aren't many signs around here. I think I missed my turn to Lincoln." JT glanced at me - I looked around. We have learned that most Montana folks don't typically take well to correction or direction - we explained we were recent transplants from Texas and JT offered the man one of our blankets (stored in the back of the Jeep) - he declined, thanked us for the water and continued UPHILL on his way.
JT and I loaded up Dexter, looked forward at the bicyclist and discussed, "Lincoln is not this way." "Not on this road." "Do you think he can fit in the jeep with his bike?" "Think we can get Dexter in the front and he and his bike in the back?" ...
I said, thinking of the determined men and my own determined soul - "Let's just go and we'll keep our eye out for him..." And so we did... We went up and up - on old paved roads - on roads that took us to the first Mason gathering of Montana (1862?) ... We walked around, took photos, scolded Dexter for moving logs to get mice or small animals .. and then we headed on our way...
And then... we saw him again... passing....
"You sure you're okay?" "It's going to rain soon."
He said, at the top of this mountain, "I'm okay, I have a down-sleeping bag here..." He pointed to a pink bag covering a pack on the back of his bike... for that matter, he had a pink bag protecting items on the front of his bike... and pink and silver strands on another area...
"Okay... " "Be safe," we offered...
As we drove past, and JT decided to travel a road that was not of my choosing, we discussed the man again... "Do you think he'll be okay?" "It's awfully cold up here..." "Did you notice the pink?" "Maybe it's for breast cancer awareness..."
I mentioned, "Did you see the camera he had recording us the last time we passed?" "Was that a camera?" "Yes, yes it was...."
And so we drove on - discovering roads that we have never traveled upon, drops of rain falling upon us ... "Look," JT mentioned - "there is a great camping spot." A few miles down the lane - crowded with trees, bushes, flowers - we look to the left and another camping spot presented itself. Soon - a mile or more - we see a more traveled road and look left and right - "Right" we decide, and off we went.
There were areas of cattle - lots of calves with their mothers, cattle guards, more calves, more mothers - a few bulls - another cattle guard - we realized a spot left of another T in the road and pulled over to take a break and do what nature requires.... about 10 minutes into our looking around and breaking I look at the crest on the rise we just crossed and ...
"There he is again!" We both watch as the man on the bike worked his way through the calves and their moms - he crossed the last cattle guard and then peddled our way...
"Is it dinner time?" he called.... JT and I both waved - smiled... welcomed this man that we kept passing and worrying over along this day's adventure.
He told us his name. He was, in fact, recording part his adventures for a movie he was making. There was a ride from El Paso to Alberta Canada - he had completed this ride last year, but this year decided to handle the Montana portion of the ride - his bearings were a bit discombobulated from the Garmin that was giving him great and not so great directions. He has a wife in Detroit, a daugther in Kalispell and was quite kind and agreeable.
He listened to our story - offered us his business card - and we refilled his water reservoir.
Before he went on his way he mentioned, "Make sure you email me and I'll send you a link to the movie - you're the people who saved me on Priest Pass..."
And on his way he went... we turned around and returned home on roads that we had already discovered... because it's Father's Day and JT wanted to watch a certain baseball game.
... and I sit here sending our prayers and good tidings to this traveler... I wish him well, I wish him good speed, God speed ... may kind souls cross his path.
And that, dear reader, is my blog for the day.
May you always offer water, be kind to strangers, and be aware of the opportunity to serve others.
Much love - it's crazy beautiful here....
- Simone
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