Saturday, July 7th: Somers, MT … or South we go!

Good morning… wake up! Time to leave GNP and head south. This is the real deal now. We are actually moving now. The first part along lake Mc. Donald was still cool. My boss found it necessary to call out loud what she was doing, what she saw:”car up”, “car back”, “turn right”, “turn left”… Good thing no one heard her – not even the bears or the mountain lion! 

Bear Grass

West Glacier was some kind of a breakfast stop: a cold drink and a banana would do the trick! She also bought a piece of carrot cake: for the iron horse? Or for the Hungry Horse we would see again? Yes, we had to backtrack a bit till Columbia Falls: wew… that last part of US 2 (which was the  US route to go cross country – they even have a plaque somewhere, but it has wrong information on it – with the compliments of our guide from yesterday) is hellish: no shoulder and lots of fast traffic. A bit scary and it gives you no chance to enjoy the Flathead river which runs parallel to the road. Columbia Falls meant our first gas station stop: a Gatorade and … hey that cookie was for the horse! And what about your thoughts just minutes ago: no pie before noon? I wonder if someone will invent sunscreen for dogs. I’m getting older and my fur needs some protecting! My boss just puts that stuff on herself, but me…??? 

Tasty?

Second part of the road was along a smaller road, heading to Big Fork (why do people name towns in relation to food?)It was a rather busy and narrow road – guess that’s the story out here! Another gas station at the T-junction and a right turn brings us past yellow fields (“Flax or muster seed”, said the female driver two days ago) and straight into busy Kallispell. Not so today… we are not stopping here! Way too busy! The sun is doing her best now making it a warm ride. Only 6 more miles to go! That hill before Somers was already tough, but the climb to the Outlook Inn was a pusher: my boss had to crawl next to Sweet Machine and push her up that steep hill (she still doesn’t know what’s more difficult: cycling or pushing). We came too early at the Inn and sat down in front of the house. The black cat saying hello to us, could not even get me going: it was now too hot to chase a cat! Once the innkeeper showed up (she noticed me and found me cute!) , my boss could get into her room ( they have a dog here too). The view is phenomenal: over Flathead lake! I say, my boss will sleep well tonight!