Hello blog.
*
Day 21/17 : July 29, 2011

Saint Mary, MT to Crooked Creek Campground, Waterton Lakes, Alberta, Canada

*
Today the plan was to continue North into Alberta, Canada, bike into Waterton Lakes National Park and back out, then approx. 77 more miles of Canada soil, and back into Montana onto Cut Bank.
It would be a big ride, approx. 140miles, but my avg pace and cool weather had me thinking it was a Go.
*
After short conversations and Happy Trail wishes to the fellow biker and hikers, I was on the road leaving Glaciers beauty behind.
The wind was at my back, and I thought this couldn't be more perfect for my big push.
The image in my mirror that grew smaller and smaller with each pedal, had a beauty difficult to put into words and had me contemplating whether I should stay for a day or two to soak in the smells of nature.

*
I believe the wind was trying to tell me to stay.  It must have known something I didn't.
Because as soon as I turned North towards Babb, the wind was in my face.
It was an immediate momentum shift, and a struggle to get 10 miles down the road to Babb.
It seemed a bit ridiculous to take a break already, but there I was, sitting on the bench outside the general store eating not 1. not 2. but 3 candy bars (eh, no jaw dropping, they were good and sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.  And, at this time, it was eat 3 chocolatey, ooey, chewy, peanut buttery, coconutty deliciousness.) and talk with a couple arrogant travellers.
One who claimed he thru-hiked the Appalacian Trail, and when I asked how long it took... he said "O, a couple months."  And when I said, "Nice, with full gear?"  He said, "O yeah." "Where did you start?"  "Florida."  And the conversation ended with me giving a funky look.
*

On the road again. And all that was on my mind was

wind + constant up and downs = not going to get as far as planned.

This ride was full of mountainous views on my left

 and open plains on my right

along with lingering open cattle.

These cows were intimidating.

As I would pedal forward, they would step out further into the road.

Territorial or protective.

So I lowered my head. Kicked up some dust up with my feet. Snorted. and Charged.

Fortunately at the same time as a car drove by, giving me a shield because I don't think I would have won that battle.

*

Canada was in view.

30 miles of climbing with a head wind to this point, it was already mid-afternoon and I was tired.

 I wasn't sure how far I would be making it today.

There was a nice 5-ish mile decent to the border. 

And after an easy clear into Alberta,

a lunch snack was in need.

This is where you wish you hadn't eaten all the candy bars.

*

It was a long day of not many miles, but exhausting.  I knew I had to

find some place to pitch the tent.

The roadsides where very open.  No trees to tuck a tent behind.  Or it was dense brush.  It was 17 miles until the next available campground.

The wind made my shirt look like that .. not the candy bars :)

*

My destination goal for today changed 4 times.

 I finally ended at Crooked Creek campground near Waterton Lakes

after convincing the campground owners that though their camp is full,  all I need is a small piece of land for my tent.  They shoved me in a mosquito infested pit for 18$ canadian.

The shower felt nice.