Ghost Town

Well the last post I wrote how I was getting stronger. I still think that's true. But the last couple of days have been levelers. I guess there is a cumulative effect, but 2 of the last 3 passes really took it out of my legs, with some real steep climbs, parts of which were just too steep to cycle and were pushers. But I'm still pedaling and still getting there. Oh and riding through small rivers makes me absurdly happy for some reason too!

I have found when it's really tough though plugging into my music (even if it means I can't hear the charge of a flesh hungry bear or cougar) really helps, and gives me a rythym. There is an old electronica type track by Fischerspooner, Emerge : stone cold mountain pass killer.

However sometimes when you get to the top of places, there isn't much to denote you're at the top. But as the picture demonstrates, when we got to the top of priest pass the Montanans had courteously only shot away half the sign.

Anyway I made the choice in the end to go to Helena. Rick decided to head straight for Butte and have a rest day there, and Chris came with me. But we got here with time to explore on a Sunday afternoon, and it was eerie. Hardly a soul to be seen on a pleasant sunny afternoon. No one in the suburbs, no one in the town, and this is the state capitol. There must have been a big game on or something. It was like the opening scene of a deserted London from 28 days later. I was tempted to knock on a door and see if any zombies answered. I also debated with Chris what should be our weapon of choice if the town had been overrun by zombies. I had to explain that a cross might be fine for vampires, but you need something with some skull splitting power for zombies. Amateur!