Not much to add today. I am now in Lewistown, MT. Will not be out of MT for another week. The next 5 days are going to be tough. The services are far apart and one section is 70 miles and I have been told by several people I may see only a handfull of cars along the way. The route maps tell us to take extraa water and food in the next few days. I plan a rest day in Williston, ND. I should be there by next Wed. I am almost ready to make the 1000 mile mark. Sorry I have no pics today. I was riding with both cell batteries dead. HI to six pack, the pIle and modiacs. I know some of you are reading the blog. Keep in touch! Miss you all! I understand a lot of people are following my blog so I am being more carefull to check my spellliinng. Its hard to do on this little phone! ( NO I am not whining! ) dad, mod, randy

OK I made it to Denton, MT. 63 miles and ALL up hill. Thought the old legs were gonna go on strike. Nothing at all to see on the way, so I took a picture of the three riding companions and I having brunch. I ate a ton and the bill was 6.50 and no tax. Drinks in machines are 50 cents. The two critters if you can see them are antelopes. I asked the guy at the cafe what kinda deer they were and he started laughing and said " You aren,t from here are you"? I said " How can you tell"? We are camping in a city park for free, so today was kind a cheep fun. ( I guess if you call peddling up hill for 60 miles a good time! Miss you all! Dad , Randy , and Mod

I am now in the beautiful little Fort Benton on the Missouri River. Pretty easy day today with only 2 really big hills. Nothing but boring scenary on the trip here but I did add a couple of pics. The dog statue is of a dog whose owner passed away and his casket was put on a train. The dog, Shep, returned to the train station every time a train passed through Fort Benton for 5 and a half years. He became feeble and was killed by a train. He has been recognized by Ripley,s Believe It or Not. The other pic is of the first bridge to cross the Missouri River and is now a walking bridge. The guy with his daughter and her friend are camping with me again tonight. I am doing fine health wise. missing everyone!

Sitting on a park along the Missouri River. Arrived in Fort Benton, MT about 2. Camp ground folks offered me icewater as soon as I got off the bike. The picture of me and the dog Shep statue. Shep's owner died and his casket was put on a train. For 5 and a half years Shep met each train that came into the station in Fort Benton until he became feeble and fell under the wheels of the train! He is in Ripleys Believe it or not. Great little historical town. The bridge is a walkway across the Missouri River and was the first bridge to ever cross that river.

Blog update! After I wrote the blog for today I had a little change of plans. A wild bunch of motorcycle guys inhabited the campsite and judging by their language and the beer flowing around I decided to head to Great Falls. I am now in a hotel in Great Falls, MT after a long 92 mile day. Tomorrow looks to be the same type of hills but I only need to go about 60 miles. We'll see what adventure and surprises lie ahead.

What a day! Having breakfast in Lincoln and everyone ran out of the place. I did too and saw hundreds of sheep being herded by 2 guys on horses and about 6 dogs. It was amazing watching the dogs keep the sheep bunched up and moving. The picture can't do it justice but will give you some idea. The views on the way to Simms are spectacular but the ride was a difficult one. 58 mikles of rolling hills. Some over a mile up. I did cross Roger' Pass. N see pic) but it was easy compared to the rest of the ride. I am camping in a grassy area beside a sewrvice station. The only place in town to stay or camp. Cost me 5 dollars. I was hoping to make Great Falls today but thje hills did me in and 35 more miles isn't in my legs! Its very hot too! Like home I think! Miss everyone! Thanks for your encouraging messages on my blog! They keep me going!

In Lincoln, MT. Short ride today due to the availability of campsites etc for the next 60 miles. Spent the night yesterday in a very special little town called Ovando, MT. Never have I been in a community of like mided generous and caring people. I started to camp and ended up staying in a church. The folks there treated me as a trusted friend and not as a stranger. It was truly a heart waring encounter with very special folks. There was a plaque dedicated to one of the pillars of the church that read in part. "In him we saw what we all ought to be." I believe the folks in Ovando are the way we all ought to be. Lincoln is a small town with many stories of grizzlies. Just down the road freom where I am camping is a stuffed 850 pound monster killed by a car just up the road aways. NOW that makes me wanta ride a bit faster. Actually the folks here say it is very rare for bears to come near the highway. I thought good I am sleeping on the curb. 4ome folks from Iowa just came into to camp on their bikes and we will be riding together to Williston, ND I think. A father a daughter and a boyfriend. ( of the daughter I think) I am doing well and PJ and I are cruising along as a happy couple ought be! The pics are of the folks who I met at the church and the dog N like the people wanted to be friends. We played ball for several minuts. The mounds are from the ice age and from galciers that left them all over this part of MT. Miss you all! mod

Sorry about disappearing! No service past 3 days. Doing fine. Lots happened! Monday terrible day. Rain all day and boring 68 miles to Kamiah, WA. Tuesday beautiful sunny day and greaty ride to Wilderness Gateway Park in Idaho. The pretty young lady was a river guide and was picking upo litter with other guides. After asking them how far to the park, they asked where I was from. Well the young lady was from Fairmont, WV. She and I both thot thjat was pretty neat!. Wed. was a super low energy day and I was about to run outa gas when I looked up tio see a huge bull moose standing in the road about 50 yards ahead. I was frozen. I was praying fior a car to come by, and for what seemed like a year, it was me and this 1000 pound moose. No doubt he had the advantage. A car came he left and I cleaned my britches! Whoa that wasn't fun! Every day wqhen I am about beaten, something haoppoens to encourage me to keep pushing. I had stopped at a camp site and along came a bunch of cyclists and all going the same way as me!. Two were from? Quebec, CAN, one from Kentucky, and a guy from Portland. Three of us will ride together for a few days or until we get separated. David retired from corporate America, divorced, had ridden a bike less than 100 miles and is riding from Portland, OR to Virginia and back. I feel bad for him! He has no clue and is pushing his bike up some of these "hills". He is writing a book. I assume it will be call, " How Not to Ride a Bike across America". PJ and I are doing fine. I road up Lolo Pass this morning. 5 mile climb and took me 2 hours. Elev,tion 5226 ft. I am in Missoula , MT now. Stopped by Adventure Cycling whose maps I am using. I am doing fine bit will be heading into the mountains towards Lincoln , MT tomorrow so I will disappear for another 3 to 4 days I think. Thanks for all the encouragement! it helps me get through each day!
I say: " It is what it is! Deal with it! " mod

Well no pics today except this pic of the highway and berm I rode on for 50 or so miles! 68 miles for the day. Dodging cars and trucks and trying not to run into the ditch made for a tough day. Nothing exciting to see though. Rain most of they day and severe storm warnings for tonight. I did make it to Kamiah ( pronounced Kammy eye ). I am in Nez Perez Indian Reservation land and gambling casinos are everywhere. The place to eat in town was call The Hub. Quite interesting red neck bar on one side of the room and a family type diner on the other. Now ya should seen the red necks and drunks ( a couple very drunk ) look at me as I stolled in past the bar wearing my tan Kroc ahoes and cycle stuff. Ha it was quite a sensation! The food was great and then I had to walk out!! I walked pretty fast! Hope everyone back home is doing well. Other than a somewhat sore behind, I am fine!

messed up on the pics! sorry. The two critters came running to the fence when i stopped by and they were so cute i had to get their picture.

Arrived in Clarkston, WA. It's just across thw border from Idaho. Had a good day. Overcast and cool. One of the pictures is of a couple of bikers and me. They belong to a motorcycle group from Seattle, called the Alky Angels and they ride alcohol and drug free and many are recovering alcoholics. Another example of not judging people by the way they look, dress, etc. Another picture shows why these mountains are called the Blue Mountains. As far as you can see in all directions they are covered by these blue flowers. If you look close at the other pic you can see a cyote. It is eating ( sorry ) what appears to be a newly born calf. There were 4 but the others bolted. guess this guy was hungry, blind, or greedy. I am doing welll and will be entering Idaho tomorrow. Oh yeh, Charlotte don't bother with a new mower. I put a down payment on this tractor. Should do the yard in no time!! Love and miss everyone!

My rest day in Walla Walla, WA turned out to be a brunch stop. Not a single hotel in the city had a room. Big wine festival. Staying in Dayton 30 miles more on the day. 57 total. Total distance to date is 283. Included a picture of the motel. Huge car show in town and thought you might enjoy the state police one. Tomorrow will be heading to Lewiston, Idaho, 67 miles but will put me a day ahead of schedule. Keep in mind I cant contact you through the blog but your encouragement means soo much to me!! I am doing fine! Butt a bit sore but OK!

Exhausting day! put in 74 miles into the wind and there were times I wanted to hang PJ but I remembered he/she is my only friend! Met three cyclists making there way across country. One lady from DC and 1 guy from Houston and the other from Georgia. There is a pic of the lady and two motorcycle guys I had lunch with. Also a picture of 4 people at my campsite who are super nice! The other pics are of the beautiful Columbia River Gorge near McNary, Oregon. I am staing in a little place called Wallulu. It is about 25 miles west of Walla Walla Washington. I am healthy but super tired. Tomorrow I am amking a short day and staying in Walla Walla in a hotel, doing laundry and site seeing. Love and miss you all!

FINALLY a great day. No rain and a tailwind all day!! :-) Morning started with a harrowing ridwe across the bridge into OR with a strong head wind and semis to dodge! Thought if I left at 6 I could beat the trucks but NO! Had a great breakfast and rodew back across the bridge and up the one and a half mile hill to my route! I learned that WA deer are afraid of cell phones. They would stand and stare at me till the phone came out and they bolted! So no pics! Later I was taking a break and an old guy ( about my age ) stopped and asked for directions! Now that was kinda wierd! Arrived at the camp site around 1:30. Rode 61 miles and other than the scrape on my leg from hitting myslef with a pedal, I'm doing fine! There were no eating places today so am eating oatmeal and payday candy bars. FUN! I saw a sign as I got on route this morning that said no gas for 82 miles. Apparently no food or people either. The picture of the road is part of the climb out of the camp this morning! Love ya all! Miss my Toby!

Well here i am cold and windblown but thankful for no rain except when i was trying to leave. got a late start around 8 and made it to the campsite around 2. Wind was fierce today and blowing me around. Storm clouds kept rolling along behind me. The guy at the park just told me the weather has been colder, wetter, and windier than normal. now imagine that! Just like i would have ordered! Mountains are fairly easy climbs but long and time consuming ( like most school days ) . Tomorrow may be interesting as there is NOTHING but highway between here and my next camp site. Maybe i can find some roadkill and heat up the ole pop can stove and be like a regular hillbilly. I miss everyone ( even the dogs ). The scenery is spectaclar and makes the riding more fun! I am sending a couple more pics and if i ever go through a town i will try to send one beside water and rocks. I have learned that the names on my maps are not towns , just places! :-) I was thinking if Charlotte was here she would pu Christmas lights on all the pine trees!

Crazy first day! rain first 4 hours and then a two hour sit in traffic due to rock slide! Made it to White Salmon, WA around 2:30. Camp site is all grass and super nice with a mickyd's just up the road. yay for junk food! haha i can get rid of the fat in it before noon tomorrow! Other than the rain the views were awesome and the climbs were fairly easy! sure that will change quickly! Sorry about the silly picture mail blog. Tried to send pics as picture mail but didnt work. will get it off soon! thanks to everyone who have been sending encouraging words! Enjoy the pics!

Arrived in Portland after a circus of cancelled flights and rerouting due to storms! Finally arrived at hotel at 2 AM Oregon time. Had to take shuttle back to airport this morning to pick it up! Will be picking bike up this afternoon and visiting with Courtney and grandkids till the 15th and heading home! Will begin the official bike blog then. Hopefully the trip home will be easier than the trip to Portland.  According to the locals, it has been raining here for a week now. Today it is sunny and beautiful and it is supposed to be 83 degrees. The warmest day so far this spring/summer. Maybe that's a good sign!

PJ is on its way to Portland with all my equipment, scheduled to arrive on the 9th.  I feel like I have been robbed. No time to be nervous, or even excited. Too many things to do. 5th grade graduation Thursday, rehearsal dinner last night in Ripley, wedding today, 5th grade class trip to Columnbus Zoo on Monday, last day of school on Tuesday, and then preparing class for opening day of school and saying goodbyes rest of week. Friday morning off to Athens for Lauren's graduation, on to Columbus and then off to Portland that evening.
People keep asking if I'm ready. Can't really say for sure ( how would I know ) and too late to worry about it now. I can sense the nervousness in people for me now and I try not to think about it. My emotions run anywhere from being nervous, scared,. excited, anxious, apprehensive, sad, and happy. Too many things to think about in the last few days.  I have one goal in mind as I prepare to leave for the summer. To get back home! This is not a pleasure trip for me although I am sure there will be many things to celebrate and enjoy along the way. I am certain the best day of my journey will be the trip down Park Avenue and arriving home.
Till then I will keep in touch the best way I can and I WILL MAKE IT!

" The difference between a hill and a mountain will be my attitude. "