Here at Arby's where the wi-fi is free the Jamocha shakes are kickin' and the sunset is spectacular, I want to tell you all about Yellowstone. I am not going to because today is fresher on my mind. The Gallatin Mountain range lies between West Yellowstone and Bozeman, Montana. I set out this morning with Adriano. He told me all about his nomadic ways. I told him of my deep roots in Texas. I must admit my feelings of homesickness. The road narrowed as we entered the canyon carved over millions of years by the Gallatin River, which we followed for a good 60 miles today. On a bike, when the road narrows, the dynamic between riders changes. Adriano and I ceased our conversation, and rode in a line, instead of side by side. Throughout the day, we intertwined with the river and its many tributaries. I stopped every chance I got to wash my face in the cool, cool water. After one of these stops, Adriano, Mitch and I met a local trail attendant who said that about 12 miles down the trail which we had stopped at, the snow was still up to a horse's belly. Wow! We left her with a big, enthusiastic smile and some cancer awareness pamphlets.

The Montana fly fishermen are territorial. They claim their spot and swing rhythmically as we ride by. You can only grab their attention with a wave if they are out of the water. Otherwise, they are completely immersed in the job at hand. Trees atop mountain ridges standout from the cloudy blue sky before naked rock faces rise high above the swift river, first smooth then jagged.

Once again, the though of crossing another great state over the next week is both exhilarating and daunting. The country is beautiful and I just don't know how I am going to be able to do everything I want to do in this short time. I must accept that the road will be my playground. I must return for the countless trails that disappear into the mountains. Just today, I could have easily spent a week exploring the paths which head off highway 191.

Tomorrow we ride a super century to the capitol of this state. Here the scenery makes my mind wander and my legs slow. I spin out my legs and soak in the land. I ride relaxed as if I am lounging at home. It took a bit of a stomach bug to slow me down, but I like this pace, and I am in no hurry to speed it back up, though I am feeling much better today.

Signing off~~MZW