June 6, 2005

Chat with a real cowboy.

We started the morning with breakfast at the café across from the inn. They utilize the café when the Inn isn’t full, as it doesn’t make a lot of sense to set up and cook for just two. The buttermilk pancakes were the best I’ve ever had. They certainly didn’t come from a box.

Today we crossed the continental divide at Rogers Pass, MT. The climb to the pass was gradual and we had a slight tail wind. It really wasn’t that bad. Just like Lolo Pass the oxygen deficit at 5,000 feet was more of an issue than the grade.

Its all downhill from here

After the descent the terrain became very different: high hills with grasslands and some pines. As our elevation lowered to around 4,000 feet it became all grasslands and ranches. To our surprise the terrain which is shown as fairly flat and descending on the maps was more of rolling hills and we had a lot of ups and downs ranging from 4,400 ft. to 4,000 feet all afternoon.

Along the way we stopped to talk to Bob Sauke. He was exiting a ranch at a gate and when he saw us he waved and asked how we were. We stopped and chatted for around fifteen minutes and Bob told in fairly frank terms how he thought the country was going down the toilet. It was an interesting conversation with a real cowboy. As you can see from the picture Bob has a few miles on him. He was a nice enough guy who just wanted to chat and tell us a few things about the area.

A chat with cowboy Bob Sauke

When we reached Simms (population 373) the campground that the map showed was right by the road, and all mud and dirt. It was not at all inviting. We rode in the town streets looking for another option and were considering camping behind the school. We had no water to cook and went back to the campground – gas station – auto repair shop to buy a gallon of water. It was then I remembered something Joan told me on the phone the night before and that was: “If I was stuck that I could probably stay at churches.” After a bit of chatter with the three guys in the convenience store I asked if there were any churches in town. I was told that the town had “two nice ones” and that one was a couple of roads beyond the school. We rode to the church and I went to the house nearby and asked the woman who came to the door who was the Pastor’s wife if we could camp on the lawn next to the church. She suggested that it might be more comfortable inside and said we could use the kitchen downstairs for cooking.

It’s nice and warm and dry in here and the pews are well padded so that’s where we will sleep. Nick asked if there was somewhere we could leave a donation and she showed us where the poor box was. Nice touch Nick.

Simms Community Church

We have to be out of here early as Vacation Bible School starts tomorrow morning at 8:00. We’ll be up by 5:30 make breakfast downstairs and be on the road by 7:00. Many thanks to Pastor Rod and Debbie at the Simms Community Church for letting us stay here.

Jim

Cycledog (Ride the extra mile!!)

PS Lance didn’t sleep at the Inn we stayed at last night, but he was in the general store.

© 2005 - JNS