Jordan, MT - July 15, 2009

Tough day at the office. Pedaled 133 miles from Lewistown to Jordan. 

Weather was sunny, mid-70s and with the day off Tuesday, I had extra energy.

I kicked up some antelope in a field, but other than that the ride was extremely desolate.

I started waving to passing motorists and farmers, just to have some personal interaction as sometimes I wouldn't see a car for 20 minutes. 

Once, I waved to a train in the distance. He blew the whistle. I think I had an orgasm.

Although I started strong the last 20 miles was a struggle and I made it to town, riding on fumes. I was so tired I fantasized about falling onto a stretcher.

Exhaustion trumped hunger and threatened a shower. Doctors say, and I think the correct medical term is, I was ready to hurl.

Lewistown, MT - July 14, 2009

Day off Tuesday in Lewistown, Montana. Much needed rest from vicious headwinds that have totally robbed me of my Supergirl status.

My legs are dead and Mother Nature brewed up a big storm with driving rain and 28 mile per hour winds. Sandi and Dale Chamberlain adopted me giving me a safe, luxurious place to stay.

Lewistown is full of cowboy and outlaw history which included visits from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 

and Wild Bill Cody.

Toured the Judith Theatre on Main Street. Lisa Wright and her husband bought the theatre a couple years ago.

"It was just such an amazing building with original materials," said Wright who returned the 1914 structure to its original state.

When the theatre first opened it featured  live vaudeville shows; Red Skelton and Slim Pickens signed their names on a back wall by the dressing room.

During renovation Wright found an autographed photo of Elvis and within the past few years when John Travolta stopped on a promotional tour, he signed an old Saturday Night Fever poster.

Wright also found, what she thought was an old heating duct. However, it turned out to be a shooting chamber for Wild Bill Cody's gun show when he performed at the Judith Theatre.

CENTER OF MONTANA...

Lewistown is the direct center of Montana and folks in town are proud of it.

Although one local said the center point is the bathroom sink in her house, the Yogo Inn off Main Street has an official marker by their swimming pool.

At the entrance of the hotel is a collection of items found while digging at the center point including an old compass, a commemorative silver coin from the World Fair, a 14 inch rock with the state of Montana etched in the side and an X to mark the center.

There was also a written testament, from surveyor E.E., framed and hanging above the cabinet of collectibles.

"This humble marker locates the center of Montana. With it I bury my compass and shall never survey again."

E.E. described himself as an avid amateur history buff-draftsman and surveyor. E.E. was aware, some people may doubt his coordinates.

"I bury all with the hope when they look for Montana's center they will dig out this point because by thunder this is where it is."

Signed E.E. 2-29-1912.

CREEK IN THE FLOOR...

The Montana Tavern at 202 Main St. in Lewistown is unique as there is a hole in the floor where you can see the spring creek running underneath the building. The rectangular hole is about 4-feet by 3-feet. 

Sometimes you can see fish; once someone saw a beaver.

"The rebar grid is new," said the bartender about the bars across the hole. "We put it in about a year ago when somebody took a canoe down the creek and broke into the tavern after hours; climbed up through the hole and stole some beers and smokes."

TIDBITS ...

A small tavern, Cabin Creek Bar in Geyser, MT dated to 1913. Black and white photos showed cowboys standing on a wood plank sidewalk in front of the establishment. Inside, the bathrooms were still quaintly named POINTER and SITTER.

Sandi and Paul took me up into the mountains while on my day off in Lewistown. We visited a log cabin named The Last Resort. We were so high up and back in the woods, when we got out of the vehicle it smelled like Christmas.

Some famous people from Montana include Evel Knievel, David Lynch, Brent Musburger, Gary Cooper, Brooke Shields, Andie McDowell, Archie Bunker actor Carroll O'Conner went to the University of Montana, former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw has a ranch in Montana and enjoys fly-fishing, Ted Turner has a nice corner property of 113,613 acres.. "He's our premier Mr. High Pockets," said Andy Sponseller from Ten Spoon winery.