Dawn broke with George and I leaving Cullbertson Montana to head west, and Bob and Jim leaving (wherever it was that they finished their Iron Butt 1,000 miles - I don't remember, but I have to wonder whether they really do either) to head north - the plan for the four of us to meet in Shelby Montana in the mid afternoon.
An encouraging chat outside the Kings Inn Motel, as an older fellow with the common Honda Goldwing-with-trailer set-up tells us that the day before his wife's and his travelling companions - another couple on a Honda Goldwing-with-trailer - had hit a small deer at about 60 mph and been thrown from their bike... thankfully surviving, but getting "severe" road rash that had them both hospitalized. It is a constant danger - whether moose further east, or deer in this part of the world; the deer are particularly worrisome because they move so quickly and can "spring up" out of tall grasses alongside the roadway. So your eyes are constantly scanning the roadside ahead for any indication of movement...
It was another hot day in Montana, with the temperature getting up into the 34 degrees centigrade range before lunch. We stopped in a little bar for lunch, only to have the grizzled oldtimer beside us warn us again about omnipresent deer on the highway. George says the fellow said there had been 3 motorcyclists killed from collisions with deer during the last year - I'm sure George is right - but I heard it a bit more like "the highway is littered with the carcasses of dead motrocyclists..."
As it turned out, saw no deer, but did see and photograph other indigenous Montana wildlife in the grasslands, and on a beer label.
Back onto the road, eventually arriving in Shelby. Looked for Jim and Bob at Lucky Lil's Casino (where they said we could expect to find them), but spot their bikes at the more likely adjacent truckspot, where they are eating lunch, including deep fried flatbread which Jim insists we must try, hot with butter and honey.
Jim had learned that a major business project which he had been quarterbacking from the road for the last weeks was in need of some immediate and personal attention from the boss, so he needed to go north (i.e., home to Strathmore, and onto a plane the next day). The Great Adventure for the four Knights of the Open Road had to end some time, but inevitably there was sadness in knowing the moment had arrived. A lady in the gas station took a final photo of the four of us.
Jim headed north; George, Bob and I headed south to Great Falls, with the plan that in the morning I would head west towards home, while George and Bob would head south for a couple of days and then meet up with Ben (who originally was to have been one of the KotOR) and a friend for a ride on the Road to the Sun in Glacier Park, with a view to getting home to Langley Saturday.
Stayed at the Best Western Heritage Inn in Great Falls. Got a room with two beds, so asked for a cot as well. Later mentioned this on the phone with Jo-Ann; she pointed out that three women would be sensible enough to share the better quality bed. Discussion followed among the three remaining Knights - clear and immediate consensus that this identifies a profound but immutable difference between women and men. The cot stayed. Dinner offered Bob an opportunity to try walleye for the first time - positive verdict.
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