Okay, wrong….except for a four hundred foot climb early in the ride today’s route was fairly flat with a brisk tailwind. Leaving Billings with DeWayne and Patty, we wound our way through the busy streets and out on to 87 east where the traffic dropped dramatically. In fact over the next three hours we probably didn’t encounter move than a dozen cars. It was cycling heaven! Our ride was briefly interrupted twice; once to observe a rather large rattlesnake warming itself on the pavement (I moved it off the road by squirting it with my water bottle) and then to assist a truck driver who lost a trailer while trying to avoid an oncoming car.
Only one scheduled water stop was set up due to the limited mileage. When Liz attempted to find some privacy to relieve herself near the only trees to be found –she wasn’t alone. A deer carcass was right next to her selected site. Smelly, to be sure.
Arriving in Hardin, Bob was able to hook us up with a couple of locals who were willing to drive us to the Little Bighorn Battlefield, only 15 miles away. Walking the grounds on which such a historically significant event took place makes one feel the sense of fear and desperation the U.S. soldiers must have felt as they fought against hopeless odds. Total U.S. losses approximately 260 including General George Armstrong Custer and all of his men. Indian losses were estimated at between 50 to 100. After our return to camp, a shower followed by another excellent meal catered by Beyond Basil closed out the day.
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