September 13, 2024 – Great Caesar's Falling Ghost

    I left Great Falls this morning. What a relief to get back on the road again. Sitting around inside a hotel saps motivation for the remainder of the expedition. Also, it makes you lazy, but I've got to get out there and continue riding. Great Falls was splendorous, however. I really enjoyed the city. I got to explore the downtown, go to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Giant Springs Sate Park, and two of the waterfalls/dams on the Missouri River. I also watched the new Betelgeuse movie and ate at MOD Pizza restaurant and Maria's Mexican Restaurant.

    I'm ready to finish the voyage. I only have 800 miles or so to complete the Lewis and Clark Trail. I'm actually doing a variation of the trail. I have decided to go straight to Missoula on Highway 200S because the weather is changing rapidly. It is starting to get much colder in the evenings. This route is cutting out about 300 miles and a few mountain passes as well. I would say this route is saving me about one week of travel time if not more. Today was probably the worst riding day I've had on the tour. I only pedaled about 40 miles to Simms, MT. I had a terrible head wind the whole day and I was hesitant to ride on Highway 200S. It is a terrible road to ride your bicycle on, and I've been off and on it for the duration of travel across Montana. Adventure Cycling should really change up the route in some way because no cyclist should ride on 200 in my opinion. It's just too dangerous. I'm camping at the city park in Simms tonight. Right next to the park is a middle school football game well underway. It's Friday night, and I'm all alone once again. I keep wondering what my problem is. I wonder why I have no friends, and I lead a lonesome life. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, but I sure do long for companionship in someway. Maybe when I return back to Pensacola, I can meet a good Christian girl. Perhaps I can at least make some new friends, or rekindle old relationships. I loved Johanna, but the distance has kept us apart for all these years. Neither one of us are willing to take the great leap of faith to visit the other person across the great blue sea.

    Anyways, I long to get to the Oregon coast. I'm tired of riding my bicycle on unsafe roads. I'm ready to get back to a semblance of a normal life once again. Who knows, maybe I will join the Navy, or I will get a job with an electrical company in Pensacola. In other news, I finished the poetry of the parables of Jesus. I've got a rough draft. I've got to rewrite and touch them up when I return back to Pensacola. That's all for now!