Missoula to Billings, Montana

Starting out: Trip / Odometer / Time: 49.4 / 40,189 / 9:12 AM PDT

I did go by first thing this morning and got a dealer pin.

Parked in front was an Ultra Glide Fireman Edition.  It is beautiful.  I think Jason should strongly consider getting one.

I already have a "D" city, but I can use this as a Montana State sign.

Not to worry, though, a gas station should be available every 20 miles or so, right?  Wrong!  this is Montana.  Note on the map that all the named entities in the 50 miles approaching Columbus are little tiny circles.  Too few people to actually support a local gas station.  I wish I had paid more attention before I rode there.

See my gas planning here.  Well, I diverted from the plan by gassing up a little early.  As a result, this leg was getting too long without a casual encounter with a convenient gas station along the way.  I was getting pretty dry when I came to the little town of Reedpoint.  The highway signs say there is gas here.  Sure enough there is a Sinclair station.  You know, the kind with the cute little dinosaur.  When I pulled up to the pump, there was a hand-written sign that said no gas here anymore.  Go to Columbus, 18 miles further.

I made 12 of those miles.

What does one do in the middle of nowhere on the four foot wide shoulder of an Interstate with cars and trucks zipping by at 75 MPH?  Well, I called AAA.  A nice operator, Norma, in Arizona picked up and I tried to explain where I was.  She connected me to someone, I missed the name, in Montana who claimed she wanted nothing to do with me.  At last, she did give me the number of someone in Columbus who could help.  After explaining to Sally what I needed, she promised to send someone out and that a dispatcher would call me to tell me when to expect help.  About 20 minutes later, my phone rings and the nice dispatcher apologizes for taking so long.  His primary operator is hung up.  But he did locate someone who could come help, but he would be 30 to 40 minutes but he is on the way.

During this time, a lot of bikers rode by some in groups, some singly.  Almost all waved, but none stopped.  There's probably some secret hand signal that means please stop, I could use some help or at least some company while I wait.  I'm not aware of what it is.

The most surprising part was that a Sheriff Deputy drove by on the other side of the highway.  He and I made eye contact and then he went on his way.  I expected him to find a place somewhere up the road to make a U-turn and then come back to see what I was doing on the shoulder of the road.  He never returned.

At one point, a train rolled by.  That was fun and occupied about five minutes of attention.

Finally, a big blue pickup truck approaches on the other side, slows and then just drives right across the 30-40 feet of grass divider strip.  I think he said his name is Wayne Monroe.  A nicer fellow I couldn't have asked for.  He poured two gallons of premium in my tank and everything was good again.

This whole affair lasted almost exactly an hour.  What made it seem like an eternity was that it was in the 90's out with bright sun and no shade to be seen anywhere.

I am red in the face for having run out of gas and I am red almost everywhere for having stood out in the Montana sun.

By the time I got here, it was after 6:00 local time and I thought they'd be closed.  I found out later that they are open to 7:00 every night.  Oh well, I'll go by tomorrow morning.  I like it because of the name.

I did find the Sheriff's office.  Cool, a "Y" county is not that common.

I am way too tired from both yesterday and today to continue on.  I'm back on schedule.  Tomorrow is another day.

Done for the day: Trip / Odometer / Time: 69.5 / 40,572 / 6:20 PM PDT

ABC Letters: Cities: D; Counties: G, Y; New States: Montana

Day's Totals: 383 miles, 9 hours 10 minutes
Trip Totals: 1,677 miles, 39 hours 43 minutes