big sky

like our campground neighbors last night, montana horse flies are a little slow. they lumber around with no shirts on, mouths open, and when the time is right, they land like your skin is their skin. they are easy to swat, but if they bite, they bite hard and the welt is big and bright.

stupid fucking flies.

we made it from seeley lake to ovando this morning in just over three hours, with 2000 feet of climbing.

ovando hoyt is the founder of ovando and a creepy painting of him stands at the main entrance to town. when i saw it, i reflexively reached for my pepper spray.

we are sitting at the stray bullet in ovando, having a mid-afternoon breakfast. usually, my order is “meat and grease“ and i hope that is fiulfilled here.

fingers crossed

not sure of our destination tonight. out bikepacking neighbors from last night left the stray bullet 20 minutes before we arrived and given their youthful zeal, we will likely never see them again.

the people you meet on this journey are memorable but also, here and gone.

just like that montana horse fly.