Day 9 Condon to Ovando

54 miles (87 km) – Total so far: 440 miles (708 km)

The store owner at Swan Valley Centre is one of the fattest men I have ever seen. It was warm last night and he just let his belly hang out of his open shirt, to below his knees. He was a miserable sort also. Everywhere else has let me split 6 packs, and he wouldn’t, hence settling for a Rebel IPA. He could hardly walk, but told me he was shutting up early at a quarter to eight, so I got a last beer. This morning with a woman working it was a whole different place. Great coffee and good chat with the locals.

The camping was just off the road, and there was the odd truck throughout the night. In retrospect, a few miles on was a steak house and a campsite which would have been better.

I was away just after 9 on another warm morning. A little bit hotter each day, headed for 32C this afternoon. Just short of Seeley Lake the back tyre hit a nail and was shredded. You know it when this happens, luckily infrequently, it is like a gun shot. After hitching for 10 minutes or so a guy headed down to work driving a truck in North Dakota picked me up. A really top guy. There was a bike shop in Seeley Lake and he came in and made sure all was good before he left. It took a while though, as the mechanic wasn’t hugely skilled. A very nice guy, but in pumping the new tube and tyre up he knocked my bike without its back wheel on off the rack. At the time I didn’t notice any damage, but 10 miles on and on the first hill going into the lower gears the deraillier was against the spokes. I have done a temporary repair, but will check it at the next shop wherever that maybe.

The ride on Route 83 ended 14 miles later at Clearwater Junction, and then left and on the bigger highway 200 for 13 miles into Ovando. Also, as it has been warm, storms are brewing in the mountains and this meant a ride into a strong easterly.

Ovando has Wild West heritage and has built its little village around that. It is on a bike junction and frequently gets cyclists stopping off. Camping is free, as is a night in a wagon once drawn by horses, a teepee or the jail. There is a store, an angling store, a cafe and a bar. More on the bar later.

Distance 54 miles Ride time 4 hrs and 39 minutes Average Speed 12.1 mph Max Speed 24 mph Departed 9:15 am, arrived 3:15 pm Altitude 1288 meters