Three Forks - Harrison Lake
Time Traveled: 3 hrs 43 mins
Distance: 29.13 miles
Food Eaten: eggs, hash browns, toast, coffee/cream & sugar, dates, trail mix, Probar, vanilla cappuccino w/hot chocolate, refried black beans, salsa, taco shells, chai w/sugar
This morning we both woke up thinking we were going to have a nice, easy ride into Harrison. We should have known better when we awoke to drizzling rain. The skies were covered in dark, bitter clouds and the air was cold and wet as we pedaled the three miles into Three Forks to eat breakfast.
We took our time eating at the Three Forks Cafe and I made a call to my mother to give her an update. The outdoors did not exactly look inviting and we both were starting to feel homesick. Still, we headed out into the temperamental elements and met with a consistent series of rolling hills.
Upon arriving at the Parker Homestead State Park, it was decided that we needed a break. Joe and I walked around the old, abandoned house that was being eaten away by the hungry Montana plains. Inside, on the bumpy, dirt floors we discovered that there's a reason people dance the cha cha on polished wood surfaces. It was a bit tricky to execute the turns in bike shoes, but still fun anyway.
Continuing on our hilly journey, we met an elderly woman who was ahead of her bicycling tour group (all seniors). Even in the cold rain she was clearly enjoying herself. Of course, her group was supported and they weren't carrying any of their own gear, but perhaps that it the way to go when you get past 60.
The last stretch into Harrison was a long, grueling climb of probably 1500 feet or so. We were crossing our fingers, hoping for services as we rolled into the tiny town and relief set in when we saw that the only store would be open for another hour.
After talking to a few locals, we headed out to our resting point three miles down a rolling gravel road to the tiny Harrison Lake Campground. Cranes, geese and antelope roamed these plains and all throughout the night you could hear the geese honking above as they traveled in search of warmer weather.
In the middle of the night, we were awoken by a pack of coyotes that were chasing water fowl down on the beach. Their wailing cries haunted us as we drifted back into sleep, willing the sun to warm us when the morning comes.
