Day 500 – US – Montana [Rest day in Miles City]

17/08/21

 Rest day in Miles City (Montana, North America)

A needed day off to recover from the smokey runs and getting to see Miles City

Mural in Main St, Miles City

Day 500 of the journey… as I write the title of today’s blog it dawns on me that I’ve been at it for quite a while now! Adding to it the 120 days of being grounded in the two EU lockdowns, it’s been a long time since I have spent my days doing anything else than running. I am amazed how well I’m holding up and how all the indicators are still very much in the green. “One marathon a day keeps the doctor away” – isn’t it what they say?

Where else to park your horse before hitting the shops?!

I started the day meeting with Hanna from the Miles City Star paper. We met in a very busy antique shop full of treasures, cowboy and rodeo memorabilia and which doubles up as a cafe and pastry shop. Quite a concept! Hanna published the article online today and also helped me relay my message for help – as I still had one logistical support need that needed to be addressed. An enthusiastic reader contacted me a few hours later to offer me the ride on Thursday morning that I was looking for. (tomorrow I am running out of Miles City to a place where there is nowhere for me to sleep – I’m being driven back to MC for the evening and out again to my start point on Thursday morning).

Along Main St, Miles City

I spent much of the day indoors, trying to avoid breathing more smokey air. I worked on my planning. Looking ahead past the US crossing is quite a stretch at the moment. I have known for a long time that Australia and New Zealand would remain close for 2021. But I was hoping the situation in South America would evolve faster. With a vaccination rate above 80%, Chile is still keeping its borders closed. It will hopefully evolve in the next few months.