It was outrageously windy in Winnett and points west today (Wed. 6-5). There was a National Weather Service Advisory for the area both today and yesterday. Today the windy conditions were even more severe than yesterday, with 27 mph winds gusting to 45 mph. These were headwinds for me, and it took a lot of effort to plod along at speeds often only five to seven mph. This was exhausting work, in part also due to the extra energy needed just to keep my bike on course and upright as it was buffeted by the strong gusts.

Unfortunately, there was no lodging available for tonight in Winnett, so I needed to move on in spite of the weather. Thankfully, my Chief Navigator Trudi was able to find a remote cabin I could stay in near Grass Range, MT (pop. 110), which meant I only needed to bike about 26 miles. In these conditions, it took me about five hours to get there. But mercifully, the hills were very modest, and traffic was quite light.

I’ll tell you a little more about the trip and where I landed near Grass Range, but first will share a few photos from my stay in Winnett. Here we see the bluffs that dominate the eastern horizon of the town.

There isn’t much commercial activity in Winnett, and only 182 people live there, but it does have a general store that carries groceries and also a courthouse, since it is the county seat of Petroleum County. The town was named for Walter Winnett, a Canadian rancher who was captured by the Sioux Indians and later adopted into the tribe. In walking around the town, I came across a Community Center that was recently built with a major gift of $4.5 million from Larry and Kathi Carrell. It is a beautiful facility, with meeting rooms and a gymnasium. According to a sign in the entryway of the building, Larry stated, “I have been fortunate in life with some luck and hard work to have made a living beyond my needs.” As a result, he and his wife decided to share the fruits of their labor and good fortune with their community. Larry also has the following advice to others:

“Have goals, make good decisions, and don’t be afraid to fail; leave things in a way that they do better for more people; and be aware that your actions are what define you.”

There is only one restaurant in Winnett, the Winnett Bar & Grill, and I had dinner there both Monday and Tuesday. I ordered apple pie a la mode for dessert last night (6-4) and was impressed by how much ice cream came with it.

My two-night stay in Winnett was at the Northern Motel, an immaculately cared for facility. The owners, JR and Brenda, were especially friendly and helpful. JR has compressed air in his workshop and helped me make sure my tires were properly inflated, and Brenda did her best to help me find lodging elsewhere for tonight since they were fully booked. JR and Brenda are moving to Lewistown to be closer to family and the motel is now for sale–give them a call if you’re interested!

Most of my attention on the way out of Winnett this morning was on keeping my bike from toppling over in the strong winds, but I did notice, for the first time, mountains off in the distance, in some cases still capped with snow.

I stopped at the Wrangler Bar and Cafe for a late lunch when I got to Grass Range around 2 p.m. The appetizer section of their menu definitely has a western feel to it.

The cabin I’m staying in tonight is known as the Geary Cabin and is surrounded by beautiful hills and ranch land. It was built by a family who operates a ranch nearby and includes a small pond. It is rustic and peaceful, and just perfect for my needs.

Family members who showed up to check me in and explain how the water and generator-supplied power work include Keith, Brittany, and Haley. I enjoyed talking with them about this region of Montana and how it is beginning to feel the impact of folks moving here from other parts of the country.

Brittany was also kind enough to tell me to feel free to eat a can of stew I found in the cupboard–a vast improvement over the snacks I had in my bike bag. Thank you!

Tomorrow, 6-6, I plan to ride about 32 miles to Lewistown, MT (pop. 5,901). I am grateful that the heavy winds of the last two days are predicted to abate dramatically–to six mph, with gusts up 11 mph. Whew!