O'Brien's Cafe -- the only place to eat in Saco, MT
O'Brien's Cafe -- the only place to eat in Saco, MT
Last Modified on 9/23/97 at 17:31:12
Day's Narrative: Neville and I decided to ride together today until Glasgow, MT. Neville wanted to go on to Wolf Point, MT (117 mi, 188km). Connie and I have decided to stay at Glasgow, MT (70 mi, 113km). We met at 5:30 am and went to eat at the Westside Cafe in Malta. As we left about 6:30 the wind was dead calm. It was that way for 3 hours until after Saco -- 30 mi (50 km) away. The predicted temperature for today was 96 F (36C). At Saco we stopped at O'Brien's Cafe, the only place to eat in Saco. (see photo) Since we expected no stores between here and Glasgow 40 mi (60km) away, Neville ordered a fried egg sandwich to take along. After some thought that seemed like a great idea, so I asked the waitress to make one for me too. As we left, I asked the waitress if there are any stores in Hinsdale, even though we were told in Malta there weren't any. She said yes, there's one -- a grocery store on main street. Aha! We have a place to stop for Cokes! However, after Hinsdale there will be nothing for 30 mi (50km) until Glasgow. The wind was up now, and coming from the southeast -- a headwind. At Hinsdale we met a motorcyclist heading home to Oregon. He is a farmer and is very much an activist in his community. We got a complete, detailed, unabridged, history of urban and suburban development around his home in Oregon. Connie caught up with us about 10:30. It was great to get a drink of ice water and a banana for a snack. She then went on to get us a motel room in Glasgow. On down the road to Glasgow we ran into a much appreciated rest stop along the side of the road. This rest stop was filled with very friendly people. We met a couple of motorcyclists, who also happen to be bicyclers at home in Seattle. Then another tourist asked us how we liked the heat, and we talked about that for a bit. As we were leaving we met some Harley riders returning from the huge Harley convention in Sturgis, South Dakota. Interesting people, but we were having trouble breaking off the conversation and getting out of the parking lot. From the rest stop it was only about 10 miles (16km) to Glasgow. The wind was much stronger now and was full in our faces. Neville did better than I, and pulled away from me as my speed kept dropping and I went slower and slower against the headwind. Soon I could hardly pick out Neville as a speck on the road ahead of me. After what seemed like forever, I slowly began to enter Glasgow. US and Canadian flags at a motel stood out fully horizontal, vibrating in the wind. I saw Neville's bike at a Subway place and stopped. I was exhausted. Neville said he was bushed too and wasn't going on to Wolf Point. I thought if he did, he was truly a superman. After eating lunch there we found Connie at the Cottonwood Inn at the far end of town. It was 2 pm. Tomorrow Neville and I will ride together again, and go to Culbertson (94mi, 151km), the last night we will stay in Montana. The weather station is predicting a 75 F (24C) high temperature and 15 to 25 mph (25-40km/hr) winds from the west. TAILWINDS! © Ray & Connie Poore, 1997
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