The actual giant, golfing in the dark, and more wind.
The day after arriving in Bozeman was July 31st, a Friday. I got up extra early, despite my still weary body wishing to sleep, and made it to the Sunrise Rotary Club of Bozeman meeting which started at 6:45 am. The long days before, the sore body, and the early start were all worth it. They had a great breakfast served, and everyone was very welcoming. Then Mr. Richard Kiel came rolling into the meeting room. In case you missed the last blog, Richard Kiel is the actor who played Jaws in the old James Bond movies as well as (a personal favorite) Mr. Larson, Adam Sandler's boss with the nail sticking out of his head in Happy Gilmore. He had an overactive pituitary gland as a kid and is a legitimate "giant." At 6'9" I am taller than the average man for sure, but Kiel is a bit larger, 7'2" larger. His hands were so much bigger than my own, and I got a real kick out of meeting him and getting him to sign one of his screen shots from Happy Gilmore. At the end of the meeting he came over to me and talked to me for a moment about bicycling, and at the end I told him how I still quote his movies with my friends. He smiled and pointed his big finger at me and said, "And you can wait, on me, waiting for you in the parking lot!" (One of his quotes from Happy Gilmore said to Shooter McGavin) I laughed out loud at that one. Due to some nerve damage in his hips he gets around by a little scooter cart but it didn't keep him from still making me look like a child next to him. Check for the pictures I post. The meeting went really well, and the club gave generously to help me. At the meeting I was invited to an open-house brunch at one of the Rotarian's realty offices with more food involved. Obviously I went to that, and had my fill, as well as met a bunch more people and saw Richard sign more autographs. At the meeting I was also invited to a fundraiser that the Rotary Club had organized for Saturday evening, a James Bond themed glow-in-the-dark night golf tournament at the country club, complete with a full dinner, free beer, and glow-in-the-dark golf balls. How could I say no to that? The rest of Friday I spent catching up on sleep and going to dinner and drinks with Khoi.
Saturday I spent most of the day relaxing. Khoi and I walked down to Pickle Barrel sandwich shop close by, and he failed to tell me that they sell gargantuan sandwiches. So when I ordered a whole, and they handed me a five-pound brown paper bag I was pretty surprised. Even with my endless appetite I was only able to eat half and take the other half home to the fridge. Around four o'clock in the afternoon my Rotary contact, Mike, came and scooped me up and we first went to the local Chevy dealership where Richard was doing a photo-op and the owner of the dealership (who happens to own one of the largest personal collections of Corvettes in America) had his rare 1953 on display. There were several really nice Corvettes, a heavily worked on El Camino, and a few other quality vehicles to stare at while we waited for Richard to wrap things up. From the dealership we ran by Mikes house to grab his tuxedo, the went to the country club to make sure everything was set up for the fundraiser. I spent the next few hours helping out around the club house, talking to Rotarians and guests, and drinking the free beer. Dinner was delicious, I ate lots, and Richard spoke for about ten minutes about his experience as Jaws. He also judged the best Bond, best Bond-villain, and best Bond-babe contest. We started cracking the glowsticks and heading out onto the course around 9:30. It was a much more difficult than I imagined it was going to be. With no depth perception, a slight intoxication, and smaller clubs than I was used to, hitting the little glowing golf ball was quite the challenge. I actually managed to lose one of the glowing balls in the bushes. Each team played five holes then headed back into the club house. Coming in at 3-over-par I knew we weren't going to be winning any prizes. But speaking of prizes, during dinner they gave away door prizes by calling ticket numbers that we received when checking in for the tournament. I had two of my tickets actually called at different times and both times it was when they were giving away a stack of four "Tour Montana" guide books. So by the end of dinner I had eight of the same book, and the stack easily weighed twenty pounds. I just laughed at my luck and decided to simply leave them on the table because I wasn't about to drag them in my trailer anywhere. Anyways, they handed out the trophies and prizes back at the club house and I eventually made it home around 12:30. It was a really fun experience, and I was thankful to have met so many people and been able to play night golf.
Sunday, after sleeping in late again, Khoi and I walked to an early dinner, and then to the movies. After the movie, we called a cab and went over to the bowling alley, only to find it closing. So we went home. Monday I ran errands all day. I went to the post office and sent all the donations from Jackson, WY into the Friends of the WFP office in D.C. and then went over to a print shop to get flyers and business cards made. Since it was owned by one of the Rotarians I had met, he comp'd me all the work, which was great. That evening after Khoi finished his work in the chemistry lab, we grabbed a big pizza at a local pizzeria and then some ice cream. I spent the rest of the evening catching up on my blogs and then finally got some sleep. Bozeman was a fun experience along this journey of mine. Between hanging out with my good friend Khoi, meeting Richard Kiel, playing night golf, and just being able to relax for a bit, I really enjoyed my time there.
The next morning after packing up and leaving, I met up with the local CBS affiliates just outside of town at their studio. I had met one of their reporters at the golf tournament and she offered to do a spot on me. So, we did a little interview, and then I continued on my way. I'm posting all my media on my website if you're interested. Yesterday was a really tough day. I went 103 miles and about 75 of that I was having to fight a sustained 20+ mph head wind. I though Kansas was supposed to be the windiest state, but Montana and Wyoming have been kicking my butt with wind much more than the high plains of Kansas. Around mile 85 I had a total blow out on my trailer tire cause the tire itself was totally worn out. So I sat down on the side of the highway and changed the two, and while doing so, for the first time ever on this trip, a car pulled over and the driver got out to check to make sure I was okay. Not just once, but twice. I think it was because I had to lay my bike down since there was nothing to prop it on, and it looked like I had a wipe out, I guess.Eventually, after seven and a half hours on the bike, I made it to Helena, MT. This was my 8th state capital in my 11th state. I was so happy to have learned that day at lunch that a Rotarian in the Rotary club of Helena was the general manager of a hotel in town and that I had a room being comp'd to me. I was exhausted to the point of delusion by the time I reached the hotel, so when the lady at the front desk greeted me with, "You must be the person I'm waiting for." I was so relieved that I wasn't going to have to explain myself. The room was amazing, the shower was one of the best in a long time. I'm so lucky. So thankful.
Today, I went downtown to the Rotary club's lunch meeting. Once again, everyone was very welcoming and kind. They allowed me ample time to speak and a few members were genuinely interested in my story which is always nice. Finding people who are interested, supportive, and just plain kind really keep my motivation high to continue and finish this campaign. I hope some of them will go online and donate. I spent the rest of the afternoon riding around downtown, checking out the capital building, a couple cool cathedrals, a bike shop for new tubes, and then grabbed a couple of delicious pints at a local microbrewery that I was told I had to try by the lady at the news station in Bozeman. And she was right. After that, I cycled back to the hotel, and started typing up this blog. You are now completely up to date. Tomorrow, I ride 115+ miles to Missoula, MT where I am being hosted by the sister of a Rotarian I met in Bozeman. I have at least one mountain pass to go over, and it's supposed to be raining all day, so it should be one of my easier days. Riiiiiiight. And I labor on...
Saturday I spent most of the day relaxing. Khoi and I walked down to Pickle Barrel sandwich shop close by, and he failed to tell me that they sell gargantuan sandwiches. So when I ordered a whole, and they handed me a five-pound brown paper bag I was pretty surprised. Even with my endless appetite I was only able to eat half and take the other half home to the fridge. Around four o'clock in the afternoon my Rotary contact, Mike, came and scooped me up and we first went to the local Chevy dealership where Richard was doing a photo-op and the owner of the dealership (who happens to own one of the largest personal collections of Corvettes in America) had his rare 1953 on display. There were several really nice Corvettes, a heavily worked on El Camino, and a few other quality vehicles to stare at while we waited for Richard to wrap things up. From the dealership we ran by Mikes house to grab his tuxedo, the went to the country club to make sure everything was set up for the fundraiser. I spent the next few hours helping out around the club house, talking to Rotarians and guests, and drinking the free beer. Dinner was delicious, I ate lots, and Richard spoke for about ten minutes about his experience as Jaws. He also judged the best Bond, best Bond-villain, and best Bond-babe contest. We started cracking the glowsticks and heading out onto the course around 9:30. It was a much more difficult than I imagined it was going to be. With no depth perception, a slight intoxication, and smaller clubs than I was used to, hitting the little glowing golf ball was quite the challenge. I actually managed to lose one of the glowing balls in the bushes. Each team played five holes then headed back into the club house. Coming in at 3-over-par I knew we weren't going to be winning any prizes. But speaking of prizes, during dinner they gave away door prizes by calling ticket numbers that we received when checking in for the tournament. I had two of my tickets actually called at different times and both times it was when they were giving away a stack of four "Tour Montana" guide books. So by the end of dinner I had eight of the same book, and the stack easily weighed twenty pounds. I just laughed at my luck and decided to simply leave them on the table because I wasn't about to drag them in my trailer anywhere. Anyways, they handed out the trophies and prizes back at the club house and I eventually made it home around 12:30. It was a really fun experience, and I was thankful to have met so many people and been able to play night golf.
Sunday, after sleeping in late again, Khoi and I walked to an early dinner, and then to the movies. After the movie, we called a cab and went over to the bowling alley, only to find it closing. So we went home. Monday I ran errands all day. I went to the post office and sent all the donations from Jackson, WY into the Friends of the WFP office in D.C. and then went over to a print shop to get flyers and business cards made. Since it was owned by one of the Rotarians I had met, he comp'd me all the work, which was great. That evening after Khoi finished his work in the chemistry lab, we grabbed a big pizza at a local pizzeria and then some ice cream. I spent the rest of the evening catching up on my blogs and then finally got some sleep. Bozeman was a fun experience along this journey of mine. Between hanging out with my good friend Khoi, meeting Richard Kiel, playing night golf, and just being able to relax for a bit, I really enjoyed my time there.
The next morning after packing up and leaving, I met up with the local CBS affiliates just outside of town at their studio. I had met one of their reporters at the golf tournament and she offered to do a spot on me. So, we did a little interview, and then I continued on my way. I'm posting all my media on my website if you're interested. Yesterday was a really tough day. I went 103 miles and about 75 of that I was having to fight a sustained 20+ mph head wind. I though Kansas was supposed to be the windiest state, but Montana and Wyoming have been kicking my butt with wind much more than the high plains of Kansas. Around mile 85 I had a total blow out on my trailer tire cause the tire itself was totally worn out. So I sat down on the side of the highway and changed the two, and while doing so, for the first time ever on this trip, a car pulled over and the driver got out to check to make sure I was okay. Not just once, but twice. I think it was because I had to lay my bike down since there was nothing to prop it on, and it looked like I had a wipe out, I guess.Eventually, after seven and a half hours on the bike, I made it to Helena, MT. This was my 8th state capital in my 11th state. I was so happy to have learned that day at lunch that a Rotarian in the Rotary club of Helena was the general manager of a hotel in town and that I had a room being comp'd to me. I was exhausted to the point of delusion by the time I reached the hotel, so when the lady at the front desk greeted me with, "You must be the person I'm waiting for." I was so relieved that I wasn't going to have to explain myself. The room was amazing, the shower was one of the best in a long time. I'm so lucky. So thankful.
Today, I went downtown to the Rotary club's lunch meeting. Once again, everyone was very welcoming and kind. They allowed me ample time to speak and a few members were genuinely interested in my story which is always nice. Finding people who are interested, supportive, and just plain kind really keep my motivation high to continue and finish this campaign. I hope some of them will go online and donate. I spent the rest of the afternoon riding around downtown, checking out the capital building, a couple cool cathedrals, a bike shop for new tubes, and then grabbed a couple of delicious pints at a local microbrewery that I was told I had to try by the lady at the news station in Bozeman. And she was right. After that, I cycled back to the hotel, and started typing up this blog. You are now completely up to date. Tomorrow, I ride 115+ miles to Missoula, MT where I am being hosted by the sister of a Rotarian I met in Bozeman. I have at least one mountain pass to go over, and it's supposed to be raining all day, so it should be one of my easier days. Riiiiiiight. And I labor on...
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