Day 11.. Holliday, Zero day in Helena
Arriving on a Sunday combined with a federal holiday, I found myself waiting an extra day in Helena for my new front gear. According to tracking, the part was in town, but wouldn’t be delivered until tomorrow.
Staying an extra day in Helena was not all bad. I got to see the city and my legs got a little reprieve. So far I’ve traveled 587 miles and have been riding my bike for 67 hours. With some rough calculations, I have 1700 more miles to ride to the border of Mexico.
I got a hotel downtown next to the bike shop. This gave me interesting places to see and photograph. Although walking around downtown, it doesn’t take me long to get from one side to the other.
They have a walking mall that starts right outside my hotel, reading street, which is some of the oldest buildings in town and the cathedral.
The walking mall boosted some interesting shops, to include a old soda shop. The jukebox box was jamming, and the ladies behind the counter were making ice cream and candies. They make all of their candies in house, along with her ice cream and sorbets.
Taking a walk over to the reading street,everything was closed to the holiday however, the old buildings illustrated how close buildings used to be built. Old log construction and red bricks dominated. Even the street was made of red bricks.
Reading street wasn’t very long, but it curved around to a path that over looked the city. Then turned into a Street with beautiful old mansions. The picture of the wooden statue, looking through the windows in a rounded room, was at the corner of a fascinating older property.
Dominating the downtown skyline is the steeples of the Cathedral of St. Helena. It sits just next-door to some residential housing. This just shows how small town this capital city is.
Even though I’m eager to get back on the road, a day of rest is good. Friends that I had made continued on and we’re stuck in a small hail storm on a really rocky road. Hopefully the weather will be better for me tomorrow.
