Ninja Snapping Turtle and more weather

On road yesterday, still on the flats of North Dakota and whilst zipping along a section of dual carriageway saw a "thing" that was about 4 ft long crossing the opposite carriageway towards my carriageway, braked like mad and pulled over onto hard shoulder to have a look. Parked bike, grabbed camera and ran back about 150yds (what speed officer?). Well, when I get to the thing it is a HUGE turtle, its shell was at least 2'6" long by 2' wide and with its head and tail out it was at least 4ft.

Of course as it seen me running it it stops on the verge and pulls in its head, tail and sharply clawed feet. I waited ages but all it was doing was watching me watching him.So what does this idiot do - you guessed it, twit features decides to see what sort of weight it was and reached down to grab its shell at the back of its head. Boy, did that turtle move, his head came out of that shell, twisted round and snapped at my hand, I moved just as quick and pulled my hand back just as his jaws snapped - missing my finger by a fraction. Laugh, I nearly shat myself. He must have had his dander up then because out comes the tail and legs and he starts tracking me, which ever way I moved he did likewise until I moved a bit further away. Spooky.

Stayed last night at a free campsite on the edge of a small town named Stanley and guess what, 3am the sky lights up and yes, thunder, lightening and rain. The rain over-powered my tent a little and let in a very small amount of water, luckily this was soaked up by my pillow, woke with a wet ear - not pleasant I can tell you.

Made off towards Montana, the land of the great sky, and yes, most of it fell down onto me.Stopped at Willaston, slightly better than one on the island, it certainly had more that 4 shops. Stopped for some breakfast and noticed that the sky had gone as black as the proverbial!! Isn't it strange that your kit can be good at one thing and crap at another!! I bought a nice new Alpinestar motorcycle jacket for the trip. It is an outer mesh jacket - too let through the air for warmer weather with a very thin removable liner that is water proof. Very clever you may think - at least that's what I did when I bought it. Well, what a silly idea. When it rains (and it did today) the water goes straight through the mesh and hits the liner then runs down the liner straight into your gloves and straight onto the bottom of your t shirt which in turn wicks up the shirt and down to your underpants.

This was proved today as I ran through this large thunderstorm, that also sent down hail.Had to stop early afternoon in order to book into a hotel in Glasgow, in order to use the tumble drier in the hotel laundry in order to dry my clothing and my pillow. Have managed to find an outdoor shop and have now bought a lightweight waterproof jacket to go over the motorcycle jacket in order to be ready for the next rain - and it will come.

Am now in Montana, The Treasure state, bird is the Western Meadowlark, tree, the Poderosa Pine (Bonanza) and the flower is the Bitter root.

Roads in northern Montana are just as straight as Dakota but there is the bonus of some small hillocks.

Reckon I will be at the start of the Rockies the day after tomorrow and should be able to see them at the end of the ride tomorrow. Will probally be in Chester tomorrow night!

Don't know when I can next post as internet cafes are few and far between and will be camping again tomorrow - weather permitting.

Happy Birthday Lisa x x x