Friday the 17th...put in 24.2 miles today with 46,300 steps...started just a mile or two outside of Chester and did a SERIOUS south turn on route 223 on the way to Ft Benton...very hot day with very little breeze and was therefore prime target for the hungry, Hungry, HUNDRY bugs!!!...the bug spray only held them at bay briefly and they sure pack a serious bite...I can see how come the buffalo (when they roamed here) rolled in dirt and mud!...had several pleasant conversations with people who stopped to chat along the way, nice that people were willing to stop to see that I was OK and/or to see what I was up to...a person on foot in this part of the country is definitely an anomaly either in trouble or????????...Ed from the oasis that is the Marias river was nice enough to stop his hay cutting to chat...people all along the route have been so pleasant and willing to stop and chat...I have been on somewhat of a marathon this past week as we will be taking a bit of a break, Mom will go back home and I will be going to Ireland and my ego wanted to be able to say "I have walked in excess of 1000 miles so far."...stark country out here and it takes a special breed to live here and work the land, I for one am grateful that people do as they raise a great deal of grain and beef out here, stuff of which I m rather found at the dinner table!!!...my hat is off to all who live and work here and have made me feel more than welcome!!!...cheers and on the the final day before the "all star" break