100 Days 48 States - The Journey

"Life is something to do when you can’t get to sleep."
- Fran Lebowitz

TODAY’S ROUTE:
Helena, MT to Helena, MT (MAP)

THE DETAILS:
"The Helena area has provided the setting for thousands of years of Native American use, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the wanderings of fur-trappers and gold prospectors, the development of pioneer business networks, scores of homestead farmers, key transcontinental railroad lines, and both Montana Territorial government and Montana State government."

Today, Helena provides the setting for my use, the 100 Days 48 State Expedition, some wanderings around town, some web surfing, scores of laundry, and cleaning the motorcycle. Not a real exciting day, but I needed the rest.. I slept till 9 this morning without even stirring. I guess I’m a wimp compared to those Iron Butt participants. They had to ride through Tropical Storm Dennis. Over 30 of the riders have ridden more miles in one week than I have in three. Not that I’m too envious of that.

A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Kimberly DeNike who has an important day today. I’m not going to say exactly how old she is, but let’s just say it’s all down hill from here Kimberly. Also celebrating special days today are Diana Dyer, and congratulations to Brad and Glenna Roth who are celebrating their first Wedding Anniversary. Way to go guys!

THE DAILY TAKE:
Miles Today: 10.7
Total Miles: 7,520
Time on Motorcycle: 33 Minutes
States Visited today: 1 (MT)
Total States Visited: 20
National Park Service Passport Stamps: 0
NPS Stamp totals: 54 Stamps, 17 States
Weather: Crystal Clear
Population of Helena, the capital of Montana: 30,000

RANDOM PASSINGS:
This has been the first time since I left St. Paul that I’ve been able to use my cell phone. Not that it wasn’t working in North Dakota and every where else I’ve been in the past four days. Every place I stopped for the night I got a full strength signal. But when I tried to make a call, all I got a busy signal. I don’t expect to be able to make a call everywhere I go, but if there is a usable signal I should be able to use my phone. That’s what AT&T promised me when I bought their service.

The only call I could make was 611, which connected me to Cellular One, and, according to them, they have a carriage agreement with AT&T. But AT&T couldn’t tell me that. In fact, after spending over two hours with AT&T on four different calls, they couldn’t tell me anything. And they couldn’t do anything for me. Each call they told me different lies. One of the "customer service" operators actually transferred me to a local cell phone company in Bismarck and then hung up. Another told me they were having technical problems in the area. AT&T is the worst company I have ever dealt with for anything. Gangis Kahn treated his people better than I’ve been treated by AT&T.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR – AVOID AT&T LIKE THE PLAGUE. For cell phones use Cellular One if you can. They have great customer service. Tell Claudia at extension 5305 that Dan sent you. She actually helped me, and I’m not even her customer. For long distance use MCI. For Internet access use Earthlink. (And tell them that danielscohen referred you, and I get a free month of access). These companies actually treat you well. If you like being abused, if you like being tortured, if you like being treated like crap then use AT&T.