Cyclists are probably a little more aware of signs than most folks. This particular one portends a big climb, this one going out of Butte. We made it to Helena via highway. ....tomorrow back to climbing on dirt! Stay tuned. ;) photo. #2 is our room at motel 6
Middle of nowhere...Big Sheep Creek Montana.
My gears jammed up with mud, making my deralliur malfunction. My mechanic skills are somewhat basic.... Thank you Jamie for jumping right in and doctoring my steed! Good as new!
It has been and interesting couple days! Rain, snow, mud, sleeping on old cow dung and being glad for it?? Who knew.....not me. (At least it was warm and dry.)
Today we are taking a rest day in Lima Montana. Monday we start the final leg of this fascinating voyage. Montana holds lots of climbing, although no more high altitude riding. .....If I read the map correctly, we won't go over 8000. Ft again. This is also viewed by many veterans as the most scenic portion of the route.
A couple thoughts on gear....
I ride a Brooks saddle. Made in jolly old England, and haven't changed for many years. Not for everyone, but works for me. I have absolutely no problem with chafing or "saddle sores". Could happen, but so far so good!
Platform pedals. This was a tougher choice. I "clip in" on my road bike, but determined to try platforms on the Mt bike, and have been happy with the choice. This allows me to have one pair of shoes....I chose Solomon light trail runners, which have worked well.
Rain. The cycling curse. So, we opted for a room....3 beds, fireplace, bathtub. ....life is good.
Tomorrow we camp, then my companions wives meet them in lima. That's long I, like lima beans!
The water was fine, but my feet were way, way to tender for the rocks..... my sister Miriam, who has, or at least used to have, very tough feet, would mock me I'm sure.
Ok....pretty limited cell, so it's gunna be short. Had an amazing view of the mountains for the morning ride. Now camping at Jackson lake. Other two are chilling out. ...I may go for a swim! Stay tuned.....
Sometimes, the best and worst of a situation are the same thing simply viewed from a different vantage point. Weather is one of those things. A deluge of rain and hail is not that fun to get caught in at the moment, especially if it is cold. However, looking back, it makes a great story!
The Motel hot tub is another one of those things. Rest days are actually my least favorite days. However, we had a scheduled rest day today while it poured rain outside and I spent way too long in the Motel hot tub. It was awesome, and my whole body now feels like jello. It will be interesting to see how I ride tomorrow?
I thought this rock had a"face" that kinda looked like me before the first cup of coffee. .(you hafta zoom in a little bit)
This is a photo of the legendary"solar well" in the Great Divide basin. It is a high desert area that drains neither east nor west.....all rainfall either evaporates or drains into the ground. It has been unusually wet this year.
Sometimes, when we have a stretch of open road, like we did today, a fella just has to "let it run" so to speak. This is when I get to play a little game I call "chasing Jamie"....
To be clear, Jamie is definitely the fastest of the three of us. He has a little racing background, and for a "smallish" 140 lb guy, has an enormous motor. Sometimes I can get "on his wheel" for a bit.....today for maybe 5-6 miles, then we come to a hill and he slowly creeps away. Now I'm "chasing Jamie".....just trying to keep him in sight. I hammer up a hill, thinking to myself. ....I'm not losing ground, but then alas, the gap widens! This is great training for me, and I love it. Just wait! I'll show him tomorrow! !
To be sure, I feel stronger day by day, and may be in the best cycling form ever.....for me. That said, Amigo number 3, Garry, has shown the biggest gains since we started. He is a few years older than Jamie or me, and had a horrible start with near heat stroke and a big time bonk. Since then his gains in speed and endurance have been nothing short of phenomenal.
All in all, a great ride. We spend tonight at the ladder ranch, where we just put away a phenomenal farm dinner. Onward to Wyoming tomorrow. ... very exciting.
The following is taken verbatim from the plaque in the photo. It is now some 20-30 yards off the road with no sign or indicator at all. Pure chance that I noticed it.
Gore pass. 9524 ft
Here in 1855 crossed sir George Gore, an Irish Barnett bent on slaughter of game and guided by Jim Bridger. For three years, he scoured Colorado, Montana and Wyoming, accompanied usually by 40 men, many carts, wagons, hounds and unexamined camp luxuries. More than 2,000 Buffalo, 1600 elk and deer, 100 bears were massacred for sport. A trail by 1866, a wagon road by 1874, this modern highway opened 1956.
Erected by the citizens of Routt and Grand counties and the state historical society of Colorado through the Mrs. J. N. Hall foundation.
Big climb up Hosier Pass. 11,539 feet. There was a group of motorcycle touring folk.
We had Elevensies at Alma, the highest incorporated town in the US.
Landed at super 8 in Silverthorne Christmas or the night.
We really got nailed today. After a 3000 ft climb, we hit gnarly mud. Some describe it as"peanut butter", but I think of another description. Cow s@*&#....
A bit later we were caught in a for real thunderstorm. Crack! A couple hundred yards down hill from me...I seriously considered jumping into the ditch....
Seriously, it is very hard to describe today's conditions. We rode in mud that I would have thought impossible.
Bottom line, however, it would seem just wrong to do this ride without having some weather and hardship. All in all, a great day. We have warm dry lodging and are well fed, ready to face tomorrow!
Today we took a rest day in Del Norte. As is my want, I wandered around the town, looking for interesting things. There is an old restored hotel (think Davenport's baby sister). The gem, however, was finding this trail along the Rio Grande! I spent a good chunk of the afternoon there, and may go back if the predicted rain shower comes and goes.
As the photo shows....no other people at all.
Campsite selection is a real"give and take" proposition. How far to go, is this one good enough, or should we keep looking? Some good, some just ok, yet very welcome. Tonight, awesome! Since it is coming on the fourth of July weekend, and due to the fact that we are seeing campers in every available space, we can't believe our good fortune.
Today is the second, and it looks like we will be in Pateros for the fourth. Could be fun... I have fond memories of small town 4th celebrations
Tha riding is hard. Lots of climbing now, although we got to enjoy a screaming descent today.....always a treat.
