Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Ride Day 108

The title is a bit misleading because I skipped that I left Missoula by hitch hiking and got a ride most of the way to Butte so I did not count that as a day of riding. The ride to Butte was entertaining though. The older man that gave me a ride was just lonely and depressed and trying to ride around the country to help him cope with the recent deaths of his wife and son. We talked about it. He was also just rejected by his remaining family and he felt bad about that too. I understand his family issues. We talked about our similar problems and coping with depression. I told him how riding the bike has basically saved my life and he liked that. When we got to Butte he checked into a hotel but I was totally bust for money so I hitched a ride up to the top of the pass and guerrilla camped for the night. I ended up liking my camp spot so much that I took the next day off. The guy that gave me a ride up there was also camping so I camped with him. He was a nice guy a bit down on his luck homeless but enjoying his camping in the woods from what I could see. He also was just offered a job that day so he was excited to finally get some money coming in. We talked a lot about his problems but I still enjoyed the company. The next morning he drove me around the forest and down to the lake. We were planning on watching animals but did not see jack. The scenery was great. Montana just has so much great outdoor type scenery with all the mountains and trees and stuff. Then the next morning I packed up and rode to Bozeman about 90 miles away. My friend Mitch drove me the mile to the freeway from where we camped. The ride to Bozeman was another tough one with headwinds coming and going and a few big long grades but I can handle those conditions unless the headwinds get too strong. I only took a few pics because this is backtracking on the same road that I was just on a few days ago. I just pushed on and was in Bozeman before noon. I caught up on my internet junk and got my haircut. Since then I have been doing nothing but eating. I had a pound of hamburger with cheese and made six cheeseburgers. Then I had my orange, apple and banana and some apple cider to wash it all down. I am off for ice cream as soon as I finish this post. It is getting dark and threatening out there so I might end up missing the ice cream but I bought a bunch of candy just in case. No pics because the wifi is too slow. Life is good.

Ride Day 107

Today I rode from Butte to Missoula but I got a 15 mile boost from a guy in a pickup truck so I only rode 105 miles. It was a beautiful day to ride after a cold frosty start. The air was clear so I could see all the mountains surrounding me and the colors of the fields and everything were brilliant. The ride was physically tough but I still enjoyed it. I was planning on stopping at about 90 miles but when I stopped a guy in a truck asked it I needed a lift. I told him I didn't need one but that I would take one. He was from Wisconsin delivering a trailer here in Montana and was just driving up to see an uncle near Glacier and he had some time to kill. We chatted and had a good time talking about Wisconsin and my bike ride and his trailer company that he is retired from but still does deliveries like this because he likes to get around. When he dropped me off I decided to just ride the last fifteen miles to Missoula instead of camping somewhere. Glad I did because my friends Jeff and Shalene were having a BBQ that night and I got there just in time to score a few calories to help feed my deficit. I enjoyed talking to the group at the bbq and I ate like a pig. The next morning they all went gem hunting on a drive down to Dillon or something like that and I reluctantly headed back East on I-90. I have given up on going to Glacier Nat Park because they changed their minds and will not have any more hiker biker days on the road but instead will allow cars on the entire road by the 21 of June. I just do not want to fight traffic on the narrow roads there. I was really looking forward to a peaceful ride where I could just ride and enjoy the beautiful scenery but with heavy traffic and no shoulders that is not possible so now it is a dream on my bucket list. Instead I am taking I-90 to I-94 East. I plan on riding hard and basically just bypassing North Dakota as much as I can. Then I will cut up to Fargo ND to cross Minnesota and over to Wisconsin I think. My plans are kind of winging it a bit at this point. No pics because the wifi here is too slow.

Ride day 108 by jimfrogs at Garmin Connect - Details

Ride day 108 by jimfrogs at Garmin Connect - Details