Everyday is different & plans change.  Rain last night  & Armand heard animal noises outside the tent.  Saw little paw prints this morning beside tent.  My daily journal is soaked as are things on floor of tent.  Major problem is our air mattress is losing air & we’re almost on the ground.  Suppose to play tennis at 2:00-great deal-senior special-2 can play for $50.  Go by visitor’s center-told rain will stop by 12:00.  Go into town for breakfast–very expensive & don’t serve pancakes-buy banana bread & cookies in a food mart.  No golf today–decide to pay $80 to take 2 hr scenic boat trip in the rain–no one is sitting on the top deck.  Then we drive scenic rd to Lake Cameron–high pt of day mt goats walking down the rd & later a baby grizzly bear is walking down the same rd–take pictures.  Get to Cameron Lake & is now hailing (little hail)–want my picture but Armand stays in car.  Man from MN w/2 boys are fishing from deck–takes my picture.  Eat & go back to tent-reading in the car when the WIND blows our tent 5 ft away w/luggage inside.  Look at each other–time to go–6:00 PM we pack up & drive to Lethbridge.  On the way SUN comes out–not a cloud in the sky–get room at HJohnsons for $70.  Tomorrow is another day.

Everyday is different & plans change.  Rain last night  & Armand heard animal noises outside the tent.  Saw little paw prints this morning beside tent.  My daily journal is soaked as are things on floor of tent.  Major problem is our air mattress is losing air & we’re almost on the ground.  Suppose to play tennis at 2:00-great deal-senior special-2 can play for $50.  Go by visitor’s center-told rain will stop by 12:00.  Go into town for breakfast–very expensive & don’t serve pancakes-buy banana bread & cookies in a food mart.  No golf today–decide to pay $80 to take 2 hr scenic boat trip in the rain–no one is sitting on the top deck.  Then we drive scenic rd to Lake Cameron–high pt of day mt goats walking down the rd & later a baby grizzly bear is walking down the same rd–take pictures.  Get to Cameron Lake & is now hailing (little hail)–want my picture but Armand stays in car.  Man from MN w/2 boys are fishing from deck–takes my picture.  Eat & go back to tent-reading in the car when the WIND blows our tent 5 ft away w/luggage inside.  Look at each other–time to go–6:00 PM we pack up & drive to Lethbridge.  On the way SUN comes out–not a cloud in the sky–get room at HJohnsons for $70.  Tomorrow is another day.

Another good night’s sleep in a tent except for fireworks.  Talked to John who is biking to Eureka today fully loaded–has done ultra runs (50 m +).  His wife & dog are sagging for a few days.  Say good-bye to Tom & drive to Safeway to get donuts (4) & chocolate milk.  Forget to fill up w/gas & almost run out before getting to Eureka.  Drove through Sun Rd in Glacier–slow going because of construction–beautiful-way too many tourists-take a few pictures & keep going to cross border into Canada.  Waterton is part of Glacier–cows on rd-stop at golf course for dinner.  End up in secluded camp site instead of fancy (expensive) Prince of Whales Hotel that we stayed in last time w/our friend Erich Birch.  9:30 & we head back to tent–pd $27 for a 2 day pass into park & $43 for 2 nights of camping & bathroom isn’t close–dinner was $40 for a veggie burger & chicken sandwich.

No rush to get up-ride doesn’t start until 9:00-served breakfast in cafeteria-good tacos-have another piece of chocolate cake for energy.  John puts our bikes on top of his car-gives pep talk-goes into detail about route.  Get into car & the RACE begins–bikers all stay behind John to get out of town.  Roll down window & start taking pictures–exciting to see riders from the front instead of behind.  Into taking pictures-John helps w/position of car–love my new job–much easier than biking uphill.  Biker has flat tire-John gets out to change it–happens again.  Never seen a tour director take such a personal interest.  I mile from top-we stop & get on our bikes-starts to rain–now we are going downhill on a wet rd FAST-Armand’s ft tire starts to wobble-scary.  He’s riding his brakes while squeezing bike w/legs–I’m braking too–afraid of how fast I’m going.  Downhill is 20 miles–rain stops but we’re wet.  Ride is overcast-engulfed in trees–beautiful-yesterday was prettier.  Cross over bridge into Libby–TRI to take picture but camera battery is dead.  Cross finish line–lady doesn’t see my #–told her I was disqualified because we rode in the car for 25m-but we did bike 70 miles.  Go back to park for awards–I want one for the oldest women–prize is Rocky Road ice cream cone.  Change camp sites-1 with shower.  While washing clothes meet John-a librarian from WA going cross country–also done iron mans.  Tom has the tent behind us–70 yr old biker (Harley) lives in CO & Fredricksberg, TX in winters.  Good night except for fire crackers.

Our official RACE start is 8:53-1st ones to have luggage in little U-Haul-1st ones to leave.  This is a timed USA Cycling event-this is the 1st time for this ride-there are 25 of us–with me being the oldest by FAR.  My # is 103-pinned on rt side.  There are 5 other “girls”–all have legs of steel.  Off we go–wondering what Armand has gotten us into.  (BTC is still fresh in my mind).  Can’t believe how absolutely magnificent the ride is–Lake Koocanusa is on rt & trees & mts on left for 60 m.  Stop at 1st 2 aid stops–no one there yet–stop for lots of pictures (that 1 day will be posted).  Cross bridge to aid station #3–we have gone 60 m w/1 bottle of water.  YEA-M&Ms, cookies.  Within 5 min 3 front bikers show up & leave–bet they didn’t stop for pictures.  We rated this our #1 ride ever–better than Jackson Hole.  Having no wind or traffic, cooler tempt helped.  Left aid station feeling great–than it happened-long climb-didn’t look that steep-but kept going. Got cramp in leg, walked–several bikers passed saying good job–right.  Finally made it to Eureka–77 mile day–almost stopped at cute stores-but the timer was up ahead.  Pitched tent at HS-shower-speghetti dinner severed at cafeteria w/delicious chocolate cake-had 2 pieces. Talked to John & several others-said 1st 25 m tomorrow over pass were very difficult–we could sag w/him.  Wanted to TRI but decided that if we did it we wouldn’t enjoy the last 70 m.  Today started 2 hrs early-tomorrow will sag for the start. Continue reading →

Another sleepless night in a nice comfortable bed.  Biked to Adventure Cycling Office–told them we much appreciated their maps for our biking adventures.  Biked 5 m on paths-not fun-went back & put bikes in car. Going out of town-stopped at SMOKE JUMPERS visitor center–took free tour of facilities.  Saw where SJumpers made all their own clothes & bags & fixed parachutes (can use same parachute for 100 jumps).  SJumper talked to us & took us on plane.  Stopped in Polson to play 18 holes-golf–voted prettiest golf course (next to lake); place where we could definitely spend more time.  Finished golf at 5:15-now 7:00 & still 60 m from Libby–not sure we should have stopped for golf.  Finally get to Libby expecting to see Welcome Biker signs–nothing.  Drive to other end of town-not far-don’t see any bikers but do see THE ENCHILADA MEX-TEX RESTAURANT.  Haven’t eaten my ONE meal yet–get the biggest burrito I’ve ever seen & eat it all.  No one at restaurant knows anything about the biking event.  Go back down street–see bikes at CABOOSE MOTEL.  Only have smoking rooms left–see biker coming out of room.  Armand asks him if he’s doing a tour.  YES, we’re going to NEW JERSEY!!  Tell Armand to find Police station–find Sheriff’s office 1st–dispatcher tells us there is a ride tomorrow & gives us the guy’s name.  He’s motel–it’s 9:30 PM–go & register–we’re the 1st ones to get our packets & RACE #s.  Told the Race/Ride will start at 11:00–OH NO–we can’t start an 80 m ride that late.  Tell him we don’t care about being timed–just want to finish before dark.  Dumpy motel wants $90–go next door to Firemen’s Park & camp for $10.  10:00-start to put up tent–getting faster.

WI couple & the TX couple packing up at same time–they were freezing last night–showed them our Wal-Mart sleeping bags that have been warn & toasty every night.  Stopped in Butte at Visitor’s Center–going to do trolley ride around time but brakes didn’t work so we went to WORLD MUSEUM OF MINING.  Took a 1 hr tour in mine w/excellent guide.  1.  Butte, MT had electricity 2 yrs before NY or Paris–major US town 2.  miners worked 12 hr shifts-7 days a week for $2 or $3/a day depending how much ore they brought up 3.  deepest mine went 1 mile deep (extentions extending out) 4. miners had to load ore & bring it out themselves until mules were brought down in the mines.  The mules lived underground & went blind because of the darkness.  Miners went deaf because of the noise or got lung cancer because of breathing the asbestos.  Unbelievable that men could or would do this job–new appreciation for miners.

Drove to Missoula–Days Inn for $77–terrible time w/blog-4 hrs for 2 days–will never catch up.

Drove 20 m to Tower Falls that we saw with our kids & their spouses 10 yr ???ago before kids.  Drove the 20 m back & 5 more & we were in Gardiner, MT.  Armand saw signs for rafting–don’t say anything-he keeps driving.  In a couple of min I look at river-say why don’t we go rafting?  He just stares at me–but now it’s my idea.  Prices were much better than at Jackson Hole–everyone else in shorts–I put on my biking rain pants which turns out to be a fantastic idea.  Had a great 8 m cold & wet ride down river.  They offer trail rides too–my idea–I want to be a COWGIRL.  Drove 5 m up gravel rd into the mt.  I get a big white horse named PATCHES–have to get on steps to climb aboard.  This turns out to be a REAL TRAIL RIDE on a narrow rocky trail–can’t be good for the horses feet or my butt–especially when Patches wants to TROT.  It’s beautiful up here–thank goodness we only pd for an hr & not the 2 hr special.  Any aspirations I had of being a COWGIRL are over!!!!  When we got back I couldn’t even dismount w/steps–I had to slide off & drag my rt leg over.  LIMP down to car.  Camp site is not far on same gravel rd w/only a box to put in the $3.50–what a deal.  A 75 yr old couple from WI drive in–ask us if it’s safe here–Sure-we’re here.  His wife was afraid of rattlesnakes–start looking around our tent.  It’s the Eagle Creek camp site in case anyone wants to make plans to visit.

Started off morning climbing ski mt outside our motel–58 min to top for picture of Jackson Hole-38 min down.  Limp into car–not a hiker.  Get tired in car again & went to sleep going through some of Yellowstone.  Get to Old Faithful–not going off for an hr–sit on bench while Armand goes hiking.  Goes off 10 min late-no one even cheers–don’t see Armand–start walking around among hundreds of tourists.  Finally see Armand’s hat going into the visitor’s center–RUN–said he was looking for a new “wife” because his “old wife” couldn’t stay put & follow instructions.  Back to car–drove to Mamoth–where buffalo was crossing at the pedestrian crossing & elk were eating on the main street.  Ate & set up our tent–getting good at this now–cost $7.

62 mile bike ride around area to Jenny Lake on the most perfect bike trails ever & most perfect views & biking experience ever.  So WY goes on record for the worst & best biking days–except for the last 15 m coming back against the wind.  Did stop at Jenny Lake–took shoes off & got picture of me in lake–new rds there.  Met couple from Dallas-said it was 107 there.  Took Kim’s advice & went to Bar J Ranch for dinner & show.  They can feed 750 people in 25 min–were about 350 tonight–wonderful cowboy show-music–saw Kim’s friend Danny Rogers.  It doesn’t get much better than this for a day on the road!!!!!  Tomorrow is another day.