Month: August 2017 Page 4 of 5

So today I’ve seen mule deer (huge ears), mum and baby long tailed deer (don’t think they walk – pretty sure they just bounce everywhere), a very tame chipmunk who nearly walked over me (then he smelt my cycling gear),  Columbian ground squirrels and other squirrels and I’m pretty sure I saw the rear of a grizzly bear disappearing into the woods – it was a distance a way but don’t think it could have been anything else – exciting stuff.

Big pull up Gibbons Pass this morning – but a good climb – hard work but you knew you were getting there (not like Lolo Pass a few days ago).

Stopped at Big Hole National Battlefield information centre – this is a great place for learning about the Indians and the destruction and devastation caused by the white settlers in their quests for lands and gold.   Really good film and by pure chance there were 3 men drumming and singing some of their traditional songs – I have to admit the music didn’t do a lot for me but was interesting to hear and also the stories behind the different songs.

I carried onto Wisdom,  where I dined on amazing pizza for late lunch – the remainder is about to be eaten for dinner and I suspect there will be enough left for breakfast.

A further 16 miles has taken me to Jackson – I am currently in the hotel reception typing this but am camped outside – $20 dollars to camp but I have access to the hotel showers which are great – legs have finally been shaved – yippee.   No one else in the campsite and no one staying in the hotel – Carly who has opened up for me has left the hotel door unlocked so that I can come and go and use the bathroom – half tempted to jump in one of the beds as they look very comfy but that would be rude.

Met Brian and Leah in Jackson,  with their very friendly dog who seems very content in her wee trailer and at being towed across America – they are going West to East – again great to catch up and chat with some more mad cyclists.

Good place to pitch tent tonight.   But I have now figured out the scene in “A Walk In The Woods” – if you haven’t you will need to watch it – good film and the soundtrack is good too – anyway the scene when in the middle of the night they manage to chase a bear away while walking with the tents over their heads!   Didn’t make sense – where are the tent pegs??   Transpires that most folks seems to use freestanding tents because it is so hard to get the pegs in the ground,  as I’ve discovered!!

When I came over the top of Lolo Pass I jumped from Idaho to Montana and from Pacific Time to Mountain Time 1 hour ahead and darker in the mornings.

Why does air conditioning have to be so cold?

And I cycled for a wee while with this cool dude today  – Ed from Missoula.

Next time I do a big tour I’m going to get front panniers. I also need to replace the rear ones – my repair job is not holding up.

After the early morning sprinkler wake up call,  had a good morning ride,  including an exciting swooping 5 mile descent.

Cycled with Linda for a while – a retired nurse,  who was going the opposite direction but decided to keep me company for a while – she was out for a training run on her tri bike and gave me a run for her money – despite her slowing down I was struggling to keep up and converse at the same time.

I arrived in Idaho (my 3rd state) quicker than I expected and came through Lewiston – Lewiston was busy but had a good cycle path,  which was where I was when I had to fix puncture number 2 – back wheel this time which is always more of a nuisance.

Initially Idaho is like Washington – yellow and green and no reprieve from the sun – mid afternoon I needed a rest – I spotted a tree at the entrance to someones drive – no one seemed to be at home and there were no private signs so I fell asleep under their tree for a while – hope they don’t mind.

The further East you go the prettier Idaho becomes – I was following the Clearwater River,  and it lives it up to it’s name.   The road is gently undulating as you pass through hills on either side – and there are trees,  loads of trees – and what does this mean – SHADE – big hurrah for shade.   Not many but there are slightly more places to stop – campsites where you can top up on water and I found a cafe selling huckleberry ice cream – delicious – I’m told that huckleberry is a mini version of the blueberry but only grows at higher elevations and they have not been able to cultivate it.   That night was spent at the pretty Pink House Hole campground – once upon a time there was a pink house there.

Another early start the next morning took me to Kooskia,  initially – a good size town with a good cafe that served pancake,  bacon and eggs – just what the doctor ordered – I’m needing to eat more and eat healthier – harder than I thought to get food and I’ve been relying on petrol stations with wee mini grocers so not  a great choice of food.

Another long day to my destination of Wilderness Gateway campground and I wasn’t that impressed – the “host” wasn’t unfriendly but not very helpful – it was geared up for big RV’s to park on and very little grass to pitch a tent – it was $14 a night – not a huge amount but it’s the same amount whether you are one wee sweaty cyclist with a tiny tent or 6 people in an RV – any way I found what seemed to be the best pitch and as I was setting up another couple of cyclist turned up with there 2 dogs and we all camped together,  split the cost and had a good blether – so happy days in the end – I also got to watch the chipmunks in the trees.

Just before getting to the campsite I spotted this snake – think it’s a garter snake.

Next morning was the ascent of Lolo Pass – one of those hills you never feel that you are gaining height but get there eventually. Good information centre at the top – sad to read that a fire fighter was killed in the forrest fires that are happening just now – information about the local history, including the Nez Perce Indians who forced to leave their homelands. Sat in the sun a while watching the Columbian ground squirrels.

I was looking forward to the 40 mile or so downhill ride to Missoula but was sadly disappointed – a few super fast miles followed by lots of downhill pedalling into a hot head wind – I finally made it to my destination for the next 2 nights – Bruce’s house – a “warmshowers” host – basically couch surfing for cyclists – Bruce’s house is open doors and there are cyclists coming and going all the time – great place to stay and had my first shower in 3 days and first use of a washing machine in a fortnight.

Day off yesterday to rest and scrub up!

Had hoped to head North to Glacier from here but combination of being behind schedule and advised against it because of the forrest fires I am now heading East to Yogi Bear country – yabadabadoo!