7-18-10
7-13-10 The boat tour of the Gates of the Mountains was a wonderful trip. Stephanie Ambrosse Tubbs, author and daughter of Steven Ambrose author of “Undaunting Courage” - a book on the Lewis & Clark trip. The boat ride was spectacular going down the narrow river, the Missouri that cuts through the mountains.

Wednesday 7-14-10
Today we rode to Three Forks (65 miles) where the Jefferson (has by far the most flow, we would call it the Missouri, figure they had to name something after the president), the Madison (secretary of State) and about a mile down river the Galiton (secretary of Treasury) come together. We rode in the RV out to where the Jefferson and Madison come together to form the Missouri. This was the first day we saw snow capped mountains.

Thursday 7-15-10
We rode from Three Forks to Whitehall (32 miles) a small town on the way to Dillon MT. This was a nice short day but had a head wind slight up hill.

Friday 7-16-10
We rode to Dillon MT, (55 miles) all day head wind. Long day, stopped in the small town of Silver Star. Had a neat store ( 1 of 2) with lots of books on survival, history and nature. The other store had nicknacks with very interesting and expensive clocks. There was a lot of talk about who was riding up out first pass - Lemhi, 7373 ft and who was riding down, Lots of anticipation about the coming day.

In Dillon Great Harvest Bread Co. is head quartered. Stopped by what I thought was the store, turns out to be their training bakery. They handed me 3 large loaves of bread. We ate a loaf out at the campground that night in the RV.

Saturday 7-17-10 The big day
Vern (78 yrs old farmer from IA), Lori and myself got up and were heading out of the campground by 5:30 to head down the road on what was to be an 87 mile ride. We beat the head winds by leaving early. at mile 33 we came to the last town before the pass, Grant MT. There is an old bar / lodge / motel. Stopped and had a breakfast where eventually the whole group met up and had an impromptu breakfast cooked by a young guy from California who is part owner of the place. It was your stereotypical old country hunting lodge with heavy 3” thick front door, mountings on the walls and various local brands burned into the walls. We rode from there about 9 miles where the road to the pass (12 miles of gravel going from about 6500 ft.). Up to about the last 3 miles it wasn’t to bad riding. It was like riding through postcards, absolutely beautiful. Wish Marta and the kids could be here doing it. Finally made it to the top with much effort bringing up the rear. We all had small cups of champagne at the top. My bottom bracket (where the crank goes through) is pretty shot, grinding real bad. Several of us rode down to what is called Sajawea spring (this is very near the top of the pass) which is considered the head waters (one of several) of the Beaverhead River which makes up the main flow of the Jefferson. The peak also represents the continental divide, one side flows east to the Atlantic, the other to the Pacific.

Riding down was also quite the adventure. You would think it would be easy, not the grade of the downhill and gravel for about 11 miles to the main road 28, steepest grade I have ever seen. They let only bikes and cars down it. The RV had to go another, longer road down. Had to stop a couple times to let my rims cool down. Got down to the main road with 19 miles into Salmon ID, mostly down hill but with grinding bottom bracket and a head wind kept the speed to around 12-14 MPH. Stopped at a store where the dirt road and main road in meet. A 91 year old lady that has had the store for 62 years was fun to talk with. Sacajewea was actually born near by and her ancestors still lived there and would spend time in the store. One of the mysteries about Sacajewea is how long she lived. Many people believe she died out east at a young age. The indians in the store she said she died an old lady out west there. Who to believe. It was quite the day getting into Salmon a little after 7:00 PM..

Sunday 7-18-10
Larry, Julie’s husband who has been driving a van up and down the route checking things out and giving us water and Gatorade (saved me a couple of times the last few days) is heading home, to Pierre SD. He dropped me off in Bozeman where Marta and kids are spending the night with Lynn and Eric. Got there in time for breakfast. We bought Lynn’s Bianchi for Emma to ride. A very nice bike.

Spending the night in Missoula at the Broadway Inn, Priceline - $63. Tomorrow we take the bike in and then head up to Kalispel to visit Marta’s friends Desi and Brad.

Added 7-21-10
Monday 7-19-10
I got my bottom bracket fixed at Missoula Bike Works, replaced a spoke in the rear wheel and had a slow leak fixed in the front tire as well all for $65.00. For the bottom
bracket they had a terrible time getting it out, thought it was put in backwards. As it turns out it was in correct but one that was used for only a short time. They got it out and replaced it with a more standard one.

We finally made it to Wayfare State park on Flathead lake. We wandered around Bigforks which it is close to, mostly a tourist hamlet for the evening. Went to Brookies Cookies, tried a few of their cookies. They had a Cadillac Cookie which was a cookie with different chocolate chips in it, pecans, walnuts and almonds and oats. It was pretty good, probably could have stayed with just one nut. The Snickerdoodle was just a plain sugar cookie with cinnamon on top.

Tuesday 7-20-10
Slept late and then headed up to Glacier Park and the Going to the Sun road and Logan Pass. Really something. Very narrow road. When we finally got a parking place (15 minute wait) we head up to Hidden Lake overlook about 3 miles. Andrew and Emma lead the way. Marta stopped at a large snow field which covered the trail for about 1 mile. I went ahead to try and catch A & E. Found Emma, Andrew had out distanced her and continued on to the lake by himself and without water, 2 big No No’s, and he didn’t tell us. I sent Emma back to Mom and tried to spot Andrew through some borrowed binoculars, from a nice family from Huntington Beach CA., the husbands name was Andrew as well. They had seen Andrew, one of their daughters recognized him because of the DSI he is using to take pictures. After waiting and fretting I proceeded down the trail a ways, seeing many Mountain goats up very close, not to afraid of people. When I was at a point where I could see most of the trail going down to the lake ansd not seeing him I figured he had either gone off the trail or gotten by me somehow heading back to the visitor center. Got back up to the peak of the trail and borrowed some other binoculars and spotted him walking with someone up the path so I headed back to the VC, greatly releived. I got plenty of hiking in. They got back about 15 minutes behind me. Andrews new found friend was Gary Moore a music teacher from the area that knew the trails well. Turns out they had walked down the path along the river a ways, then headed back.

We then headed back to Kalispel and Desi and Brads and Glacier Nursery, their business. It was a great to finally meet them. Also met two of their kids, Catlin (18) and Collin (20 something). Had Yak burgers for dinner. Headed back to the campground about 10:30. Gate is locked at 10:00 and you need a pass code to get in which we didn’t have, didn’t think we would be getting back this late. We tracked down a cop to see if they would have a code which they did. The end to a busy day.

Wed 7-21-10
Marta and I got up a little early and headed to find a place to get the transmission fluid replaced, as coming down the Going to the Sun Road in third gear to help with the braking we started to smell. ended up in Kalispel to get that done. The Toyota deal got on it right away and got it flushed, cleaned out and refilled in about an hour. Called ahead and the kids had the camper about closed up and ready to go. Drove the 2+ hours back to Missoula and am at a Starbucks doing this, while Marta and Andrew catch up on their computer work for work and Composition class. Then we head to LoLo Hot Springs at the base of the pass we bike tomorrow.