Finally, some warm dry days. It is ever so nice to stop to take off layers of clothing as opposed to adding layers … ever so nice.
After a productive and restive day in Missoula, we have been heading south on U.S. 93, heading into the Rockies. Lots of snow covered mountains surround us, but for the most part the path has been warm and dry.
We (Kim, Andrew, Roger, Frank and I) met up yesterday morning at the Adventure Cycling office in Missoula. Traditionally, touring cyclist stop by the office to pose for pictures and generally celebrate the joy of touring. One wall is covered with Polaroid pictures of recent visitors … it was a joy to see pictures of many fellow cyclist we have met over the past three weeks.
Yesterday’s ride was very nice … 58 miles to Hamilton, MT. Hamilton is a town of around 3,000 population, but there seemed to be a sophistication (public facilities, restaurants, retailers) of a much larger town. Kim had contacted a lady listed on the Warmshowers website about lodging for the night … so we five pitched our tents in Terry and Carl Tignor’s backyard. Their son had crossed the U.S. on his bicycle several years ago and had received much kindness on his trek … as a result, Terry has offered lodging (and much kindness) to touring cyclist. Besides her graciousness, she provided us with home baked cinnamon rolls, lemonade, wonderful conversation, and “strong-gets-you-started-in-the-morning” coffee.
Terry has been offering lodging since 2009. In our conversation, she was relating a story about a couple who had spent the night back in 2009 … a couple who had been traveling through Europe, Africa, and (at the time) had crossed the U.S. When she mentioned that the couple was now in Borneo I realized that she was talking of Amaya and Eric, a couple that had stayed with me when I lived in Phoenix. Another chapter in the “it’s a small world” book.
Today’s ride of 42 miles brings us to the base of the climb over Loss Trail Pass. We are currently at an elevation of 5225’ and the Pass is at 7014’. Shortly after cresting this Pass, we will then head up and over Chief Joseph Pass at 7264’. This climbing will begin immediately at the start of tomorrow’s ride … ouch.
As I mentioned, today was a warm day, which felt wonderful. But I realized upon toweling off my face that the helmet air vents also allow sun to penetrate onto my un-tanned forehead … striped tan-line on my forehead. Guess I will need to go helmetless one of these days to even out my appearance. That, or wear a very odd tan line
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