News and Stories

33 miles today, 1046 miles overall

We had some ups and downs today. The ups totaled 1,600 ft, the downs 1900 ft.  This was much more than anticipated on both fronts. We started on the freeway but abandoned it after 4 miles because the shoulder was very narrow and we were coming upon roadworks where there would be a single lane.  Google assured us there was an easy work around, but we found a closed gate and had to take a route that was 20 miles longer.

We had asphalt for most of the climb but as we reached the pass it turned to hard-pack. 

Since Bob got his new panniers, and moved some weight lower at the front of the bike, this has been less painful for all of us (but especially Bob).  I captured these photos of Steve and Bob cresting the only significant climb on the hard-pack.

The views were expansive.

Arriving in Livingston we stopped at supermarket for lunch and decided enough was enough. Bob found us an excellent campsite and we retreated back into Paradise Valley and pitched our tents in front of a red Barn (but not until after we enjoyed a cold ‘Pot Shot’ Pilsner, brewed in Bozeman).

Taking advantage of the shorter ride today, Steve applied himself some serious bike maintenance. 

Bob relished his ‘cowboy’ shower experience..

…we were relieved to hear it didn’t involve a pressure washer, which is the first thing you see when you enter the shower-room.

It’s time for dinner now.  After that’s out of the way, we will attempt to plot tomorrow’s route.

An aside, we asked the camp host whether we had to worry about bears. He responded, “If you see any let me know.  We’ll shoot them”.  We can hear someone shooting just now; it’s nice to know we are safe here.  😎

Today’s milage 61.4, Total miles 1013

After a relaxing stay at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, where we learned, among other things, that Scobie is the official state soil we made our way to Bozeman. The contrast between a pristine State Park and a sprawling metropolis became increasingly apparent as we continued our journey.  

Entering the Gallatin Valley from the west, it hard to believe one will cross the this land on a bicycle in part of a day. Yet, this was the first day where we felt that lunch was too large. This is owing in part, I suspect, to being on the downhill side of the Continental Divide. The relaxing surroundings of our lunch spot in a park in Manhattan, MT did provide good rest before tackling the increased traffic in Belgrade through Bozeman. 

Our campground tonight at the east end of the Bozeman metro area shares space with beautiful and friendly horses….  a nice twist. 

Please imagine Steve singing, “Oh what a wonderful morning. Oh what a beautiful day!”

We brought a portable workbench in the form of half of a bulk rice bag.  See the pictures below.

This was intended to help us keep track of tools, nuts, bolts, etc. when inevitable bike repairs were required (and it functioned well in this capacity when we did the full caliper rebuild on Bob’s brakes).

However, lunch and dinner (and for that matter breakfast) have been much more inevitable than bike repairs and our ‘portable bench’ has seen daily use as our tablecloth/food-preparation-station. It has some limitations in this regard. Notably doesn’t lay flat and it’s not very wipeable.  So we’d like your ideas as to how to replace this valuable part of our equipment. When it’s unrolled it shouldn’t be all kinky. It needs to be about 17 in by 30 in and should fold up nice and compactly.  Like this…

So, if you have any ideas please send one of us a message.  Thanks!

We love it when a plan comes together.  After our brief stop to contemplate crossing the Continental Divide, we rolled downhill almost all the way to Whitehall where we stopped at a park and prepared lunch.  In a break with tradition, it was turkey, salami, Romano cheese and mustard on rolls; quite delicious.

After that it was pretty much plain sailing all the way into the state park. The last 7 miles were through a canyon of the Jefferson River, where Lewis and Clark had set up a camp. The Milwaukee Road, on the opposite side of the river, was in use by a herd of loud cows (it would make a really nice bike trail).  An active rail line remains on the side with the road.  We watch a bald eagle flying above the river and a red tail hawk soaring in the updrafts along the canyon walls. Spicing things up further, two sandhill cranes flew by landed and started making lots of noise.

On arrival at Lewis and Clark State Park, we found excellent hiker biker facilities.

The canyons are well worth the visit (I know this from a previous trip) but we elected not to ride 3 mi up the hill to see them.  Instead, we will attend the ranger program at 8:00 p.m. (hopefully after someone makes me dinner, all this writing is hard work).

One final note, Bob and I remain very impressed with Steve’s commitment to personal hygiene.

Despite 33F and fog in Butte we broke camp by 8am (!) and got on the road.  After a fast breakfast of burritos and corndogs at Walmart we shopped for the day’s supplies.

We headed out on Hwy 2 in search of the Continental Divide.  The weather improved quickly…

…which was a relief because we were frozen.  The road was beautiful and had little traffic.

And I think we made it.

We have 33 miles left today and it looks like they will pass more readily than yesterday 😁.

Today’s milage 43.9 Total miles 905.4

We left Deer Lodge this morning home of the Montana State Prison. We took a few pictures on the way out of town.

The morning ride was a bit tough with a stiff headwind. Bob and I drafted Colin for a good bit.

Some of the road early in the day, and as we approached Butte, was rough and slowed us down.

The skies were threatening all day but held off until we arrived at our KOA in Butte.

Rather than setting up in the rain we did some laundry , made a spot of tea and showered. We now need food so I will stop here.