one of the most beautiful lakes in Montana. Riding down from Whitefish to Missoula we stopped on the shore of the magnificent Flathead Lake! The water was crystal clear and perfectly refreshing. We swam off of Jake Jackobson's dock and he was kind enough to bring us filtered lake water with ice and to tell us all about his amazing vegetable garden =)
Thanks Jake!
We stayed at Big Arm state park that night, not too far from Jake's place.
The next day we set out for Missoula bright and early and it was a day full of terrifying riding down HWY 93, logging trucks whizzing by within inches of my life!
I have had zero flats on this trip and I got two brutal ones on this stretch.
The first one, a massive screw went through my tire and the second one just straight up exploded!So having used my spare tire for the screw incident, I didn't have another one when the tire exploded and so we stuck out our thumb and caught a ride the last five miles into town. These college kids gave us a ride and while our bikes were loaded in the back of their truck we went to the DQ and payed our first visit to the folks at Adventure Cycling! They finally dropped us off at Big Sky Cyclery. We got new spares and tubes and one of the guys working there, John, recommended a place to have a beer.
Ha, well, we were just a little underdressed for this lovely establishment, but Missoula is no New York and they don't have a dress code so we hung out at the bar and enjoyed the view of the river and watched the rain come down. We also enjoyed free drinks! This guy, who was a traveling pharmaceutical salesman bought a round for the bar, so we started chatting with him and he ended up picking up our whole tab!! Thanks David!
After heading off to the Albertsons for some groceries and making sandwiches in the parking lot, it was starting to get dark, so we wandered over to the dog park along the river (on the recommendation of some kids working at the gas station). We didn't find a good camping spot there, but we found someone who sent us over to the other side of the river and that is where we pitched our tent. It was nice and quiet in the grasses below the hills and just across the water
from the city.
The next day we went back to the Adventure Cycling office and got the full tour of the office thanks to one of the founders, Greg Siple. He also took our pictures as part of his collection of over 3,000 black and white portraits of touring cyclists that come through Missoula (The Open Road Gallery). Awesome.
We made friends with Brian and Elliot and left our bikes there in the courtyard for most of the day while we went over to 'Out to Lunch', this little music and food festival, and we visited Bryony at the Biomimicry Institute office, we went to the book store, etc. and finally we picked up our bikes from AC and headed out towards Bryony's house, up the hill. Up the hill, up the dirt road, and then, up the gravel road!! AHHH! This was no easy task on our fully loaded bikes, but we made it and were warmly greeted by Scott in the driveway.
Over the next few days Scott was our generous tour guide. He told us all about building their straw bale house, talked to us about his cars and biodiesel, took us out for a drink at Charlie's and at the Kettle House, drove us out to the banks of the Blackfoot river for a swim, and now we have only good things to report about Missoula!
On Thursday night we went to the big show; The Missoula Coyote Choir opening with their 'Ask The Planet', biomimicry inspired songs (by Amy Martin). And then Ani Difranco played. It was a great show and being in Missoula while all the folks from the Biomimicry Guild were in town (and Duke, who is amazing) as well as people from the Institute was such a unique opportunity for us to get to meet everyone, it was definitely worth the train ride from Willeston.
We can't thank you enough, Scott and Bryony, for letting us stay at your beautiful home!!
After visiting AC one last time we finally got back on the road after an amazing four day hold up in the vivacious, spirited, panoramic city of Missoula
4 comments:
See, that's what I meant when I was talking about looking at the map: it looks like there are mostly highways and not (m)any backroad passes that lead across the mountains. We love you Maedels!!! Don't let those darn trucks get you! Stay safe!
this sounds way more fun than having a gardening job for the summer. but that was fun too.
your ex-boss
Julia
BTW this is the first time I have ever been on a blog. It's also the first time I ever typed 'BTW'. It's great to hear your stories. I did a big bike ride over 30 years ago. Nothin' high tech about it, even now you still have to push one pedal after another. Yay for you guys.
welp. i had a conversation the other day with a truck driver and he sent you guys a message:
"watch out for them indians in montana. i seen two people on bikes out there before get run off the road by the indians in their pickup trucks. but then a farmer done pulled up and got out his shotgun and they was outta there after he shot off a few rounds. he packed their bikes up and asked him what in the hell (pronounced like hail) they was doing biking out there."
so good luck! if you run into any problems i hope that you have a nice farmer to help you out! GOOD LUCK FOR THE LAST LITTLE TEENY BIT!!!
*also dawne was bummed you didn't make it out for free massages - so close. but sends her best :)
full of life and zeal - your trip is a real life story of living the extraordinary! i just checked out your blog and the various chapters to date - what an epic adventure. you both have wonderful kindred spirits and i wish you both safe passage on your way to seattle - keep the rubber side down!
simply inspired!
p.s. still raving to folks back east about scott and bryony's home. a home built with a heart - so nice.
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