Pedal the Rockies: Helena

Public internet at last! It's been a challenge finding libraries number one, and second finding one open on the day I happen to roll into town. I've been out in the wilds of Montana for 11 days now and pedaled about 400 miles. Helena is the first and maybe the biggest city (?) I'll visit so I'm going to spend a day here taking in the historic sights and hopefully a brewery tour.

For the past few days I have been pacing, and usually camping with two other groups doing the GDR. Mike and Amy from England who are planning to do the entire route, and Tess, Lynn, and Chuck who are doing this section down to Butte. It's been nice having people to talk to and share dinner with after long days in the saddle. Yesterday was the hardest day yet, as I summited two continental divide passes. Typically the suggested day's ride only includes one long ascent, then directs you to a campground to rest up for the next day. I wanted to get a little more time here in Helena, so I pushed on up mountain #2. I think total climbing for the day was around 4000 ft. Last night was also the first fire I have had the entire ride. I'm usually just too tired to mess with it, but it was a great complement to the full moon over Montana. I might have even done a little howling.

Mike and Amy

Campsite at Cedar Creek

There has been only one thunderstorm the entire time out here and that lasted for all of 30 minutes. It's been nice not having to get out my rain gear at all. Some 30 miles further south, that same storm produced very strong winds and knocked over quite a few trees along the route as I saw the next day on the ride through. Glad I was a day behind that.

Overall, I've been very surprised by the friendliness and hospitality of folks along the way. Two nights ago we camped at a B&B in Lincoln free of charge including the luxuries of a hot shower and flush toilet. This is the longest I've spent 'on the road' and the first time without a car. It's a great feeling of freedom packing up everything you need in the morning then seeing where you end up at the end of the day (with a general plan of course). When I return home I definitely think I'll make an effort to accommodate travelers along their way (Blacksburg is on the transamerica bike route). A cold beer from a stranger at the end of a long day on the trail is worth its weight in gold.

Also, at the same B&B... check out this treehouse! It's their summer home while they rent out the main house for events.

I still haven't seen any bears! I did see a pair of elk at a lake I camped at on night 8. Besides deer, those are the only large animals I've seen so far. The good news is I still have 2150 miles to go.

Clearwater Lake at sunset

This next bit will be a bit random as I'm just going back through the journal looking for observations worthy of remembering.

On day 4 a group of about 7 motorcyclists passed me on the road. The last one stopped to chat for a minute. The best part of it? The introduction:

'Hey, where you headed?'
'Mexico.'
'Yeah, us too.'

Just like it ain't no thang. Where else, but on a trip like this would something like that be so ordinary.

Logging out here is so easy. All the trees grow perfectly straight!

If you want an old truck, come out west. They are everywhere and usually in good shape. No road salt in the winters will do that for ya.

I swam in the Blackfoot river which I've always had an affinity for but never seen.

One step closer to a jetpack for everyone.

Here is some random scenery from the trail. I try to take one representative shot of the terrain everyday, so at the end I can watch it all change in a matter of minutes.