Updating the daily ride

West Glacier to Avalanche Campsite @ Glacier National Park July 6, 2009 - As the day nears for our climb up Logan Pass we leave West Glacier and head into the Glacier National Park. In anticipation of our climb we have a light day, only 18 miles. After a great breakfast and picking up a few supplies for cooking dinner we headed toward Avalanche Campground. Glacier Park was busy, we saw the circa 1930's White Touring Buses that have been updated by Ford with propane fuel for a nice green touch, will post photos when I get a chance. The ride along MacDonald Lake was spectacular, lots of streams, falls, mountain views. Once at Avalanche we sat up camp and most of us took naps. Art and Jon took a 2.5 mile hike up to Avalanche Lake and encountered some hail and rain. Those of us who stayed back in camp extended our naps due to rain the rest of the afternoon. Almost everyone had wet tents, I was lucky and well rested. We all ate early and retired for the next days ride very early.

Avalanche Camp to St. Mary's July 7, 2006 - Braden started shaking tents at 5:00 for today's climb up Logan Pass. We are all very anxious about this ride, park rules state that no bikes can be on the Going to the Sun Road between Avalanche and Logan Pass after 11:00 a.m. hence the early assault on the pass. Fortunately the first 5 miles of the ride were relatively flat followed by 11.2 miles of continuous climb to the summit of the pass. We were all on the road after a quick breakfast by 6:30 a.m. Our group scattered out on the assent to Logan. The ride was very scenic and one of the most beautiful I have ever done, the 16 plus miles took us about 3 1/2 hours, we were in well before the 11:00 deadline. At the pass we saw some deer and mountain goats, but no bears. We paused for a picture at the summit 6,758 feet which was also a pass over the Continental Divide in the Montana Rocky Mountains. Everyone was very pleased with the ride, happy it was over and all of us felt a sense of accomplishment in our achievement.
The rest of the ride was down to St. Mary's and included seeing the shrinking Jackson Glacier. Once into St. Mary's we ate, rested, took the shuttle bus up to Logan Pass to re-visit our ride and see a few more sites we missed during our 30 mph descent. On the way down in the shuttle we saw a black bear. Back in St. Mary's we camped at Johnson's RV Park for the night after some really good Bison and Elk chili.

St. Mary's to Waterton Lake National Park Alberta, Canada July 8, 2009 - We thought our most difficult ride was behind us, but no. We left St. Mary's with a tailwind and flats heading to Babb, MT on to Canada. Unfortunately after Babb we hit some really steep hills and headwinds. Although we were only going about 45 miles this was one of the harder rides we have had. Our border crossing was easy and we had a nice down hill for awhile followed by more climbs and a relentless headwind. We encountered some supported recreational cyclists who were mostly amazed at us carrying all the gear we carry. I am sure some of us would have liked to have traded bikes with some to relieve the burden of the 40 pounds or so of gear we haul. Coming into Waterton was beautiful but the winds picked up considerably gusting to around 40 mph I am guessing, it also became much cooler and the first thing I did was stop at a outfitter and buy some more warm clothes. Waterton is a beautiful place and our camp site was along the Waterton Lake, with dozens of deer roaming the camp ground and endless burrows of ground squirrels. During our stay we met Brandon from Alabama who was riding a 1982 450cc vintage Honda motorcycle on his way to Vancouver BC. The was really stripped down and did not look comfortable. Brandon had ridden the cycle from Alabama and was taking some side trips to do some hiking in the mountains. He told the story of the previous night getting stranded on one of the mountains and spent the night mostly awake trying not be bear bait with just a tarp and a sleeping bag. We cooked up a communal dinner, after buying spaghetti ingredients at the biggest grocery store in Waterton. We bedded down for the night, it was windy and cold, Art and I did not put tents, we slept in the shelter on the floor, it was very comfortable. Braden is cooking pancakes in the morning and we will be off to Cardston.

We are nearing Logan Pass and the Going to the Sun Road

Columbia Falls to West Glacier July 5, 2009 - Today is an easy day we are in West Glacier, MT after a 20 mile jaunt. We left Columbia Falls around 9 a.m. and arrived in West Glacier at a very nice RV camp. Coming to you on dusty road if want some loving-I got a truckload, I am soul man, etc..... The road to West Glacier had one glitch, 2.7 miles of dusty washboard road. On the way our group found a beautiful mountain spring and several riders filled their water bottles. I advised against drinking the water hopefully we will not have a water borne illness outbreak at this stage of the ride. We plan on doing laundry, bike maintenance and resting today as we near the almost 7,000 foot Logan Pass which we will travel on Tuesday along the Going to the Sun Road. The weather here is very nice 70's but a chance of rain. Adios from the road. JAB

Getting Ready to climb Logan Pass

From Fortine we had 55 miles to Columbia Falls. The roads have been narrower and in many cases with less shoulder for us to ride. We said good bye to Jerry's Saloon, were happy none of the revelers drove through our camp ground when the bar closed this morning at 2 a.m. Had a lot of thunder and lightning but no rain on us as we headed down the road for Whitefish and our destination-Columbia Falls. Had lunch at Stillwater Saloon which was in a nice setting beside a river and somewhere before Whitefish we took a back road. While on that road we spoke with a local couple on a tandem that were headed home and they gave us additional directions. Despite our map and the tandem folk's advice we still found ourselves not sure of a turn. Mary flagged down a motorcyclist who gave us directions back to the main highway in Whitefish. He left us with sage advice "keep the rubber side down". Once back on the main highway it was very congested with July 4th travelers. Once in Whitefish we discovered that our other traveling companions from Maine were ahead of us and had stayed on the main highway all day, our back road detour was much prettier and safer but a few miles longer. Once through Whitefish all was good and we took yet another back road with little traffic on into Columbia Falls. We have a nice campsite ant the Glacier RV Park on the edge of town, ate some BBQ and fry bread at the Back Door Restaurant and topped off the night with some fire works. Our total mileage is over 700 to date not quite the equivalent of 2 BAK's. It seems like a majority of the 700 miles has been climbing so we are doing well in terms of schedule despite the current mileage. The group is happy but look forward to a couple of easy days as we head up to the base of Logan Pass and the Going to the Sun route which, depending on who you talk to, will be the most difficult climb but consensus is it will be the prettiest, that day will take us into Canada for a day or so.

Jerry's Saloon

Rocky Gorge Camp to Fortine, MT July 3, 2009 - We headed out for another 50 mile ride to Fortine. The big issue for the day is where we will camp due to both distance and availability of camp space. The ride was hilly yet again with both steep climbs and great down hills. We decided during the day, after several phone calls, that we would try to find a place in Fortine to stay. The only action in Fortine was Jerry's Saloon, Fortine, a town of 160 had limited services. At Jerry's Saloon Art was able to negotiate with the owner (who is not named Jerry) for use of a nice piece of ground next to the bar. There were no showers so many of us went down to the local swimming hole and took a very cold dip in the river. Afterward we heard the story of Jerry. It seems that one night while asleep Jerry heard noises down at the bar which was only about 50 yards from his house, Jerry called the sheriff, got his gun and went to investigate. It seems as though Jerry thought he found the burglar and shot at him, the other party returned fire. Unfortunately Jerry shot at the sheriff and the sheriff returned fire killing Jerry. The would be burglar got away. Despite other stories of drinking, fighting and shooting we had a peaceful night in Fortine.

Beautiful Montana

Libby to Rocky Gorge July 1, 2009 - Had a great breakfast at Libby at the Antler's Inn restaurant. Proceeded Libby Dam which involved some fairly good climbs and some nice downhills. The Libby Dam is on Lake Koocanusa which runs for about 70 miles up into Canada. We did about 50 miles of it and saw some rock climbers at several locations along the way. The Forest Ranger I met suggested we stay at Rocky Gorge campground at the Kootentai National Forest. We had a very primitive camp site and set up a solar shower in the trees, cooked out at the site and Jon and I serenaded our fellow campers with some blues.

Happy 4th of July to All and updates on the ride

Cabinet Gorge RV Park to Libby, Montana July 1, 2009 - Departed Cabinet Gorge for a 50 mile ride or so to Libby, will miss the blueberry turnovers at the Big Sky Pantry. This was a nice ride, as all of the routes have been this one was very scenic. About 30 miles out we had a nice downhill run to the highway that would take us into Libby. The route took us by Kootentai Falls and we all stopped their to see what the falls had to offer. The place was busy, as a wedding had just taken place at the falls. Art and I, Mary and Don all hiked down to the falls and agreed it was worth the walk. Some kayakers were testing their skills along the falls but we missed them shooting through the falls. We got back on the bikes and headed for Libby, got in about 4:30 or so, we cooked at the campsite (2 Bit Outfit RV Park) and called it a night.

Slice of Heaven

Sandpoint ID to east of Montana State Line June 29, 2009 - Left Sandpoint from campground around 8:30. We will pick up a new rider today, Jim from Detroit. Jim has ridden with Braden and others before and is a day or so behind us for this ride. Jim has called Lynda and said he had success with putting a sign on his bike saying "need ride to Sandpoint". In addition Art and Jon from Maine have been camping and riding with us. The road out of Sandpoint is nice and we have favorable winds carrying us to Montana. We had a great lunch in Hope, ID and absolutely beautiful scenery and ride along the Pend Oreille River. We crossed the Idaho/Montana Border at 3 pm and went into Mountain time after stopping at Kootinai Falls. The weather is warmer today but the mornings have still be cool in 40's. I believe it was 93 today our warmest day yet. We found a camp spot called "propane available" actually it is Cabinet Gorge RV park. Had a great blueberry turnover with ice cream and whipped cream at the Big Sky Pantry that was awesome. Will we have start another state and Montana will take us awhile to cross, only in Idaho for 1 1/2 days. All is well.