07.23.10 Riggins, ID - Council, ID

07.23.10
Riggins, ID - Council, ID
Miles: 62
Sleep: rv park off 95

We had the nice surprise of a tailwind for today's ride. It has
become somewhat of a habit to go for coffee in the morning before the
ride. When I first came on the trip I was not a coffee drinker, but
now I gladly go for our morning routine. As we were leaving the little
coffee shop, Bryn noticed her tire was very flat. It's just one of
those things that happens when you ride a bike. It's a little funny to
think only a year ago I had never changed a tire. I wouldn't have had
the foggiest idea what to do. I certainly know how now. The ride went
fairly quick today. For the last 10 miles bryn and I were cookin'
until she realized her tire was loosing air again. Two tubes later, we
decided she needs a new tire. But we patched the tube up and made it
to camp.

I really enjoyed the encounters I had with people today. About 20
miles into the ride we stopped to refil our water bottles at a little
store/diner. Inside was a very nice man and his two sons, probably 11
and 16. They all were helping out, and the youngest was really
talkative, telling us about the others in our group that came by
earlier in the day. It was great to meet polite younger people and
just be in a generaly friendly atmosphere.
The next encounter I had was with a truck driver. She was not as nice,
and she made it a point to tell us that the bikes on the road today
were just awful. "They made her brake coming down the hill". Although
it was interesting hearing her point of view, she didn't give me a
chance to explain the reasoning for not riding as close as you can get
to the right. If she did, I would have said; today, the road we were
on in particular had no shoulder, so instead of riding on the white
line, or in the gravel, I ride about two to three feet in. When I ride
closer into traffic it encourages the drivers going the same direction
to go over the dashed yellow line ever so slightly. This ensures that
I will not be hit. If I did not do this, the drivers see the dashed
line like a brick wall and try to sueeze in close to the cyclist. Cars
just need a little more encouragement getting over the line.

Dinner was good. This town is weird, so I'm going to go take some
photos. Maybe I can find some cool looking townies.

07.22.10 Grangeville, Id- Riggins, Id

07.22.10
Grangeville, Id- Riggins, Id
Miles: 50
Sleep: tent; Riverside campground
Eat: smoothie place to the right of the park

Today was an interesting day. We could choose between two routes: The
first was full of switchbacks, construction and gravel ( we were
warned) and the second was a shorter busy high way with a sholder.
With the quote, "When at a crossroads in life, take the path less
travelled" buzzing in our heads, Bryn, Lee and I chose the switchbacks
to spice things up. ( old 95) It turned out to be the right decision
in our opinion! The views were spectacular. I think the view
overlooking the town of White Bird might be the best high top view of
the entire Transam. The ride down Old 95 was really fun too. There was
sand on the road and a little bit of construction at the top but not
much. Definitely still a really fun descent full of switch backs. We
followed the Salmon River the rest of the way into town. This is
apparently the best rafting place in the USA.
Camping next to the river is truly amazing. It ensures a restful night.

07.21.10 Lowell, Id- Grangeville, Id

07.21.10
Lowell, Id- Grangeville, Id

Today we are in Grangeville, Id. Meg from Meg and Randy, the two that
split from the group, came out to visit us! It was really nice seeing
her again. She told us of the Post Transam life. I'm very nervous to
go back to regular life. I'm enjoying the cycling lifestyle so much, I
wish this would never end.
The ride today was very nice. We had a long hill at the end that was
ok, but it has definitely gotten hotter with the drop in altitude.

I helped Bryn and Olaf cook dinner. We had riggatoni with marinara
sause, spicy sausage and ricatta cheese.

Lee, Bryn, Mort and I spent the rest of the evening in a local
restaurant reminiscing about the fun times we have had.

07.19.10 Missoula, Mt- Powell Campground, ID

07.19.10
Missoula, Mt- Powell Campground, ID
Miles: 57
While it was interesting to visit Adventure Cycleings head quarters, I
found them to be very unwelcoming while we hung around in the morning.

We started riding a steady up hill for about half the day, till lolo
pass. As we were riding up the steep part of the pass we saw a baby
black bear! Unfortunately, we didn't stop so I was not able to get a
photo. At the top of the pass we entered into Idaho and a Time zine
change. As we came down the really nice hill into the vally we made
our way into the huge cedar forest.

When we got to camp, Jenny and Rod from ACA, came out and prepared a
fantastic BBQ for us. That was really nice of them. I'm really glad to
have met them and spent some time with them.
We had an awesome cabin that Bryn and I shared. We watched, or I
should say started to watch, Huricane but we fell asleep early on.
Overall the day was a great day!

07.18.10 Rest day in Missoula

07.17.10 Darby, Mt- Missoula, Mt

07.17.10
Darby, Mt- Missoula, Mt
Miles: 69
Sleep: Hutchens Hostel

We rode on east side highway with no sholder. Today had the worst
drivers of the entire trip. But there was a bike path 2/3 of the way
to the hostel.

In the city we ran into everyone that had made a rest day the day
before.
We went out to dinner with Fred, Barbra, and Stewart. It was great
reuniting with everyone!

Sent from my iPhone

07.16.10 Jackson hot springs, Mt - Darby, Mt

07.16.10
Jackson hot springs, Mt - Darby, Mt
Miles: 74.5
Sleep: Darby lodge RV/ campground.

Today was another long difficult day. We had another pass to go
over...Chief Joseph Pass.

As we were cycling today we were circled by an Ospray three different
times. The crazy birds hit us, I suppose, because we were by their
nests.

Later in the day Bryn and I ran into three cute guys from the UK after
a awesome desscent. Our awesome discent is their wicked up hill climb.

Tonight we are staying at the Darby lodge and rv/camp, where right
across the street there is a logging fair type thing going on. It's
pretty noisy but pretty cool to see the local entertainment.

07.15.10 Dillon, Mt - Jackson Hot Springs, Mt

07.15.10
Dillon, Mt - Jackson Hot Springs, Mt
Miles: 49
Sleep: Jackson Hot Springs Lodge

I'm sitting right now at a bar with a very nice seasoned cowboy who
bought my huckleberry daquery. He said rule one is buy all the pretty
ladies at the bar a drink. While we were drinking he put on some
American classic music on the jukebox. The hard days ride is coming to
a fantastic end. We went over two mountian passes today. Both about
7,000 feet. The view at the top was breathtaking.
Tonight we are staying at a lodge with its own hot springs. This was
the first time on the trip I have been in a spring. It was about 108
when we got in. The water was great and a nice way of getting away
from all of the Mosquitos. There are so many mozzies here, we were
warned about the blanket of them that would greet us into town. It's
not that bad, but close.

We also met a group of cyclists today who started May 21 in Yorktown.
They seem like they are having the time of their lives just like us.

07.15.10 Dillon, Mt - Jackson Hot Springs, Mt

07.15.10
Dillon, Mt - Jackson Hot Springs, Mt
Miles: 49
Sleep: Jackson Hot Springs Lodge

I'm sitting right now at a bar with a very nice seasoned cowboy who
bought my huckleberry daquery. He said rule one is buy all the pretty
ladies at the bar a drink. While we were drinking he put on some
American classic music on the jukebox. The hard days ride is coming to
a fantastic end. We went over two mountian passes today. Both about
7,000 feet. The view at the top was breathtaking.
Tonight we are staying at a lodge with its own hot springs. This was
the first time on the trip I have been in a spring. It was about 108
when we got in. The water was great and a nice way of getting away
from all of the Mosquitos. There are so many mozzies here, we were
warned about the blanket of them that would greet us into town. It's
not that bad, but close.

We also met a group of cyclists today who started May 21 in Yorktown.
They seem like they are having the time of their lives just like us.

07.14.10 Ennise, Mt- Dillon, Mt

07.14.10
Ennise, Mt- Dillon, Mt
Miles: 73
Weather: chilly morning - Warmer afternoon

Last night I tried something new for the trip... I battled the cold
temperature. I went to sleep with the usual 30 degree tights and long
sleeve shirt, a fleece, and wool socks. But this time I added my cold
weather gloves. In my 20 degree sleeping bag, this was the first night
I was comfortable sleeping when the temperature drops at night. I
think the reason for my cold night problem is that my mummy bag is not
as snug as it should be, and I am just a cold sleeper. All in all, the
problem should be resolved with the use of the gloves at night. ( I
try sleeping with my hat on too but it finds its way off my head while
I sleep.)

The ride today was pretty long. It started out with a huge 10 mile 7%
grade hill. The rest of the day was fairly flat with the occassional
small hill. I got a flat on my back tire. We went over some gravel and
all of the sudden the ground was very squishy. Bryn and lee rode on
ahead listening to music too loud to hear me say I needed to pull off.
But there was no worry had everything I needed to fix it myself. They
eventually came back to check up on me and found me pumping up the
tire. They're great for turning around and coming back to make sure
everything was alright!

We saw some animals today! As bryn and I were stopped, a group of 4
horses came to visit us. We also saw sheep for the first time on the
trip.

Dinner was fantastic. Joe and Mort made couscous and spinich,
mushrooms, peppers and cashews.

Ps: If you are tracking down the TransAm you should stop at Twin
Bridges, Mt. There is a bike camp in their park. It has everything you
would ever need

In twin bridges we ran into Kelly at the grocery store. As Bryn and I
were leaving the store we ran into Alex and Iris just coming into
town. Once again the people you meet on the trans am are just
fantastic! The community is so small everyone knows everyone. I think
that is the one thing I Wasnt expecting that I love so much about this
trip.

07.13.10 West Yellowstone, Mt - Ennis, Mt

07.13.10
West Yellowstone, Mt - Ennis, Mt
Miles: 7O
Sleep:Camper corner rv park

We got into camp just before 5 and had time for a great shower ( a
much needed shower). After that, we were served a fantastic meal
prepaired by Lee and Will. We had a first course of Lee's truly
fantastic French onion soup, then a main course of vegies, sausage and
rice. It was all very good.

During the ride today, Bryn and I saw two Mountain goats and alot of
tumble weeds.

We bumped into Alex and Iris at Ernie's (the amazing bagle place where
we had about 5 meals in two days)

The wind today was really strong and in all the wrong directions, but
Bryn and I pushed really hard and made great time.

07.12..10 Off day in West Yellowstone Day 2 of 2

07.12..10

Off day in West Yellowstone

Day 2 of 2 

What a day, seriously!

We woke up picked up the car that we rented. After two pit-stops, grocery store for snacks and post office to pick up a package (which they unfortunitly lost), we were on our way into the wilderness in our shiny new (to us) SUV! We managed to get into the park with our pass from Grand Teton National Park ( bikes:$12 cars: $25 each). As we first entered the park we saw a mangy sad looking coyoty. We first started on the southern loop, hitting the hot springs and Old Faithful. Unfortunately there was a motorcycle accident that closed off the end quarter of the loop, so we dubled back and went up to the northern loop. There we saw two coyotes that looked much healthier than the first. We also sawn lots of elk, bison and, drumb roll please... We saw a grizly bear!!! He was about 100 yards away and a park ranger was already on the scene. It was still pretty fantastic! 

It was a really great day we had a great time listening to music and seeing the sights. And by renting our own car we saved alot of money.        

07.11.10 West yellowstone, Montana Off day 1 of 2

07.11.10
West yellowstone, Montana
Off day 1 of 2

There were only a few goals for this off day: sleep on, relax, and
figure out how we would see yellowstone on Monday. All goals were met!
We had plenty of time to relax, see all of the touristy things and
even get our plans straight for tomorrow. We will be renting a car to
see Yellowstone, it wll be Bryn, Joe, Lee, Will and I in a large SUV.
Hopefully we will see some animals (really the only one one I want to
see is a grizley bear) were going the southern loop to see all the
sights like Old Faithful. Yellowstone is more touristy than I would
imagine but I'm still a little schocked that wth all of the family
vacations I have been on this wasn't one. Perhaps we wouldn't have
appreciated the sights when my brothers and I were younger.

Some of the tourist traps are really vile. There were two that really
made me question the character of Humans. One was a fur store, (I
dont think there is anything wrong with hunting and using the entire
animal) but they had furs of baby bears with their paws intact. It
just felt wrong. Another store had stuffed bears and stuffed moose
that people could sit on and have their picture with.

All in all it's a pretty neat little touristy town. If you're ever
here, eat at Ernies bagle and coffee shop. It's the best and they dont
hike up their prices.

07.10.10 Ashton, Id - West Yellowstone, Mt

07.10.10
Ashton, Id - West Yellowstone, Mt
Miles: 65 miles
Weather: crazy weather today

We started out in chilly weather then the day progressivly got warmer.
At about twelve o'clock we were hit with heavy rain and some hail.
Bryn, Will, Paul , Joe and I got out of the rain by hangig out at a
gas station till the rain stopped. When we got back under way we
seemed to be riding faster than usual. We went Over another small pass
that seemed so small compaired to Teton pass. As we were on our way
down the other side we saw a coyoty cross the road! our rout was
simple today, rt. 47 to rt. 20 till west yellowstone. We entered a nwe
state today, Montana! Tomorow is wonderful yellowstone!