Saturday, July 10, Day 65
Darby to LoLo Montana (Square and Round Dance Center RV Park) (58 miles)

This was an easy ride. Mostly downhill and a 17-mile bike path to ride on. A bike path is very unusual. I can count on my hands the number of paths we saw on the ling journey.
We should really rally across America to establish bike paths that would ensure the safety of riders. I realize that establishing many routes running nationwide would be an impossible task. Perhaps a major north/south route and east/west route would encourage many to get out and ride. I’m not suggesting that they get on a bike a travel 4,000 miles. My vendetta here is to help VetDogs of America raise awareness of the need for companionship between dogs and our veterans. Our secondary need is to get veterans involved. Come on. We all suffer from some sorta disorder because of our service to country.
Our men deserve the best we can provide. Part of our responsibility is to make certain the returning veterans, who have lost limbs, can survive in the society they vowed to protect with their lives and their new limbs. Those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) need our involvement. Let’s get on board and kick some ass.
Your contribution to VetDogs goes a long way.
Let’s support VetDogs.
Back to the ride. We had a little rain with warm temperatures approaching nearly 90 degrees but with low humidity. We are experiencing a lot of joy seeing this magnificent country from a bike and not a passing car. Things that happen around us only make the trip more pleasurable. And most of the people we’ve met have made us comfortable with their concern.
There have been many occasions when we looked forward with anticipation to the end of a daily ride. Today was one of those times. The facility we were staying at is heralded as one heckuva place to stay. They have the greatest showers, free washing machine privileges and entertainment. Yes, entertainment. We watched in awe a live demonstration of how to square dance. What a rip!!
We are tenting here overnight and the rent for tenting bikers is $8.00. That’s like eating at McDonalds. This facility is located on Route 12 westbound just outside Lolo.
See yah…Bike Ted.

…continuing on to Darby

We were following the Bitterroot River complete with rocks, trees and canyon walls on both sides of the road.
Blue skies…clean air…life doesn’t get much better than this.
Bike Ted.

Friday, July 9, Day 64
Wisdom to Darby, Montana (mileage unknown)

Today was a day of transition. We left Wisdom at 6,100 feet and headed toward Darby that is 4,000 feet. Beginning temperature was around 60 and the daytime high was around 75 to 80 with little or no humidity. We had a 27-mile climb out of Wisdom to Chief Joseph Pass at 7,250 feet. It was a long but not so cumbersome as some of the climbs we’ve made lately. The downhill was nasty consisting of many hairpin turns and a grade of 6 to 7 percent. The decent went slowly allowing at least four separate occasions where I stopped to cool my brakes. Once on the bottom, I could look back on the experience as one I will never forget. Was I happy? Do bears shit in the woods???
Steve who is much better at handling extreme downhills was waiting at the bottom for Ted. His bike, too, has disc brakes and they don’t heat up the same way padded brakes do!
We stopped for lunch and I enjoyed a Bison Burger (very interesting). I’m game to try a lot of different foods…bison, why not???
We were on a downhill the remainder of our ride into Darby.

Thursday, July 8, Day 63
Dillon KOA to Wisdom, Montana (68 miles)

Today we had to go through two mountain passes…the Badger Pass (6,755 feet above sea level) and Big Hole Pass (7,400 feet above sea level).
The initial part of our ride today had us making a 14-mile climb to the top of Badger Pass. The entire climb consisted of about 1,500 feet. Piece of Cake LOL.
Great biking weather and probably the best we’ve experienced so far. Moderate temperatures and low humidity helps the body regulate the intensity of each effort. The starting temps were in the high 40’s and topped off at about 65 degrees. The extreme humidity during the day approached a low of maybe 10 to 15 percent. Our ascent cost about two hours of time. Remember there were two passes to negotiate today.
We left Badger Pass and rode about five miles to a valley before starting the climb toward Big Hole Pass. This climb was steeper and only about 1,400 feet. The actual distance of the climb was about 7 miles and took nearly two hours.
Once we crested Big Hole, the downhill and the balance of the trip to Wisdom was relatively simple.
We encountered more legendary mosquitoes, this time the famous mosquitoes of the Montana Mountains. You can be traveling 15-20 mph, and they still find you. In our estimation, Steve’s and mine, during this trip to date, we have given more blood than a blood bank can collect in a month. Hate those little vampires.
Bike Ted.

…continuing onto Dillon

We started a climb that lasted about ten miles and culminated at Teton Pass. We had a calorie burn of about 115 per mile. When you consider that on a flat road, we average about 55-60 per mile, so it was an interesting climb.
From that point on, the day became warmer and, thanks to a higher power, the wind did not howl into our faces as it had on previous days.
Our night will be spent at the KOA in Dillon owned and operated by Bob and Pam Meyerson. This is a magnificent facility surrounded by beautiful landscape.
The Meyerson’s extended Steve and me an additional discount because we are bikers.
Hey, this gives us an opportunity to stay in a cabin instead of tenting for the night. You know what they say about creature comforts. ‘Til tomorrow, Bike Ted.

Wednesday, July 7, Day 62
Ennis to Dillon, Montana (74 miles)

Starting temperature this morning was around 45. It warmed up during the day to the 70’s because of the sunny skies. We began our daily trek having breakfast at Yesterday’s Soda Fountain at 124 Main Street, Ennis, Montana. Chicken-Bacon-Artichoke Salad for the Special today. And Swiss Tomato Mushroom Soup; homemade, of course! A must stop for you when you’re passing through Montana. Our waitress, Jennifer, was the best. She had a dry sense of humor and provided the best of service to the two travelers.

…continuing from Earthquake Lake to Ennis

We encountered more nasty wind after leaving the lake area. There was a 15-25 mph headwind directly into our faces. It was maddening because here we had a stretch of downhill that lasted almost 30 miles. By all rights, we should have been able to do some freewheeling at speeds of 18-20 mph. Instead, we had to pedal our butts off to maintain a forward progress.
We arrived in Ennis ready to bite the tires off the bikes.
A note to all…Wal-Mart again showed me why I like the stores. While riding today on a very narrow shouldered road, a Wal-Mart truck crossed over the yellow line to give Steve and me a wide berth. I gave a wave and in return, the driver blinked his taillights. He was the first and only driver on the trip to acknowledge my Thank You.
I love the stores because, as a biker, they always seem to be able to satisfy my needs and at the right price.
And when their people act like that, you can be assured they exist in a happy environment.
Bike Ted