Location: Ennis, MT (Ennis Fishing Access) I was slow to wake this morning because of the cold. At first light, I fluttered my eyes, bundled up tight, and fell back asleep. I woke later when I heard Brian moving outside. By then, the sun had come out, and I could feel that the air was […]
Cycling into headwinds at Big Hole Pass – Bike Across America Day 23
Location: Dillon, MT (KOA campground) It was a cold morning that woke me. It pinched my exposed cheeks and nose and roused me out of my sleeping bag. I certainly didn’t want to get up. I stayed awake late last night reading my novel. Brian had to poke my tent to make sure I was […]
Biking across the Big Hole Valley – Bike Across America Day 22
Location: Wisdom, MT (American Legion Memorial Park) We are three weeks into the trip, and we are just about on schedule. The total miles for the trip are around forty-five hundred, which means we need to average about fifty-five miles a day to finish on October 18th, the Saturday of Autumn with Topsail. We are […]
Bouncing around libraries in Montana – Bike Across America Day 21
Location: Darby, MT (Hide-away RV park) We rose early this morning. Early rising has become a habit. I packed up my tent and things in a hurry, though I slept poorly last night in the gravel lot beside the motel. High winds blew against my tent, threatening to lift it off the ground with me […]
First encounters with wildlife – Bike Across America Day 20
Location: Stevensville, Montana (Arrow Inn & Park) Last night we had a funny wildlife experience. Before bed, Brian and I had been talking about bear attacks and what we would do if we encountered a bear. Soon, we will be in high risk bear areas in Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. The flyers around the campground […]
Must have potatoes cycling across Idaho – Bike Across America Day 19
Location: Powell, ID (USFS campground) I slept like a rock last night and woke early this morning. I think today was the first day I woke up before Brian. Other mornings I have woken to find him sitting up in his tent. Today, he was face down and asleep in his little green tent. As […]
Biking in 110 degrees along Clearwater river – Bike Across America Day 18
Location: West of Lowell, ID (Full Goose Campground) The locals last night were loud as expected. A few times through my earplugs, I heard the rev of an engine, the screech of a tire, or the overly loud laughter and hollering at the bar and in the streets. Of course, I can’t blame them for […]
Bike mechanical problems cycling into White Bird – Bike Across America Day 17
Location: White Bird, ID (town park) I woke early this morning to find that the four cyclists we met last night were packed and ready to leave. They rode off through the park around eight, just as Brian and I were getting around to eating breakfast. Last night, the temperatures dropped dramatically. I had to […]
More flat bike tires – Bike Across America Day 16
Location: New Meadows, ID (City park) So much for the mechanical problem free day. As soon as I packed my bike this morning, I realized that my back tire had gone flat in the night. A slow leak had let out all the air. I’m pretty sure that the cause of the leak was a […]
Bike repairs and progress through the desert – Bike Across America Day 15
Location: Cambridge, ID (Water Tower Park) Brian and I drove into Baker City, Oregon this morning in Al’s truck. We strapped our bicycles to the flatbed, and each car we passed gave us a second look. I think people were looking not at the knot of ropes and bikes on the truck, but at Al’s […]