Friday, August 7, 2009
Day 116
Still in Butte. After I got a new chain a couple more bike issues came up so I am currently in my tent at 4.30 pm waiting out yet another thunder shower. I hope to get my bike fixed tonight so I can get out of Butte early tomorrow morning.
Booted from the theater!!!!!
It is not what you think. I set up my camp and was going to get going to the movie at around 3.30. At 1.30 I saw a big black cloud coming my way so decided to get to the movie early and maybe catch a double feature. I was in the first movie for about 20 minutes when I heard wind and hail. 5 minutes later the power went out. I stuck my head out the exit door and saw a blizzard of hail. I was a little worried about my tent. 15 minutes after no power I was given a refund and told everyone had to leave the mall. I walked around the mall and saw someone with a snow shovel clearing the doorways of the 4 inches hail. The power came back on just in time for the second movie. I saw Funny People, it was a good show.
My tent made it through the storm, I just had to put up one pole.
Looks like I will get a really late start today. My chain broke again, second one in 10 days. I am loading up my gear and walking to get a new chain. I figure to get out of Butte around 3.00 pm. Probably a good thing to let the roads dry out from the last 2 days of rain.
My tent made it through the storm, I just had to put up one pole.
Looks like I will get a really late start today. My chain broke again, second one in 10 days. I am loading up my gear and walking to get a new chain. I figure to get out of Butte around 3.00 pm. Probably a good thing to let the roads dry out from the last 2 days of rain.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Day 115
I tried to get out of Butte, but did not make it. I woke up with a master plan of hitting the used book store(done), checking on a package at the post office(done), lunch at Mcdonalds(done), and finally getting a couple things at Walmart on the way out of town(not done). While I was at Mcds I spotted a movie theater and Funny People is playing, plus all the roads are probably muddy after a night of heavy rain, so I talked myself into staying at the KOA in town.
Looks like a nice day of a movie and relaxing. Have a good weekend.
Looks like a nice day of a movie and relaxing. Have a good weekend.
Days 112,113,114
Day 112
Miles 30.74 Total for trip 4333.83
Avg spd 13.15
Max spd 19.96
Climb 165
Alt chng --596
Day 113
Miles 51.03 Total for trip 4384.86
Avg spd 12.12
Max spd 31.82
Climb 963
Alt chng --295
Day 114 Miles 39.76 Total for trip 4424.62
Avg spd 9.44
Max spd 34.42
Climb 2293
Alt chng ++656
I decided my body needed to get off the dirt roads for a few days, so I took a detour along the frontage roads along the I-15. There was not much going on for the 3 days. The only real excitement happened on the night of day 112. I was staying at the Clark Reservoir. It was a nice spot. There was nice shelters over the picnic tables. I had just set up my tent. I ran to fill my water bag up, when the wind picked up and the rain started. I got back to my tent just in time to see my tarp get blown from under the tent. I caught the tarp and stuffed it somewhere while I tended to my tent. My tent was blowing so hard the stakes were coming out of the ground, so I ended up just balling the tent up an putting it in a bag. Sometime during the chaos my tarp blew away and was lost forever. I sat under the shelter for a couple hours and read. Luckily the wind died down enough to put the tent back up and get a decent nights sleep.
Days 113 and 114 had nothing going on, just rode on the frontage road along the I-15.
It was raining a lot last night and is suppost to be raining today, so I might have to stick to the pavement for another day if the dirt roads are too muddy. Looks like I should be in Canada in a couple weeks.
Miles 30.74 Total for trip 4333.83
Avg spd 13.15
Max spd 19.96
Climb 165
Alt chng --596
Day 113
Miles 51.03 Total for trip 4384.86
Avg spd 12.12
Max spd 31.82
Climb 963
Alt chng --295
Day 114 Miles 39.76 Total for trip 4424.62
Avg spd 9.44
Max spd 34.42
Climb 2293
Alt chng ++656
I decided my body needed to get off the dirt roads for a few days, so I took a detour along the frontage roads along the I-15. There was not much going on for the 3 days. The only real excitement happened on the night of day 112. I was staying at the Clark Reservoir. It was a nice spot. There was nice shelters over the picnic tables. I had just set up my tent. I ran to fill my water bag up, when the wind picked up and the rain started. I got back to my tent just in time to see my tarp get blown from under the tent. I caught the tarp and stuffed it somewhere while I tended to my tent. My tent was blowing so hard the stakes were coming out of the ground, so I ended up just balling the tent up an putting it in a bag. Sometime during the chaos my tarp blew away and was lost forever. I sat under the shelter for a couple hours and read. Luckily the wind died down enough to put the tent back up and get a decent nights sleep.Days 113 and 114 had nothing going on, just rode on the frontage road along the I-15.
It was raining a lot last night and is suppost to be raining today, so I might have to stick to the pavement for another day if the dirt roads are too muddy. Looks like I should be in Canada in a couple weeks.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Day 111
Miles 34.22 Total for trip 4303.09
Avg spd 8.12
Max spd 26.62
Climb 1216
Alt chng --223
I really like it when I know where I am going. I woke up today and knew the road I needed was back and to the left. I went a few miles, and knew something was wrong. I stopped at the next intersection and stopped to read, really, read my map. I was leaning over my map, and heard some shuffling behind me. I ignored it for a couple minutes while I decided which way to go. I looked back and saw around 50 pair of cow eyes staring at me. They were all standing at the fence looking at a lost bike rider. I decided to keep going straight. I kept at it for around a mile and decided to turn back to the last intersection, and cows. I got there, stopped, looked at the cows again, and looked for other biker trails. I could not see any other trails, and turned around to go the wrong way for the second time. I went farther this time until I decided I had to go back to the start. This was by far the most lost I had been on the trip. I got back to the start, w went by my campsite, and was happy that my odometer did not work at the start of the day, because I probably would've gotten more lost if it had worked from the start. I officially got started on the right track today around 11.00 pm.
Avg spd 8.12
Max spd 26.62
Climb 1216
Alt chng --223
I really like it when I know where I am going. I woke up today and knew the road I needed was back and to the left. I went a few miles, and knew something was wrong. I stopped at the next intersection and stopped to read, really, read my map. I was leaning over my map, and heard some shuffling behind me. I ignored it for a couple minutes while I decided which way to go. I looked back and saw around 50 pair of cow eyes staring at me. They were all standing at the fence looking at a lost bike rider. I decided to keep going straight. I kept at it for around a mile and decided to turn back to the last intersection, and cows. I got there, stopped, looked at the cows again, and looked for other biker trails. I could not see any other trails, and turned around to go the wrong way for the second time. I went farther this time until I decided I had to go back to the start. This was by far the most lost I had been on the trip. I got back to the start, w went by my campsite, and was happy that my odometer did not work at the start of the day, because I probably would've gotten more lost if it had worked from the start. I officially got started on the right track today around 11.00 pm.
After the late start I saw 3 riders from Poland. They were riding the Divide without a water filter between them. I went over where to get water and told them a few days in WY there would only be water in a river and reservoir for 2 days. they seemed a little concerned, but said they would manage. We took some pics, and they were on their way. I made it to Lima today, and ran into a couple who were doing the divide on unicycles. We exchanged some info about the trail. They had all their gear in the hotel so I couldn't get any pics. I found the best deal on a ten spot, just $5.25. I had a craving for cheese, and found some ca jun cheese curds. Did some reading, ate, and went to bed.
Day 110
Miles 53.60 Total for trip 4268.87
Avg 8.43
Max spd 24.30
Climb 1977
Alt chng ++39
After an easy day I planned on about 32 miles today, and camp at the Upper Red Rock Lake. I road around Henry's Lake to get back onto my trail. I passed over the Idaho/Montana boarder about halfway into the day. It was pretty neat at the state line. It was right on the continental divide. There was a nice camping spot at Red Rock pass right on the divide, but it was still early so I pushed on. I got to the Red Rock National Wildlife Refuge and was looking forward to seeing a lot of different birds. It looks like I road through at the wrong time, because there were not many birds around. I saw a couple trumpeter swans, but they were very far away and could not get any good pictures. I arrived at my hopeful campsite and was happy with how nice it was, but it was still really hot so I decided to go farther.
I ran into a few other riders today. They were riding separately. the first 2 were getting water at a house, the third I talked with for a few minutes and told him where water was available, and the forth was right near where I had planned on camping for the night. I talked with him for a few minutes, and told him where I saw the other riders he was with. He decided to camp where I was going to camp, but changed his mind after he could not find a spot he liked. He decided to try and catch up with his buddies, since it was only around 6.30pm.
I cooked a good dinner, did some reading, then went to bed
Avg 8.43
Max spd 24.30
Climb 1977
Alt chng ++39
After an easy day I planned on about 32 miles today, and camp at the Upper Red Rock Lake. I road around Henry's Lake to get back onto my trail. I passed over the Idaho/Montana boarder about halfway into the day. It was pretty neat at the state line. It was right on the continental divide. There was a nice camping spot at Red Rock pass right on the divide, but it was still early so I pushed on. I got to the Red Rock National Wildlife Refuge and was looking forward to seeing a lot of different birds. It looks like I road through at the wrong time, because there were not many birds around. I saw a couple trumpeter swans, but they were very far away and could not get any good pictures. I arrived at my hopeful campsite and was happy with how nice it was, but it was still really hot so I decided to go farther.I ran into a few other riders today. They were riding separately. the first 2 were getting water at a house, the third I talked with for a few minutes and told him where water was available, and the forth was right near where I had planned on camping for the night. I talked with him for a few minutes, and told him where I saw the other riders he was with. He decided to camp where I was going to camp, but changed his mind after he could not find a spot he liked. He decided to try and catch up with his buddies, since it was only around 6.30pm.
I cooked a good dinner, did some reading, then went to bed
Day 109
Miles 10.55 Total for trip 4215.27
Avg spd 8.01
Max spd 15.91
Climb 338
Alt chng +147
I left Big Springs this morning debating on whether to take Hwy 20 to Henry's lake or stay on my trail. I got to the 20 and saw a Subway shop at the junction, against my better judgement I stopped at the Sybway to read the paper and have a sandwich. While I was there I found a map that showed an RV Park at a reasonable price so I decided to stop there for the night. It ended up being a short day, but I got some uploading done and a load of laundry.
Avg spd 8.01
Max spd 15.91
Climb 338
Alt chng +147
I left Big Springs this morning debating on whether to take Hwy 20 to Henry's lake or stay on my trail. I got to the 20 and saw a Subway shop at the junction, against my better judgement I stopped at the Sybway to read the paper and have a sandwich. While I was there I found a map that showed an RV Park at a reasonable price so I decided to stop there for the night. It ended up being a short day, but I got some uploading done and a load of laundry.
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