30 days
Today is the thirtieth day that I have ave been on the road. Currently I am holed up in Ennis MT at the Riverside Motel waiting out a storm. Today was rain , hail, sleet and more rain. Tonight there is a winter weather advisory for accumulating snow above 6000 ft. Up to 12 inches untill 12:00 noon. I'm at 6250 ft now. My plan tomorrow is leave Ennis and climb to 7200 ft just outside West Yellowstone. There probably will be a change in plan.
Here are a few stats from my first 30 days.
Camped 24 nights
Hostel/Church 2 nights
Hotel/ Motel Holiday Inn 5 nights
I know that equals 31. I did not include today's off day. I have been on the road 31 days.
Of those 30 days I rode 25 days and had 6 days off including today.
1301 miles. Longest day 68 miles, shortest day 37 very hilly miles.
No flat tires and only one mechanical. I am riding a Brooks saddle and there is a bolt with a jam nut that allows the tension of the leather to be adjusted. One morning I used a plastic garbage bin as a bike rest, as I started to take off my vest, the bike fell. The saddle caught the burnt of the fall, and that bolt snapped. Visions of my tour flashed before my I eyes and that fight or flight instinct kicked in. The next 15 minutes or so where a blur. No cell service,2 days from Missoula, the middle of nowhere, what next?
The bolt had sheared right were the nut jams against the saddle bracket. Luckily the bolt was long enough so that if I wedged the sheared end into the saddle the bolt was still long enough for the nut to jam against the bracket. Mickey Mouse would be proud of me. Does anyone remember Primitive Pete from IA class?
I was concerned the repair compromised the integrity and strength of the saddle. That day I rode an alternative way over the pass. 2 highway passes at 7014 ft and the second at 7241 ft or one pass at 6951 ft. I chose the alternate. A 20 mile gravel off road route. This ride was one of the most grueling climbs I have ever experienced. Exposed dirt switch backs grades constantly at 5 or 6 percent kicking up to 9 percent at time. From the top the descent was a fast dirt road through a high meadow with a stream. The repair proved itself that day. It has now been over 300 miles and not one groan has been emitted. I have thought about replacing the broken bolt with a longer one from a hardware store... why screw around with something that works.
Scenes from the Gibbons Pass alternative route. Up and down.
My route from here in Ennis will take me to the entrance of Yellowstone National Park at West Yellowstone through Yellowstone and into Grand Teton National Park and a quick side trip to Jackson Wyoming, south through the Great Basin of Wyoming torwards Colorado.
Having wandered for 30 days now, and seeing how far I have come, and surveying what is yet to come, I am somewhat overwhelmed, amazed, and satisfied. Overwhelmed by the challenges ahead, amazed by the vastness and beauty of our country. Amazed at how far and hard you can push yourself to achieve your goals. Satisfied with my self for having survived 30 days on the road and all the challenges it has presented.
My second 30 days are going to be some of the most difficult of the trip. They will present more challenges then I can imagine. These first 30 days and everything I have learned and experienced so far will guide me along my journey.
Now if only the weather would act like tomorrow is the summer solstice.
Here are a few stats from my first 30 days.
Camped 24 nights
Hostel/Church 2 nights
Hotel/ Motel Holiday Inn 5 nights
I know that equals 31. I did not include today's off day. I have been on the road 31 days.
Of those 30 days I rode 25 days and had 6 days off including today.
1301 miles. Longest day 68 miles, shortest day 37 very hilly miles.
No flat tires and only one mechanical. I am riding a Brooks saddle and there is a bolt with a jam nut that allows the tension of the leather to be adjusted. One morning I used a plastic garbage bin as a bike rest, as I started to take off my vest, the bike fell. The saddle caught the burnt of the fall, and that bolt snapped. Visions of my tour flashed before my I eyes and that fight or flight instinct kicked in. The next 15 minutes or so where a blur. No cell service,2 days from Missoula, the middle of nowhere, what next?
The bolt had sheared right were the nut jams against the saddle bracket. Luckily the bolt was long enough so that if I wedged the sheared end into the saddle the bolt was still long enough for the nut to jam against the bracket. Mickey Mouse would be proud of me. Does anyone remember Primitive Pete from IA class?
I was concerned the repair compromised the integrity and strength of the saddle. That day I rode an alternative way over the pass. 2 highway passes at 7014 ft and the second at 7241 ft or one pass at 6951 ft. I chose the alternate. A 20 mile gravel off road route. This ride was one of the most grueling climbs I have ever experienced. Exposed dirt switch backs grades constantly at 5 or 6 percent kicking up to 9 percent at time. From the top the descent was a fast dirt road through a high meadow with a stream. The repair proved itself that day. It has now been over 300 miles and not one groan has been emitted. I have thought about replacing the broken bolt with a longer one from a hardware store... why screw around with something that works.
Scenes from the Gibbons Pass alternative route. Up and down.
My route from here in Ennis will take me to the entrance of Yellowstone National Park at West Yellowstone through Yellowstone and into Grand Teton National Park and a quick side trip to Jackson Wyoming, south through the Great Basin of Wyoming torwards Colorado.
Having wandered for 30 days now, and seeing how far I have come, and surveying what is yet to come, I am somewhat overwhelmed, amazed, and satisfied. Overwhelmed by the challenges ahead, amazed by the vastness and beauty of our country. Amazed at how far and hard you can push yourself to achieve your goals. Satisfied with my self for having survived 30 days on the road and all the challenges it has presented.
My second 30 days are going to be some of the most difficult of the trip. They will present more challenges then I can imagine. These first 30 days and everything I have learned and experienced so far will guide me along my journey.
Now if only the weather would act like tomorrow is the summer solstice.
Comments
You ARE the man. I just read the rundown on your excellent adventure and it's awesome! I'm not a camping sort of guy (maybe because I haven't camped since I was in middle school). At any rate, after years of raising a family and working I decided it was now or never. The tour I'm on gives you a hotel room and breakfast and dinner. Also SAG support. I guess it's the "Bob Winot Tour for Wimps". At any rate I wanted to keep it all low key, no broadcasting it etc. After all it's just a thing I always wanted to do for me. No one needs to know except my wife and kids of course. Well then Matt Robertson texts me out of the blue to tell me his new address ( he sold his house and he's moving) and I just mention my trip in passing. Well Matt ( newly retired and with perhaps a tad too much free time? ) puts it on facebook. I guess the up side is that I found out about your fabulous trip. I got those Adventure Cycling maps years ago and was never able to make the time to use them on a trip. But you are doing it my man. By the way, you look the same as you did in high school. No lie.
Ok partner, time for me to go night night. I'm currently in Pueblo, CO. Rest day tomorrow . 95 miles today against the wind the whole way. It was.......taxing. I'll keep reading your blog brother. GO!!!!
be safe,
your little sis terry
Have you done any fishing?
Happy trails to you!
Ted