Sunday September 11
Riverton Wyoming
I pulled in the driveway at my brother's house a little after 10 am. Can't believe I biked out of this driveway 3 months and 1 week ago. What a journey! It went by so fast!
This afternoon Sandy (my sis-in-law) and I drove back to Thermopolis to retrieve my lost sac and profusely thank Steve the good samaritan. He's a guy from Oklahoma that's working on the building of a gas unit here for quite a long time without going home. Amazing that I got all of it back. Cash included. What have I been saying? Believe me now?
Gonna stick around here until Friday, then head towards Wisconsin to visit Bacon and Meander (PCT friends).
I should be home the following weekend I guess.
Tomorrow I'm gonna start unloading Blaze and taking an inventory of all that I carried, making special note of anything that wasn't used like my watercolor kit (once). Hope that and my notes will make repacking in a few months a bit easier.
Next stop: New Zealand!!!!
Satisfied BagLady
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Sunday, September 11, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Last Night?
Friday September 9th
Thermopolis WY
I'm camped just off the roadway up near a rock formation and in red, red clay. Beautiful spot except for the traffic. In the morning I'll roll right down into the Wind River Canyon!
I have about 50 miles left and I just don't know if I'll roll in tomorrow night or Sunday morning. Depends on what tomorrow brings my way.
This finishing is such sweet sorrow. I've had such a blast on this trip. Met so many wonderful new friends. Played with so many old ones. Not old, old:). It's been a full, rich, fun-filled summer! Hiking and biking!! A great mix.
There's only 2 things I'd change. I'd bring more audiobooks and I'd learn how to adjust the shifting cables so the click aligns with a gear change. I need to know how to do that. And I still need to adjust how my gear goes on the bike. I'd like to be able to grab a bag and have all my cooking gear and food together. Now it's in the pods on each side. Have to rethink that. I've been really looking the part of bag lady lately with all the rags and bags tied on. I like things handy. Maybe too handy:).
My wish is that more women try doing things on their own. People shouldn't be so surprised that I'm alone. It shouldn't be such an anomaly. I see so many women on the backs of motorcycles, like an accessory. "I got my hog and I got my babe!". Although some are on their own cycles, but then they're always following the man. He has to lead. That requires testosterone, I guess! And even in the RVs that pass me: the guy is always driving with the gal sitting faithfully in the passenger seat. What gives? Are we still second class citizens? Do we need a man to protect and guide us? Really? I love men I really do! But we need to figure out this partnership role. Men need to find out how to be strong enough to take the back seat sometimes without it affecting their ego. I'd love to hear some feedback on the subject because I think it's a complicated but important one. Why don't more women do things on their own? Why don't women share the leadership role? Why don't women ride on the front with the man behind? Why don't the girls drive the RVs for awhile? Could I ride on the back? Yes sometimes. As long as I got to ride up front too!
Ok. Off my soapbox. Just wanted to share something I've been noticing a lot out here.
Steering BagLady
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Thermopolis WY
I'm camped just off the roadway up near a rock formation and in red, red clay. Beautiful spot except for the traffic. In the morning I'll roll right down into the Wind River Canyon!
I have about 50 miles left and I just don't know if I'll roll in tomorrow night or Sunday morning. Depends on what tomorrow brings my way.
This finishing is such sweet sorrow. I've had such a blast on this trip. Met so many wonderful new friends. Played with so many old ones. Not old, old:). It's been a full, rich, fun-filled summer! Hiking and biking!! A great mix.
There's only 2 things I'd change. I'd bring more audiobooks and I'd learn how to adjust the shifting cables so the click aligns with a gear change. I need to know how to do that. And I still need to adjust how my gear goes on the bike. I'd like to be able to grab a bag and have all my cooking gear and food together. Now it's in the pods on each side. Have to rethink that. I've been really looking the part of bag lady lately with all the rags and bags tied on. I like things handy. Maybe too handy:).
My wish is that more women try doing things on their own. People shouldn't be so surprised that I'm alone. It shouldn't be such an anomaly. I see so many women on the backs of motorcycles, like an accessory. "I got my hog and I got my babe!". Although some are on their own cycles, but then they're always following the man. He has to lead. That requires testosterone, I guess! And even in the RVs that pass me: the guy is always driving with the gal sitting faithfully in the passenger seat. What gives? Are we still second class citizens? Do we need a man to protect and guide us? Really? I love men I really do! But we need to figure out this partnership role. Men need to find out how to be strong enough to take the back seat sometimes without it affecting their ego. I'd love to hear some feedback on the subject because I think it's a complicated but important one. Why don't more women do things on their own? Why don't women share the leadership role? Why don't women ride on the front with the man behind? Why don't the girls drive the RVs for awhile? Could I ride on the back? Yes sometimes. As long as I got to ride up front too!
Ok. Off my soapbox. Just wanted to share something I've been noticing a lot out here.
Steering BagLady
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Friday, September 9, 2011
On the Road Again...Sorta
Thursday September 8th
Middle of No Man's Land, WY
Playing with Yellowstone in Yellowstone is over. Back to pedaling 10 hours a day to go 40 miles. 8:30 am to 7:00 pm. Break for lunch.
Y and I went to Cody to play too. She didn't want me biking on the roads in the park and there's the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody that she hadn't seen either and I heard it was great so off we went. The drive from Yellowstone to Cody was so beautiful down the Chief Joseph highway through Sunlit Basin! I kept wishing to myself that I were biking it. Cars travel too fast to really absorb the beauty and see all there is to see. Too fast. But it took 4 days off of biking. September is clipping by. I do need to head back east. That us where I live.
So we spent yesterday morning at the museum setting Y's departure time so that she could get back in time for a park party. But the best laid plans... After I got Blaze out of the back of her truck where she'd been resting for the week, and all loaded up, I found that the back tire had blown. Problem now. No more spares. Only brought one and it was on the intrepid right front. Called bike shop. The 20" they had was bigger. Called Walmart. They had a 20" a bit bigger but smaller than bike shop's. Now Y is getting late. She takes me to get tire. I have a tube the same size (1.75) and get everything all fixed and mounted all my gear. Say goodbye to Yellowstone and finish seeing the museum, getting groceries, getting air in tires, and leaving town. Not 3 miles down road. It's flat. Ugh! Take it off. Patch it - pinch flat. Remount. Wont inflate. Have to inflate after mounting because otherwise too big to get past the brake. 2nd puncture? Remove drone bike. Remove from rim. Pump's got problem. Fix it. That was why it wouldn't inflate. Remount tire on wheel. Remount wheel on bike. Inflate. Success! Pedal on. 1 mile. Pshhhh. Flat again. There's a reason I've been hauling that punctured and mended thorn resistant tube for months. That thing's too bulky to pinch. Put that baby on there. Yup. It worked! Gotten pretty fast at changing that rear tire. Sure appreciate Hieke's tip about resting the rear end rack braces on my panniers so that it's off the ground and not resting on the rear derailleur. Works well. So now with less than 90 miles to go, I should be able to make it. But that rear tire sure is FAT!
So tonight I'm again camped along side the highway next to the barbed wire fence. The prairie grasses are quite bristly. Thank goodness my ground cloth protects my tent and ME! No one bothers me. There are few places to get off the road except for the turnoffs to the pastures. It works for me. And the road should quiet down soon not that it's very noisy now.
It's been a pretty remote area I've been biking through: rolling ribbon of a road, yellow grasses and sagebrush on both sides the road, rocky outcroppings, and mountains in the distance. So beautiful to be a part of the scenery. The long road stretching out ahead delights rather than intimidating me.
It feels good!
Sleepy BagLady
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Middle of No Man's Land, WY
Playing with Yellowstone in Yellowstone is over. Back to pedaling 10 hours a day to go 40 miles. 8:30 am to 7:00 pm. Break for lunch.
Y and I went to Cody to play too. She didn't want me biking on the roads in the park and there's the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody that she hadn't seen either and I heard it was great so off we went. The drive from Yellowstone to Cody was so beautiful down the Chief Joseph highway through Sunlit Basin! I kept wishing to myself that I were biking it. Cars travel too fast to really absorb the beauty and see all there is to see. Too fast. But it took 4 days off of biking. September is clipping by. I do need to head back east. That us where I live.
So we spent yesterday morning at the museum setting Y's departure time so that she could get back in time for a park party. But the best laid plans... After I got Blaze out of the back of her truck where she'd been resting for the week, and all loaded up, I found that the back tire had blown. Problem now. No more spares. Only brought one and it was on the intrepid right front. Called bike shop. The 20" they had was bigger. Called Walmart. They had a 20" a bit bigger but smaller than bike shop's. Now Y is getting late. She takes me to get tire. I have a tube the same size (1.75) and get everything all fixed and mounted all my gear. Say goodbye to Yellowstone and finish seeing the museum, getting groceries, getting air in tires, and leaving town. Not 3 miles down road. It's flat. Ugh! Take it off. Patch it - pinch flat. Remount. Wont inflate. Have to inflate after mounting because otherwise too big to get past the brake. 2nd puncture? Remove drone bike. Remove from rim. Pump's got problem. Fix it. That was why it wouldn't inflate. Remount tire on wheel. Remount wheel on bike. Inflate. Success! Pedal on. 1 mile. Pshhhh. Flat again. There's a reason I've been hauling that punctured and mended thorn resistant tube for months. That thing's too bulky to pinch. Put that baby on there. Yup. It worked! Gotten pretty fast at changing that rear tire. Sure appreciate Hieke's tip about resting the rear end rack braces on my panniers so that it's off the ground and not resting on the rear derailleur. Works well. So now with less than 90 miles to go, I should be able to make it. But that rear tire sure is FAT!
So tonight I'm again camped along side the highway next to the barbed wire fence. The prairie grasses are quite bristly. Thank goodness my ground cloth protects my tent and ME! No one bothers me. There are few places to get off the road except for the turnoffs to the pastures. It works for me. And the road should quiet down soon not that it's very noisy now.
It's been a pretty remote area I've been biking through: rolling ribbon of a road, yellow grasses and sagebrush on both sides the road, rocky outcroppings, and mountains in the distance. So beautiful to be a part of the scenery. The long road stretching out ahead delights rather than intimidating me.
It feels good!
Sleepy BagLady
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Headwinds
Tuesday August 30
Quake Lake MT
I lied! Today headwinds are killing me!! They're blowing north up this valley and it's a gradual uphill climb too. Not moving ver fast today. 3-4 mph at best. And it's getting pretty tiring. But it would be awfully hot out here without them. No umbrella today. It would pull me to Canada!
I found bar not on my Adventure Cycle map at about 4:30. I'd only gone about 22 miles since 9 am. Does that give you an idea of how hard today was? So I stopped in for ice water in my bottles and a root beer. Stayed for dinner! Soup and salad bar. Nothing to write home about, but saved me from cooking:). That left more evening hours to bike.
And I did another 14 tonight. Had a wee bit of a hard time finding a campsite because I pushed on and them got to an area of avalanches (dirt) and no flat spots. I camped 15 ft from the white lime on the side of the road on stones. But it's flat. And the road is mostly empty. And once I'm set up you can't tell who's in that tent. And Blaze is all nestled under her cover so she doesn't glow when headlights hit her and create curiosity or interest. It's really a good set up.
On into West Yellowstone tomorrow. Hopefully noonish.
This trip is winding down and sadly so. I'm not tired of it at all. It's just been a blast...except for all the stuff I've littered along the way. But hopefully I've spread some joy and inspiration to others to go out, be fearless, and live this life!!! Fully!
Exhausted BagLady. Off to bed...
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Quake Lake MT
I lied! Today headwinds are killing me!! They're blowing north up this valley and it's a gradual uphill climb too. Not moving ver fast today. 3-4 mph at best. And it's getting pretty tiring. But it would be awfully hot out here without them. No umbrella today. It would pull me to Canada!
I found bar not on my Adventure Cycle map at about 4:30. I'd only gone about 22 miles since 9 am. Does that give you an idea of how hard today was? So I stopped in for ice water in my bottles and a root beer. Stayed for dinner! Soup and salad bar. Nothing to write home about, but saved me from cooking:). That left more evening hours to bike.
And I did another 14 tonight. Had a wee bit of a hard time finding a campsite because I pushed on and them got to an area of avalanches (dirt) and no flat spots. I camped 15 ft from the white lime on the side of the road on stones. But it's flat. And the road is mostly empty. And once I'm set up you can't tell who's in that tent. And Blaze is all nestled under her cover so she doesn't glow when headlights hit her and create curiosity or interest. It's really a good set up.
On into West Yellowstone tomorrow. Hopefully noonish.
This trip is winding down and sadly so. I'm not tired of it at all. It's just been a blast...except for all the stuff I've littered along the way. But hopefully I've spread some joy and inspiration to others to go out, be fearless, and live this life!!! Fully!
Exhausted BagLady. Off to bed...
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Monday, September 5, 2011
Yellowstone!
I have been visiting Yellowstone National Park and my friend, Yellowstone for the past few days. She's a guide in this incredible park and has given me the best tour possible!!! What a treat to see not only Old Faithful but all the other thermal features as well as bison, elk, and wolves (through scopes). Way cool! And then we did a 3 day backpacking trip with some friends up Mt. Holmes, over 10,000 ft! Delightful time...and my partner and me won at cards... both nights! A game called 500. Similar to Euchre, so I had a bit shorter learning curve. But I did manage to get sunburned. You'd think that after spending all summer on Blaze I'd have been good, but it must have been the altitude. And my sunscreen was on the bike...ouch!
And I've been meeting a slew of folks that work in the park...her friends. What a great place this is! I've loved being able to spend time with Yellowstone and catch up.
Tomorrow we're heading to Cody where we'll see the Buffalo Bill Museum and go to Sierra Trading Post (floors of stuff on sale!). We'll also have dinner and spend the night. Then Wednesday I'll get back on Blaze and do the final leg of my amazing summer journey. Don't think I'm ready for this trip to end, but it's time....I guess. All good things must end, and so must this trip. But it's not my last...oh NO! Blaze is definitely my RV:) We're gonna see some fabulous places together, yessireee!!!
Sunburned BagLady
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Happy Day!
Monday August 29th, I guess
Cameron MT
A day with low miles and lots of smiles!! A lot of people connections. Great early morning climb that broke into the mist incredible and euphoric vista! Just makes me feel happy to be alive!!!!
Slept outside Virginia City last night on a bit of vacant ground and what a lightening storm awoke me about 1ay em. The lightening was so bright that through my tent and with my eyes closed it hurt. I hand to put my hands over my eyes to block out the brightness. First lightening storm all summer. Loved it!
In the morning in town I met a guy riding through on horseback with a pack horse behind. Long hair, missing front teeth, grubby (I should talk:)), wearing a cowboy hat and duster jacket. And since i saw him in this old western town, he fit right in! Felt like ud stepped back in time 150 years! Been riding all around out here for a couple of years and is headed back to South Dakota. I happened to notice the horse he was riding had thrown a front shoe. Their feet looked pretty rough and unattended recently.
Then at an overlook on the way down the pass on the other side I met a woman from Oregon that owned a small cattle herd...40 head. Most interesting conversation.
Followed by an offer of Gatorade from Harry. Never turn down food or drink! He's driving a truck and trailer hauling the support for 4 friends that are biking (on multi-sport motorbikes - gotta google that) the Continental Divide bike trail from Mexico to Canada (home - except they're from Ontario). Harry gets to enjoy the sights and do a little mountain biking on the side while getting to the next meetup town and finding accommodations for the night. He had a great energy and smile! Sounds like a fun adventure, for sure!
Continued on down the hill to the Pit Stop Pizza place. Yum! And there didn't I meet a couple from Minnesota that knew someone I knew?! Small world. Yessiree!
Then there was the guy with the veggie and fruit roadside stand who gave me a peach, the guy sitting in the shade in town who shared his picnic table and his story while I ate my yogurt. The grandparents with grandkids, Hunter and Echo, at Subway that wanted me to sit and share but I needed to pedal on. It's these connections that enrich my journey. And most of the time I'm glad to answer all the questions...most of the time:)
And the day ended with Ralph seeing me drying my tent on the shoulder and offering me his yard to camp on. Yes! And I got a shower and good conversation for the evening. Trail magic! Ya just gotta be open to it. Whew! A great day. So rich am I!
Oh ya and I got my lost shirt replaced with one I may like better:)
On to West Yellowstone and seeing a friend!
Smiling BagLady:))))
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Cameron MT
A day with low miles and lots of smiles!! A lot of people connections. Great early morning climb that broke into the mist incredible and euphoric vista! Just makes me feel happy to be alive!!!!
Slept outside Virginia City last night on a bit of vacant ground and what a lightening storm awoke me about 1ay em. The lightening was so bright that through my tent and with my eyes closed it hurt. I hand to put my hands over my eyes to block out the brightness. First lightening storm all summer. Loved it!
In the morning in town I met a guy riding through on horseback with a pack horse behind. Long hair, missing front teeth, grubby (I should talk:)), wearing a cowboy hat and duster jacket. And since i saw him in this old western town, he fit right in! Felt like ud stepped back in time 150 years! Been riding all around out here for a couple of years and is headed back to South Dakota. I happened to notice the horse he was riding had thrown a front shoe. Their feet looked pretty rough and unattended recently.
Then at an overlook on the way down the pass on the other side I met a woman from Oregon that owned a small cattle herd...40 head. Most interesting conversation.
Followed by an offer of Gatorade from Harry. Never turn down food or drink! He's driving a truck and trailer hauling the support for 4 friends that are biking (on multi-sport motorbikes - gotta google that) the Continental Divide bike trail from Mexico to Canada (home - except they're from Ontario). Harry gets to enjoy the sights and do a little mountain biking on the side while getting to the next meetup town and finding accommodations for the night. He had a great energy and smile! Sounds like a fun adventure, for sure!
Continued on down the hill to the Pit Stop Pizza place. Yum! And there didn't I meet a couple from Minnesota that knew someone I knew?! Small world. Yessiree!
Then there was the guy with the veggie and fruit roadside stand who gave me a peach, the guy sitting in the shade in town who shared his picnic table and his story while I ate my yogurt. The grandparents with grandkids, Hunter and Echo, at Subway that wanted me to sit and share but I needed to pedal on. It's these connections that enrich my journey. And most of the time I'm glad to answer all the questions...most of the time:)
And the day ended with Ralph seeing me drying my tent on the shoulder and offering me his yard to camp on. Yes! And I got a shower and good conversation for the evening. Trail magic! Ya just gotta be open to it. Whew! A great day. So rich am I!
Oh ya and I got my lost shirt replaced with one I may like better:)
On to West Yellowstone and seeing a friend!
Smiling BagLady:))))
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Sunday, August 28, 2011
I Hate Losing Things!!!!
Sunday august 28
Virginia City. MT
Ok. This has got to stop! I lost a critical item today and I have no idea where. My long sleeve n front shirt. I wear it every morning and evening. I have no substitute. It allows me to regulate my broken and dysfunctional internal thermostat. I have no where to get another and tomorrow morning is going to be miserable. That's the trouble when you only have one of everything. And there are no stores out here. Arrgghhh! What did I do with it? I haven't a clue. It was in my hand at breakfast and not around tonight. I was probably multiple-tasking. ADD! I hate it!!!
I know I need to STOP and check my surroundings after I stop. But I can't remember to. And that's how most of my stuff has gotten lost.
I'm on a rotten mood tonight. I don't know how to deal with the conditions in the morning and for the next couple of weeks. Hopefully I'll find a theft shop and I can get something.
Off to read. Maybe that will change my mood.
Frustrated BagLady
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Virginia City. MT
Ok. This has got to stop! I lost a critical item today and I have no idea where. My long sleeve n front shirt. I wear it every morning and evening. I have no substitute. It allows me to regulate my broken and dysfunctional internal thermostat. I have no where to get another and tomorrow morning is going to be miserable. That's the trouble when you only have one of everything. And there are no stores out here. Arrgghhh! What did I do with it? I haven't a clue. It was in my hand at breakfast and not around tonight. I was probably multiple-tasking. ADD! I hate it!!!
I know I need to STOP and check my surroundings after I stop. But I can't remember to. And that's how most of my stuff has gotten lost.
I'm on a rotten mood tonight. I don't know how to deal with the conditions in the morning and for the next couple of weeks. Hopefully I'll find a theft shop and I can get something.
Off to read. Maybe that will change my mood.
Frustrated BagLady
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Friday, August 26, 2011
Prairies with no Shade
Friday August 26
Jackson Montana
Yesterday I climbed Lost Trail Pass: 3400 ft climb in 90* heat. The 13 miles took me 5 hours and I peaked at the exact time (to the minute) I said I would 4 hours earlier:). Something I've been really good at hiking or biking or even with my horses as a kid when I had to do the cross country phase of eventing between 2 times...any faster or slower were time penalties. And I did it by gut.
I met this couple last night that have been traveling for 16 years! I was so envious. First, that they were a couple doing this (I can only hope), and all the places they've seen! Www.outthereliving.com
Brian and Caryl. Check them out. They bike my distance in a day so I might see them for awhile.
Possible new plans. Yellowstone is freed up earlier than expected and looking to do a backpacking trip on the Beartooth Mtns. If it works, she'll pick me up next Tuesday. I should be 150-200 miles closer by then. Then she'll also show me the park and then drop me off on Cody. Or somewhere the east side of the park. Then I'll have my last few days of biking...and the thought is a sad one. I'm so enjoying traveling this way! When I get home I think I'll just leave Blaze all packed up like it's a temporary stopover:).
From my campsite tonight (which is in a pulloff on the side if the road on the edge of this very small town) I can see the smoke and red glow of the forest fires up in the mountains. I heard 18,000 acres are burning. Yikes!
After a $6 shower tonight I had a good dinner at a picnic table outside the town mercantile. I kept going back in for more food! I did manage to wash my biking clothes in the expensive shower and put them back on to dry. I wasn't willing to pay $30 for a campsite when all I needed was the shower anyways:)
Tomorrow's a 48 mile ride with no services (like water) in between. I'll wave down an RV if I have to for water.
Pedaling on,
BagLady
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Jackson Montana
Yesterday I climbed Lost Trail Pass: 3400 ft climb in 90* heat. The 13 miles took me 5 hours and I peaked at the exact time (to the minute) I said I would 4 hours earlier:). Something I've been really good at hiking or biking or even with my horses as a kid when I had to do the cross country phase of eventing between 2 times...any faster or slower were time penalties. And I did it by gut.
I met this couple last night that have been traveling for 16 years! I was so envious. First, that they were a couple doing this (I can only hope), and all the places they've seen! Www.outthereliving.com
Brian and Caryl. Check them out. They bike my distance in a day so I might see them for awhile.
Possible new plans. Yellowstone is freed up earlier than expected and looking to do a backpacking trip on the Beartooth Mtns. If it works, she'll pick me up next Tuesday. I should be 150-200 miles closer by then. Then she'll also show me the park and then drop me off on Cody. Or somewhere the east side of the park. Then I'll have my last few days of biking...and the thought is a sad one. I'm so enjoying traveling this way! When I get home I think I'll just leave Blaze all packed up like it's a temporary stopover:).
From my campsite tonight (which is in a pulloff on the side if the road on the edge of this very small town) I can see the smoke and red glow of the forest fires up in the mountains. I heard 18,000 acres are burning. Yikes!
After a $6 shower tonight I had a good dinner at a picnic table outside the town mercantile. I kept going back in for more food! I did manage to wash my biking clothes in the expensive shower and put them back on to dry. I wasn't willing to pay $30 for a campsite when all I needed was the shower anyways:)
Tomorrow's a 48 mile ride with no services (like water) in between. I'll wave down an RV if I have to for water.
Pedaling on,
BagLady
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Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Going slow...er
Tuesday August 23
Victor MT
A bike path along side the highway for miles and miles. What a concept! If you don't like dealing with bikes on the road then support this novel idea: whenever they redo the road add a bike path. More people would bike if they didn't have to fear for their lives.
I camped at a fishing access again last night...despite the "no overnight camping" regulation. They don't mean ME:). I get a wetting down with a good night's sleep, for free!
Met this couple that had the greatest energy: Kelly and Lance! And they're both originally from NY. Lucky to be living out here!! I wish them both all the best that his landscape business picks up and her new nursing job is fulfilling in all ways. Thanks for the stories, the water, and my new jewelry (glow in the dark bracelet!). There's a reason I didn't stay where I had stopped earlier. The Universe is in charge.
And this morning I'm sitting in a country cafe having my breakfast and soaking up the ambiance.
Life is good!
Talked with Yellowstone (friend from the PCT last year that is a ranger in park of same name). Making meet up plans. She's going to be in the backcountry til Sept 5th so I'm going to slow down (that'll be easy for me:)) and meet her in Yellowstone on the 5th. And then I get a private tour of the park by a ranger! Yippee! She's also trying to work out places for me to camp in the park prior to our meet up.
More adventures yet to come!
Slow-going BagLady
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Victor MT
A bike path along side the highway for miles and miles. What a concept! If you don't like dealing with bikes on the road then support this novel idea: whenever they redo the road add a bike path. More people would bike if they didn't have to fear for their lives.
I camped at a fishing access again last night...despite the "no overnight camping" regulation. They don't mean ME:). I get a wetting down with a good night's sleep, for free!
Met this couple that had the greatest energy: Kelly and Lance! And they're both originally from NY. Lucky to be living out here!! I wish them both all the best that his landscape business picks up and her new nursing job is fulfilling in all ways. Thanks for the stories, the water, and my new jewelry (glow in the dark bracelet!). There's a reason I didn't stay where I had stopped earlier. The Universe is in charge.
And this morning I'm sitting in a country cafe having my breakfast and soaking up the ambiance.
Life is good!
Talked with Yellowstone (friend from the PCT last year that is a ranger in park of same name). Making meet up plans. She's going to be in the backcountry til Sept 5th so I'm going to slow down (that'll be easy for me:)) and meet her in Yellowstone on the 5th. And then I get a private tour of the park by a ranger! Yippee! She's also trying to work out places for me to camp in the park prior to our meet up.
More adventures yet to come!
Slow-going BagLady
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Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Motel...Arrggghhh!
Monday August 22
Missoula MT
I got into the edge of town last night after a very HOT day of pedaling. Since I wanted to go to REI this morning and it was on this side of town I decided to CP out there. After a bit of scoping, I finally ended up on a vacant lot behind WalMart. No sprinklers, but hard ground and weeds. Worked out fine. Only the sound of big trucks idling. Beats loud music:)
Missoula is a great place. Much like Boise. Went over to Adventure Cycling...they're the folks thar make a ton of maps for many bike routes across and through the US. I wanted to see what the suggested to get down and across Yellowstone.
While I was there, they took my pic for their wall. (Like at Harper's Ferry and the ATC.). And because they don't get many trikes, they took another pic of me and Blaze that they can use for their mag or decorate their walls. It was one with my umbrella up!
Then I did laundry. Nothing special except they had an ice cream and soda counter in it! Great idea. Captured audience.
Couldn't decide whether to stay or linger. Beautiful warm evening. Sitting outside drinking a smoothies and reading mags about Montana. Let's bike around and see this town...and maybe a sleeping spot will appear. Lots of green grass. Not good sign. Lots of kids with backpacks and dreds not good sign. Guess I'll have to break down and get a room. The hostel is $30 and I'll have to haul all my stuff around. Not easy. Get a motel room, ground floor, and Blaze can roll right in. Sure I'll take the one without A/C. Better yet! Got a fan? Ok. Does the window open? Yes. Liar!
Bad TV. A great shower. And 10 hours of sleep. All for $50 ...thats the aarrgghhh! Add to that some lousy Thai food and I'm ready to roll on out of Missoula. After I go back to the laundromat and see if my sleeping shorts are still sitting on the curb drying. Otherwise I've lost yet another item.
Another hot one expected.
BagLady
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Missoula MT
I got into the edge of town last night after a very HOT day of pedaling. Since I wanted to go to REI this morning and it was on this side of town I decided to CP out there. After a bit of scoping, I finally ended up on a vacant lot behind WalMart. No sprinklers, but hard ground and weeds. Worked out fine. Only the sound of big trucks idling. Beats loud music:)
Missoula is a great place. Much like Boise. Went over to Adventure Cycling...they're the folks thar make a ton of maps for many bike routes across and through the US. I wanted to see what the suggested to get down and across Yellowstone.
While I was there, they took my pic for their wall. (Like at Harper's Ferry and the ATC.). And because they don't get many trikes, they took another pic of me and Blaze that they can use for their mag or decorate their walls. It was one with my umbrella up!
Then I did laundry. Nothing special except they had an ice cream and soda counter in it! Great idea. Captured audience.
Couldn't decide whether to stay or linger. Beautiful warm evening. Sitting outside drinking a smoothies and reading mags about Montana. Let's bike around and see this town...and maybe a sleeping spot will appear. Lots of green grass. Not good sign. Lots of kids with backpacks and dreds not good sign. Guess I'll have to break down and get a room. The hostel is $30 and I'll have to haul all my stuff around. Not easy. Get a motel room, ground floor, and Blaze can roll right in. Sure I'll take the one without A/C. Better yet! Got a fan? Ok. Does the window open? Yes. Liar!
Bad TV. A great shower. And 10 hours of sleep. All for $50 ...thats the aarrgghhh! Add to that some lousy Thai food and I'm ready to roll on out of Missoula. After I go back to the laundromat and see if my sleeping shorts are still sitting on the curb drying. Otherwise I've lost yet another item.
Another hot one expected.
BagLady
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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