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

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