Sunday, June 30, 2013

Day 13: From Harlowton, MT to Billings, MT


The first 47 miles of this ride FLEW by and were nice easy flat miles with an amazing tailwind and great conversation the whole time with Jenny, kind of forgot that I was cycling or doing any physical activity for that matter. We reached lunch by 9:00am! Yes, lunch at 9, but when breakfast is before 6 and you’re burning mucho calories, it sounds about right. After that, thing took a turn. I got another 2 flats, making 7 flats in 4 days. Our ride group for the latter half of the day was Olivia. Jeff Sloan, Melanie, and Jenny and we racked in 7 flats among us total. We all stopped for each other and then powered each other through the last 35 miles or so. Jeff led the way and pulled us for what felt like eternity, probably felt longer for him, as the tail wind switched to a headwind. He will be receiving many libations on us ladies today. Tonight we are headed to dinner, sponsored by Basil CafĂ©, and although Charlton and Lynn have said every night is the best dinner on the trip (and every night I think they are right), they have reassured me that no, really, TONIGHT, will be the best.
      
                                                Jenny in downtown Billings lookout      

                                 View from our dorm balcony at Montana State University

OK, so it was probably the best. We had steak, edamame/cranberry salad, blackbean/corn salsa, tortilla chips, romaine salad, strawberries, and I may or may not have had 3 cupcakes for dessert. I decided today is the day I stop eating once I am full because the level of discomfort felt today and after pie day is no longer bearable and I need to make this a statement in my blog so I am accountable for future overeating endeavors. After dinner, we went to a bar for some strawberry wheat beer and Olivia and I treated Jeff to his IPAs for his gracious help with our flats and for pulling us , oh say, 60 miles.



On our rest day, we had breakfast, explored a bit, went to the art museum, and went to Symphony in the Park. Funny anecdote, we (mostly I) were all very excited for the "petting zoo" at the orchestra. After searching for goats and ponies, I was later informed that the petting zoo is a term for an instrument station set up earlier so children can touch the instruments. BUMMER.


                                                     Yellowstone Art Museum (YOMA)

                                                                   Pioneer Park



Friday, June 28, 2013

Day 12: From Townsend, MT to Harlowton, MT: 99.6 miles




                                                           Green, hilly, Montana

I like most sports but one thing I dislike about many of them is the element of luck. In bowling, usually luck is on my side and a crappy shot will turn into a strike. In golf, many times what felt like a good swing ends up off the green. In cycling, if you happen to be at the wrong place in the road at the wrong time, you may be like me and get your 5th flat tire in the past 3 days (2 on this ride) accompanied with 4 bee stings from the little booger that got trapped in my jersey. Aside from the bad luck, the ride was great, just frustrating. The scenery was perfect and I loved watching the prairie dogs scurry away as I passed. The weather was hot but 88 degrees was less intense than I thought. I managed to stay well hydrated and well fed so the ride was not that physically exhausting. We also got a godsent tailwind that pushed me to average over 20 mph in the last 30 miles.




Tonight for dinner, we were hosted by a family (Liberty and Todd) who had met some Big Riders a few years back coming through their cafe (Cafe Chinook). When their restaurant closed, they decided to invite the Big Riders to their own home to cook them food and have been doing so for 3 years. We feasted on delicious burgers, romaine salad, bean salad, fruit salad, and the most delicious dessert of berry crisp with vanilla ice cream (better than the pie). Liberty's grandmother serenaded us with her sweet melodies on the piano and played each note with such passion. When we told her we adored how much she put into her music, she responded "Well if I didn't give it my everything to give it to you, then I might as well go home." What a sweetheart.


Thursday, June 27, 2013

Day 11: From Avon, MT to Townsend, MT: 61 miles








So today was probably my favorite ride thus far (aside from day 1). I cannot decide if it was because of the gorgeous blue skies, of my Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson pandora playing on phone speakers, of the beautiful scenery, or because it was only 61 miles. We had an 11 mile climb to cross the continental divide and ended up at over 6,000 ft of elevation at McDonald's Pass. Then we had a 12 mile descent and I was still too scared to not touch the brakes so I only got up to 39.8 while others reached around 45mph.


Obligatory wildlife pics for Brett and Sarah

note the white horse in the back rolling around having a grand ole time

  

 Our typical lunch spread: we have PBJ all day err day (note:pie)


When we were descending the curvy road lined by forestry with the sun beating down on us, I could see a line of cyclists move down the mountain. I then began to think how thankful I am that my body is allowing me to do this (no shoulder pain today!!). I am strong enough to get up and ride an average of 83 miles a day for 7 weeks. I am fortunate enough to be seeing the world by bike, to literally be in a different place every second, to cross towns that I will never see again, to sometimes go through whole cities without even setting a foot on the ground or releasing a carbon emission. Thank you body for my health, strength, and endurance. Anything is possible with mental determination, perseverance, and support. I am convinced anyone can do this ride and you will love your body so much more because you realize what it is capable of doing. Fitness used to be a chore but now it is something I thrive on, something that if I miss makes me grumpy, something that allows me to indulge in desserts, and something that truly makes me happy. I want to be outside, in the sunshine, as much as possible and to be on a trip that allows, and even moreso, encourages me to do this is extraordinary.

   Laura heading into Townsend


Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Day 10: From Missoula, MT to Avon, MT: 98.6 miles

Holy pie. We just feasted on pasta, fruit salad, and the most delicious pie in the world, and I don't even like pie but I think I may have just eaten a whole one. Today we rode into Avon, which essentially has no facilities except our campsite and the pie place. Where these folks get groceries is a mystery. The ride today was very scenic with a lot of rolling hills and I am finally getting comfortable going faster. I  reached 37mph today, some people have hit 50, but for me that's fast. I rode with the boys for the first 5 miles in a pace line and we made great time. It takes a lot less effort when you are drafting and have your own personal wind blockers. I went from fast to amazingly slow as Tom, the mechanic on the trip, and I got well acquainted. I got 2 flat tires and had to change it 3 times because one of the tubes was also bad from the get go. So now I know how to change a flat and have confidence that I can do it on my own. This set me back to arrive later in camp than usual and I was nervous I was going to get caught in the rain and have to pitch a tent while it poured. Luckily, this did not happen and I made it!




Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Day 8: From Thompson Falls, MT to Missoula, MT OUR FIRST CENTURY (102 miles)

So after having dinner and breakfast at Minnie's cafe, a very Montana-esque diner, we headed off for our first century ride (over 100 miles). For three people, it was their first century and for myself it was my third. The ride was not that difficult but because we have rode over 450 miles thus far, my body was tired and it was quite a mental chalenge. Lunch was 10 miles further than expected and as most of my friends probably know, when I am hungry I am not happy. After some refueling, I was off and the rest of the ride went smoothly. not a lot of stops for photo ops because I wanted to get to the University of MT (where we are staying) at a decent hour. Today is a rest day which means massages, hikes, a press opportunity for the American Lung Association, bike cleaning, and lots of food. I'll post pictures once I explore Missoula. We went out to a bar last night to watch the Stanley Cup and had homemade ice cream after (amazing). The hawks won!! And Patrick Kane, originally from Buffalo, got MVP so t'was a great evening after all.

                                                                Baaaaaah



The rest day included a massage, a hike to the giant "M" in honor of University of Montana, dinner at the slowest serviced Italian restaurant ever, and just general exploring. Tomorrow we ride 99 miles which is not included in our count of 11 centuries, although with "bonus" miles acquired from stopping, detouring, and getting lost, I am sure I will hit 100.

                                                             Downtown Missoula
                                  


The giant "M"


Day 7: From Sand Point, Idaho to Thompson Falls, Montana: 88 miles


                                             The morning ride with Jeff and Olivia




Crossed another state line today and although I didn’t see any moose in the game crossing areas, I managed to spot some deer, a bald eagle with prey, and many hawks. The ride today was beautiful, we were on the water the whole time surrounded by green mountains covered in pines. Railroad tracks lined the way and small ponds and lakes sprung up as we went. Everyone seemed pretty tired today and it was a slower riding dday which meant many stops for pictures and food. I was the first into camp because although I struggled with shoulder and Achilles pain, I found a groove for the last 30 miles and skipped out on the milkshake (I probably had a bajillion almonds and walnuts with lunch so my stomach couldn’t handle it). I used my I phone to blare some house music as I went and I think the natural adrenaline combined with memories of last summer (Emily, Sarah, and city tavern) really helped me cruise along. Tomorrow is our first century ride as a group into Missoula followed by a well deserved rest day. Time to ice and eat.

                                                    Glaciers (what used to be)

Wildlife!

One of my favorite pics with a railway
                                    



                                                            State Line #2

                                                                Train in MT


Saturday, June 22, 2013

Day 6: From Spokane to South Point, Idaho: 77 miles

After a full day of rest, we headed off to Idaho which has been surprisingly more gorgeous than I thought. Took our time with the ride and stopped to pet some alpacas, see a local parade, spotted some bald eagles, and check out some great viewpoints. Definitely need to slow my pace because meeting the locals and experiencing the culture of the small places we see is pretty awesome. We had dinner in South point on the River front and sweet talked our way into a gelato place for dessert even though it had closed 15 minutes before we got there (but we're cyclists riding across America for charity::puppy eyes::). Enjoy the pics and keep the comments and support coming, we appreciate all of it. Big shout out to James Lynn, a Big Ride alumn rider, for sending us Tide, headlamps, batteries, and the all important Skittles. Also thanks to Kind bars for sponsoring us although I probably will never eat your product again but the amount I consume in the next 6 weeks should suffice.

Alpaca taken with my camera, a new one that I sweet talked the man at Best Buy to break company policy and replace


Random Parade in Newport, WA

Crossing into Idaho

Viewpoint

Logging company

Beach in Sandpoint, Idaho (starring Melanie)