Diary: Cycle Montana 2012
 

Two days of driving and I'm just a couple of hours from Missoula where the ride begins. Highlight so far is the Sacajawea Hotel in the small town of Three Forks. It's a bit of glorious Greek Architecture in small town Montana. There's free Champagne and moist towels on arrival. Put on your bucket list. Bicycle riding to be reported on soon.... in the event anyone gives a hoot. :lol:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257753http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257754http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257755http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257756http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257757http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257758http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257759

Full pictures so far: http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/...12%20Part%201/

Hey billydonn, I give a "hoot". Keep us informed and hope things go well!

So when does the ride start?

Keep safe,
Richard

Richard,
The ride starts Sunday.... organizational meeting with dinner is tomorrow in Missoula. We have reservations for dinner in the Sacajawea dining room tonight... it should be nice. Perhaps there will be pictures or video.

I am not as good a driving really long distances as I used to be... or I have better sense these days.

Sounds great. Once I saw your post the other day I decided I would like to check this ride out next year. It would be a really, really long drive for me but I've always wanted to visit that part of the country.

Since I've only been riding a year I've never done a ride like that. I envy you and one day I'll get around to doing something like that....maybe next year.

Richard

Richard,
Adventure Cycling also does a "Texas Hill Country" ride I believe... that might be really fun but it doesn't work for my work schedule. Any ride by AC will be worth doing, IMO. Montana scenery is really extraordinary...well worth the drive and it is a about 1300 miles for me this year.

Thanks for your posts. I greatly enjoy your posts. Enjoy the ride and stay safe!
Greg

I'm following along billydonn! Enjoying your posts!

Hey, BD--As you recall, I was on the Cycle Montana ride with you last year and enjoyed your ebullient companionship and witty repartee. You also know that this year I'm doing Cycle the Divide in Montana, which will start two or so weeks after your ride finishes. Will be looking forward to your daily posts. Let me know if any of last year's group is there again. Don't forget to include the most important info: a daily weather report!

Brad

I envy you, the Bitterroot valley is a beautiful area!

My brother lives just east of Missoula, in Potomac.
I've vacationed in the area several times
(Seeley Lake most recently), unfortunately
I haven't been able to work any bike riding in (yet).

The Iron Horse Brew Pub is always fun.

Many pics, or it didn't happen.;)

You did take a fly rod -----didn't you? Lp

Don't worry about a lack of viewer interest. That won't be a problem. I can't wait for your posts, especially those with pictures.

Looking forward to your posts and pictures of the event. Have fun!

When first seeing this thread all I could think of was a trip out west to Montana on US-2. Oh man. The state tree on that route is the telephone pole.

The boredom alone would kill me.

You are following a more scenic route. I'll be watching along.

Travel Day 2: Arrival In Missoula
 

Well, I've arrived in Missoula and it's a glorious warm day. Well, even hot really.

Spinz, I did not bring my flyrod and I've been whimpering repeatedly as we drove past attractive rivers on the way over: the Madison, Jefferson, Gallatin, Big Blackfoot and several crossings of the Clark Fork. Alas, no fishing this trip. Met up with a couple last night in "Pompey's Grill" in the Sacajawea Hotel and talked a lot of fishing. Nice folks. The guy, about my age, said he is a sports bookie from north Florida somewhere and I believe him. PM me if you'd like to bet on a football game. :lol: Food at the Grill was fantastic.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257858http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257859http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257860http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257861http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257862

The wife has now dropped me off at my motel in Missoula and she's headed off to spend the week with her family while I'm riding. It feels weird...like I am homeless or something, when I pat my pants pocket and feel no car or house keys there. Really good news is that Larry, from Lake Havasu, is on the ride again this year, so there is already a familiar face in the crowd. He's a good guy... retired executive of I forget what corporation. We just had lunch and are heading over to pick up our ride packets soon. Here's two pics of Larry from last year:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257883http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257884

I'll get some pics... and do not worry, pictures of cycling and mountain scenery will begin tomorrow. (I hear that we actually ride a lot of the day tomorrow on a bike path!)

For now... a couple more pics from around the Sacajawea Hotel in Three Forks. It is a gem of a place... seriously.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257863http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257864http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257865http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257866

More later... and I do appreciate the encouraging words.

LOVE the Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here Jersey! Looks like nice accommodations.

Heh heh...we especially look forward to pics of the local brews!

Good luck on the ride. Have fun and be safe.

Okay, we've had the usual organizational meeting and received our ride packets.... and dinner. Weather looks good for launch tomorrow. I think we have 88 riders.

My wife is to blame because I forgot my rearview mirror. :innocent:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257945http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257946http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257947http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257948http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=257949

You would probably be shocked at the cost of a non-resident fishing license in the State of MT. It was quite high when I lived there in the 60's. It is cheap for Montanans.

I have been outside the Sacajawea Hotel a couple of times and have taken photos of it. I was remiss in not going inside. I will definitely go back just for the coconut cream pie. I hope you did a pie ride before partaking!

I was lucky when I did Ride the Rockies. My wife was at each of the stops in the evening. She was great support!

I'm envious of your trip and love the photos. I got a chuckle from the photos of the hills in Nebraska. Very formidable looking after doing RtR!!!

Now Joe... let's not be a mountain snob! :) The sandhills are actually kind of weirdly majestic in their own way. The pics don't do full justice. I'm told they are incredibly romantic on a moonlit summer night... but I can't swear to it. :D Now, on a hot summer day... well be sure the car AC works and keep driving!

Day One Ride is In the Books- ride stats
 

Glorious weather, little wind... all was right with the world today. Larry and I stayed paired up throughout the day. Nice conversations with several folks at the stops. The event staff know me from last year so I have minor status with them. It wasn't a very hard day or even nearly as scenic as it will get over the next few days. I'm getting better at these metric centuries and am not nearly as tired after them as I used to be. For now, here's what Strava and Garmin have to say about the ride:

http://app.strava.com/activities/11643548

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/192428091

I will post some pics a little later today... I need to tweak them, etc. Well okay, maybe just a teaser pic for now... note the classic slender cyclist build...jppe, be afraid... be very afraid!:roflmao2:
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P1030490.jpg

Tomorrow is 75 miles and we ride up over Chief Joseph Pass. I'm told it is unrelenting. It may not be a pretty sight... the ride stats, I mean. The photos will be good.

Day One- Ride Photos
 

All rightie then.... here's some samples of today's action:
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P1030483.jpg

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P1030488.jpg

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P1030503.jpg

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P1030506.jpg

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P1030505.jpg

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P1030515.jpg

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P1030522.jpg

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P1030525.jpg



and a LINK to THE FULL SET.

Looks great! Wish I could be out there with you!

Great first day pics...I'm still so jealous ;) Be safe and enjoy day two!