7-21 Tuesday

Wisdom, MT to Hamilton, MT - 73.95 miles

What a day, what a day, and slow to warm up this morning. We climbed our final acent in Montana today which was the highest of the state. From halfway through yesterday until about halfway through today is basically one big valley, atleast in terms elevation profile of the route. I thought for sure we would see a moose today considering our environment on the day.

I haven't decided if this climb was any harder than the rest in Montana but this felt slow. Maybe it was because I wasn't able to get to a triple decker until after the ascent as our first stop was at the top, Chief Joseph Pass (elev. 7241), the continental divide... again. I had to take a moment at the top to realize what a way to spend the summer this was and this moment was a real high. Hanging out with good people on the top of a mountain in Montana, triple decker in hand and chocolate milk in the other, thankyou!

The downhill was sweeet. I got some great footage, a bit bouncy which annoys me but you get the flavor of what it's like to drop down a mountain with another rider at 40 mph, drafting and using each other as a slingshot. Unbelievable suprise at the end of the day in Hamilton..... Leana's bestfriends' family from growing up, Jan and Nancy, own the Bitterroot Valley Lanes, a bowling alley in Hamilton.

As soon as we got off our bikes we were generously greeted with food, drink and beyond our wildest dreams, free bowling all night long with the whole building to ourselves. When we grew tired and our arms heavy, we laid down right there next to the lanes and went to sleep... I dreamt of the perfect 300 game. (Thanks so much for your generosity)

7-20 Monday

Dillon, MT to Wisdom, MT - 69.3 miles

Beautiful morning, clear skies and moderate temperature, made for a very enjoyable ride... until the two 1,500 ft climbs. They were like the climbs of the east, tough. It's cool though, they made for some great downhills.

Another triple decker sandwhich carried Chris and I to both peaks. I must warn anyone attempting to try these sandwhiches, they're very powerful and could send you to the top of a mountain... which you must decend from at 40 mph. Stayed at the American Legion Memorial Park. The sunset was unbelievable, like painted brush strokes in every direction of all colors. The mosquitoes were terrible though, terrible.

7-19 Sunday

Ennis, MT to Dillon, MT - 71.81 miles

Another great day of riding, slow in the morning though. Big climb to start off. 2,000 ft climb over 10 miles so a nice challenge to say the least. It felt like the climbs of Virginia. Looking back from the pass, the valley was dreamlike as the heavens poured sun on the mountain that we just descended from into the valley while storm clouds resided on either side of us.

Another famous triple decker sandwhich carried me to the top and through till the end of the day. We passed a decent size biker gang on our way into Dillon, MT.

We stayed at a KOA which isn't exactly roughing it but it sure is nice to get some laundry done, take a shower, and

hit up some wifi. I pitched my tent next to the sweet river that was beside our site which was nice to wake up to.

7-18 Saturday

West Yellowstone, MT to Ennis, MT - 71.6 miles

This might have been the fastest and easiest feeling 70 miles yet. Perhaps it was the triple decker deluxe that has now become the standard meal at the first stop. The recipe: 2 slices of wheat bread -> spread peanut butter on 2 slices -> honey and m&m's on one slice with the peanut butter -> raisens on the other -> rasberry jam on the third slice -> mash together and consume -> energy for the rest of the day. Montana has unbelievable scenery with epic valleys and snow crested mountains surroundings us at al times. I felt like I was riding through the set of a River Runs Through It.

Sweet little camping spot beside a river where some of us bathed before heading to the grocery store to stock up. The highlight of the day for me though was watching the softest side of Kevin I've ever seen. This video can only help with the ladies Kevin!

7-17 Friday

Canyon Campground to Bakers Hole Campground in West Yellowstone, MT - 48.22 miles

Well we finally had to say farewell to our three friends from the east; Freda, Lisa, and Mellissa. It was great riding with you girls this past week and we wish you safe travels onto San Francisco. We walked the catwalk at the Norris Basin and saw a bunch of geysers and hot springs and even the world's largest geyser, the Steamboat geyser.

Man it was hot walking around there. While taking the tour we had the pleasure of meeting a couple curious in our ride as the woman had MS. As we continued down the road there again was another ruckus of cars scattered precariously along the road, observing this.

Although I will miss Yellowstone, I was anxious to finally arrive in Montana.

West Yellowstone is a neat town immediately over the border in Montana. Some people went to the bike shop for some repairs, which I have to say might have been the best bike shop yet, not because of what supplies they had but the man that worked there... a legend. Dustin and I had a top ten milkshake at the Eagles Currios. Three more miles up the road brought us to Baker's Hole Campground.

7-16 Thursday

Grant Village campground to Canyon Campground - 44 miles

This is a day I will never forget! This is going to be a long post from usual. We got up relatively early this morning. Early enough for me scrape enough frost off of my tent to throw a snowball at Dustin, (dustinabond.blogspot.com). Made a nice warm fire as Don pumped out a few hundred pancakes for everyone, you're the man Don, thanks. What a beautiful ride around West Thumb and Yellowstone lake, observing the frequent thermal activity, to start the day.

Chris and I enjoyed a milkshake at the Fishing Bridge Cafe before heading onto Hayden Valley. On the way we saw a Bison just walking alone down the side of the road right outside the cafe, unbelievable to remember that we're in their home, not the other way around. Next stop were the Mud Vulcanoes where from a distance it smelled like popcorn, as we got closer it quickly switched to rotten eggs. The mud volcanoes were pretty neat, and we caught some great footage while there. What are these parents thinking letting their kids so close to these guys? I know they're tame and almost seem like a huge stuffed animal, but read the sign!!

Continuing through Hayden Valley we soon came across a traffic jam. I wondered how this was possible out here with no traffic lights, intersections, etc. but I soon realized the cause of this delay.

A bison herd was crossing the road. And like usual, we didn't wait with the rest of the cars and crusied right up to the sweet spot where I caught some videos of the herd meandering through the cars, ignoring the paparazzi of tourists and continued onto the river where the crossed to the otherside.

We camped at the Canyon campsite and after we collected firewood for the evening we went and checked out Yellowstone Falls and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. What a sight!

Capping off the evening with a campfire meal we made foil packets with bison meat and cooked them in the coals; It made the top 5 meals of the trip. What a day!

7-15 Wednesday Yellowstone National Park

Colter Bay Campground to Grant Village campground in Yellowstone National Park - 39.66 miles

Well we didn't get eaten by any bears last night, so I guess the trip can continue. We took a short day into Yellowstone so we wouldn't feel like we missed anything. Man was this a jam packed day, so much going on. Don's Diner was open again as he woke the campsite to the smell of pancakes from the coleman stove.

We hit more road construction as we rounded the northern part of the lake. We had to ride in another vehicle, which for some reason, didnt drop us off with the rest of the group and just kept going for a while till we were completely out of any road construction.

It really bites anytime you cant bike but we were waiting for the pilot car for almost an hour so we didn't mind too much, it made up the lost ground. While we were waiting, we were able to count 45 out of the 50 states license plates on the passing cars. I didn't realize this place was such a melting pot, and that people from all over the world come to see these places, heard lots of foreign languages while walking around in the Tetons and Yellowstone.

The views entering Yellowstone were incredible and we got to cross the continental divide once again. We arrived at Moose Creek Falls about a mile into Yellowstone where we enjoyed some spring fed river water and some cliff jumping... mom dont hold your breath. We ate dinner with a couple of Sweedish guys who were real cool. Good luck on the rest of your journey Peer and Marcus. We enjoyed the campfire that night in Grant Village as it got below freezing that night. Great Day!