Day 3 - Butte to Bozeman 101 Miles

We started off quite cool this morning, down in the 40's but it quickly warmed. The highlights for today were a beautiful climb through Pipestone Pass, 6,415 feet, and a great lunch alongside the Madison river. The climb started shortly after leaving Butte following Route 2, just south of Butte, and surprisingly little traffic on it. After about a 5 mile climb, with magnificent rock formations on both sides, we started a long gradual descent into the town of Whitehall, which lies along I90. Noticeably drier countryside in on the eastern side of this mountain range, with brown grass covering the hillsides and a few smaller conifers dotting the hilltops. After turning south on hwy 287 the headwinds began again, slowing my progress to a 12-14 mph struggle. I prefer climbing any day over facing this! The route had a ton of hills on it too, making it tougher still. Fortunately we turned east off 287 on to hwy 84 after about 12 miles of battling winds. Lon Haldeman was riding today and his fast moving train of about 8 riders caught me some 3 miles before the lunch stop, so I climbed on the pace line and we sped down the road. For lunch we were treated with grilled chicken strips, pita bread, fresh tomatoes, pickles, baked beans, chips and soft drinks alongside the river.

I ate too much! I still had about 25 miles to go before turning into the hotel in Bozeman and it wasn't much fun riding on a full stomach, but I don't think I was alone with this problem. Everybody was pretty slow on this final leg. My legs are still tired and sore despite the shorter day, but I feel if the wind would ever give us a break it would help a lot.

Here are today's statistics:
101 miles
Around 7 hours overall time
Average speed 17.4 mph
5:49 ride time
Max speed 36 mph
4,200 feet cumulative climbing

Day 2 - Missoula to Butte 138 Miles

Ponderosa country. Hoss, Little Joe, and Ben work the ranch around here somewhere.

Better day today. Actually had a tail wind for a change. Blew out of Missoula, literally, around 6:45 , and, after some interstate riding, followed a side road that was absolutely gorgeous. This road followed a clear running stream that begged to be fly fished. We had to get back on the interstate later but the strong westerly wind made quick passage. Later, we headed south after the second rest stop and had to deal with the strong cross winds and a very long subtle climb. I am still suffering the effects from the hard day yesterday and just couldn't make the legs go like I wanted. I struggled up to the lunch stop at Phillipsburg, a neat little western town way out in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately, I found my riding partners from early in the morning, Ruth Sherman, Ned Nicolai and another PAC crew member, John, who helped me tremendously climbing up the Pintlar Scenic Route. At the summit of the climb, which I think is over 6,000 feet, is Georgetown lake, a surprisingly large lake that supplies a falls that tumbles down the mountain side in spectacular fashion. After cresting the summit we flew down to the town of Anaconda, an old copper mining town. Ruth and I were the survivors of our original group as Ned had to stop because of some mechanical problems and John stopped to help out at a rest stop. Didn't take the camera as I am still in survival mode but took a few with the cell phone.
Tomorrow is more climbing but less mileage, and I am really glad for that!

Lon Haldeman sets up the bike racks at a stop:



Surrounding mountains of Butte, MT across from the hotel. The small white object on top of the mountain is a 90 foot statue of the Virgin Mary:


Statistics:
Total time about 8.5 hours
Average rolling speed: 18.1 mph
Ride time: 7:37
Miles: 138
Total climbing: 5,400 feet
I think Ruth and I finished in the first third of the group.

1 Down, 18 To Go

Headed out this morning about 6:45 after breakfast in the hotel parking lot for the mostly flat 148 mile ride to Missoula. PAC does a really good job with the meals on this ride. Fresh strawberries, all kinds of pastries, bagels, cereal and hot chocolate and coffee is the presentation this morning. It was cool enough for gloves starting out but later became quite warm and sunny but still very low humidity. My game plan was to ride very conservatively and hopefully make it to the finish without getting too beat up to ride the next day. Everything went according to plan but when we started heading due west on the final leg is when the headwinds did their worst damage. It really sucks when I have to work hard going downhill just to keep a decent pace. We had been battling headwinds all day but fortunately the leg south down hwy 83 was protected by heavily forested areas on either side. I shamefully wheel sucked a lot of the time, grabbing the last wheel on two or three man pacelines then slowly worked my way up the food chain to faster groups. By the end of the ride I was with "Cat", the 2005 RAAM winner and her 3 man entourage swapping pulls for the last 25 miles into the strong headwind until they starting attacking each other for the town limit signs. Couldn't believe these people still had the energy to do that! I believe this group was second to finish, as two riders were checking in ahead of us at the rest stops, which were about every 25 miles. She told me later she was not in the best shape and was trying to "ride into shape" for the first few days. She told me I should feel a lot stronger 10 days down the road. I hope she's right.

All in all, the ride wasn't very pleasant except for the magnificent mountain scenery, lakes, and fast moving streams along the way. The roads were busy with fast moving log trucks and RV's making close passes. The shoulders were decent, but pretty gravelly. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Here are some final statistics:
Riding time: 8 hours 8 minutes
Overall time: around 9 hours
Average speed: 18.3 mph
Max speed: 36 mph

No pictures today, I was traveling light. I wanted to walk around and see some of nearby University of Montana but was just too damn tired. Better rest up for the long ride with some climbs tomorrow.

Check In Day

Today I see the PAC trailers are in the parking lot so now things will get down to business. We had our kickoff meeting this afternoon which gave me a chance to meet some folks. I find out only seven of us are "newbies" so the vast majority have been on previous PAC tours before. One of the girls on the crew from Washington state was the winner of the 2005 RAAM and a couple of others have been on the "elite" PAC tour, which simulate a Race Across America. The itinerary for the day is similar to the America By Bicycle tour day schedule so that part was familiar, as I had worked as mechanic for a couple of summers previously with ABB.

My training for this tour has been sorely lacking in mileage and I can only hope the intensity and the riding in Alabama summer heat will make up for that shortfall. Tomorrow I will find out. The weather today reminds me of our early fall days. I can almost hear Eli Gold on the radio doing play by play for the Crimson Tide. I rode about 25 miles around town and didn't sweat a drop! The people from Washington and Canada think it is really hot however. They tell me it has been unusually cold where they are and they worry that the heat will give them problems.

I had some time on my hands so I had a chance to take some pictures. Here is the veteran's memorial adjacent to the train depot in Kalispell:



Kalispell is the county seat and here is their courthouse:


A lovely little art museum:



Hmmm... A town where I don't sweat? I think I could live here.

"E" Ticket Ride into Kalispell

I'm beginning to feel everyday on this trip will be a "Good News - Bad News" story, so let's begin. After a very longer than 4 hour flight from Houston to Seattle I hopped on the prop job for the final leg into Kalispell and oh what a ride it was! Ever been on the "Hotel Hell" ride at Disneyworld? The one that rides on the elevator from the Twilight Zone that suddenly drops about 50 feet? Well, they moved it to Horizon Airlines and it happens over the mountains between Seattle and Kalispell. I get the seat at the very back to get the full effect. I thought the lady from Long Island sitting next to me was going to spill her drink in my lap but she was more skilled than me. Anyway, when I do get to Kalispell I find out they have lost my luggage. I started to ask if maybe it bounced out the cargo bay on one of those thrill drops but I didn't want to push my bad luck. I catch a taxi to the motel and have the good news my bike made it safe:

Pardon the fuzzy pictures but all I have to work with is the cell phone camera, which is like the Mars Rover having to use its backup camera. While waiting to hear about my luggage I've put the bike together using the all purpose tool I had in the seat pack.

There's a really good restaurant around the corner right on the main drag:


It's pretty warm here in Kalispell and windy, but a lot dryer. I see a lot of PAC riders are here but I've been too busy trying to round up my luggage to introduce myself. I compare notes about gas prices with the taxi driver. Oh, gotta go, I think Horizon has found my luggage.

Love that FedEx Tracking System

Just go to Fedex.com, key in the tracking number and boom - you know where it's at:

Tracking number 045737510071536 Ship date Jul 18, 2008 Estimated delivery Jul 24, 2008		Destination KALISPELL, MT Service type Ground-Direct Signature Required-Domestic Weight 53.0 lbs.
	Status In transit

Date/Time

Activity

Location

Details

Jul 24, 2008

1:28 AM

In transit

BUTTE, MT

Jul 23, 2008

9:24 PM

Departed FedEx location

BILLINGS, MT

7:40 PM

Arrived at FedEx location

BILLINGS, MT

Jul 22, 2008

11:40 AM

Departed FedEx location

CHICAGO, IL

Jul 21, 2008

8:39 PM

Arrived at FedEx location

CHICAGO, IL

Jul 19, 2008

10:17 AM

Departed FedEx location

NASHVILLE, TN

2:08 AM

Arrived at FedEx location

NASHVILLE, TN

Jul 18, 2008

6:56 PM

Left FedEx origin facility

MADISON, AL

6:37 PM

Arrived at FedEx location

MADISON, AL

Jul 17, 2008

5:10 PM

In FedEx possession

MADISON, AL

Tendered at FedEx location

5:10 PM

Package data transmitted to FedEx

Training:
Rode about 55 miles yesterday, average about 19 on the Merckx, out on the windy plains of Mooresville. Might do a few hill repeats in the neighborhood today. Starting to have some hip issues so won't push it too much.

Shipping the Bike

Thursday, July 17, 2008
Prepared the Look 555 for ground shipping to Kalispell. I found it easier to remove cranks than the Look Keo pedals so opted for that. Taking chain off is easy when you have "quick links" instead of pins. Marked the seat post height and removed it along with handle bar. Pretty easy to get in hard case except for arranging the handle bar so box would close with cables attached . Made room for water bottles, extra pair of cycling shoes, helmet, spare spokes, spare deraileur hangar, tubes, CO2 cartridges, 2 spare tires and spare seat pack. I found FedEx to be cheaper than UPS plus I think they have a superior tracking system. 53 lbs total, $64.38 from Madison, AL to Kalispell arriving in four days. Hope nothing is broken when I get there!