High Plains Drifter

On Friday June 28 we rode 99.4 miles from Townsend to Harlowton Montana.  The weather was cool when we started at 0700 with a 1800 foot climb onto the high plains of Montana.  By lunch the temperature climbed to 85 as we arrived in White Sulpher Springs.  By the time we reached Harlowton it was over 90.  I went through 6 water bottles, slugging down water every mile.  Thanks to favorable tail winds, I completed the ride in 7 hours.  We are spending the night in the Assembly of God Church and very grateful to escape the heat.  Dinner was provided by Liberty and Todd King at their home.  This is the third year they have provided dinner for the ALA riders.  Awesome people!!  Tomorrow we ride 91.2 miles into Billings followed by a well deserved rest day!!!

The picture is of a Canola field in eastern Montana.

Another Day In Montana

On Saturday June 29 we rode 91.2 miles from Harlowton to Billings Montana.  It was another beautiful ride through the high plains of eastern Montana.  Once again the winds were favorable (10 mph tail wind) and the temp typical for this time of year ( upper 80's).  I completed the ride in under 6 hours.  We arrived in Billings just after noon.  The picture is a shot of Billings as viewed from the scenic lookout before the steep drop on Rimrock Drive.

Sunday June 30 was a rest day for us.  We we fortunate enough to spend the day in a dorm at Montana State University and wasted no time finding the local brewery for a few ice cold beers!!  Tomorrow we are off again riding past the battlefield of Custer's last stand!   

More Montana

On Friday June 28 we rode 99.4 miles from Townsend to Harlowton Montana.  The weather was cool when we started at 0700 with a 1800 foot climb onto the high plains of Montana.  By lunch the temperature climbed to 85 as we arrived in White Sulpher Springs.  By the time we reached Harlowton it was over 90.  I went through 6 water bottles, slugging down water every mile.  Thanks to favorable tail winds, I completed the ride in 7 hours.  We are spending the night in the Assembly of God Church and very grateful to escape the heat.  Dinner was provided by Liberty and Todd King at their home.  This is the third year they have provided dinner for the ALA riders.  Awesome people!!  Tomorrow we ride 91.2 miles into Billings followed by a well deserved rest day!!!

The picture is of a canola field. Canola is not Paleo, so please don't try this at home.

Crossing the Continental Divide

On Thursday June 27, the 11th day of the Big Ride Across America, we crossed the Continental Divide at MacDonald Pass in Montana.  We had a relatively short ride of 60.8 miles from Avon to Townsend.  The weather was picture perfect and the winds were favorable once again.  We will be spending the night camping on the football field at Townsend High School and hopefully getting a good night's rest before we take one another century ride tomorrow.  Amazingly I felt really strong today after a so-so day yesterday.  I hope it persists for the day tomorrow.

Avon Calling!

 

Today was another awesome day of riding through Montana.  We rode from Missoula to Avon through the high plains gaining over 4 thousand feet of elevation.  The weather was cool and dry...very fortunate as the weather can be very hot and severe this time of year.  We (Jeff S, Kendal, Laura) covered the 98.6 miles in just under 6 hours thanks to favorable tail winds.  Tomorrow will be short (67 miles) but includes a climb over MacDonald pass across the continental divide!!  We are fortunate enough to be staying at the Echo Valley Campground in bunk houses for the night as the rain has started to fall...

Century ride in Montana

Our first century ride was completed on Monday June 24 from Thompson Falls to Missoula Montana.  It was a beautiful ride along the Clark Fork River with mostly flat or rolling hills.  The weather started off as rain but became sunny as we got close to Missoula.  I rode today with  Tim, Jeff S, Kendal, and Tom and we covered the 102.1 miles in 6 hours.  All of us are getting stronger by the day so we should be well prepared for the mountain passes (continental divide in a few days) and the steep hills in the east. 

First day of second week

Today, Sunday June 23 we rode from Sandpoint Idaho to Thomson Falls Montana, a distance of 88 miles.  It was by far the best weather we have had so far.  Everyone took their time to take in the beautiful scenery along the Clarkfork river on highway 200.  Tomorrow will be our first century ride, 102. 1 miles to Missoula.  Hoping for a good sleep tonight.

Welcome to IDAHO

On Saturday June 22 on the Big Ride Across America we rode from Spokane Wa to Sandpoint Idaho.  It was a beautiful ride through the towns of Newport Wa and Priest River Id on highway 2.  We followed the scenic Pend Orielle river into Sandpoint.  I rode with Jeff S and Tim L and we pace lined nearly the entire 77 miles.  Tim did all of the work pulling Jeff and I along at nearly 20 mph.  Tomorrow on June 23 we will ride 88 miles into Thompson Falls Montana. 

Day Four

The locals say it rains only 7 inches annually in eastern Washington.  And the temps this time of year are normally about 90 degrees.  On our 77 mile ride from Odessa to Spokane Wa it rained sideways and got as cold as 39 degrees.  To keep from being hypothermic I had to keep the engine  cranked up, bypass rest and lunch stops, and keep telling myself I was having fun.  Definitely my fastest day yet averaging close to 18 mph.  A few of us arrived in Spokane well ahead of our gear which included clean dry clothes. We were able to check into the dorm at Gonzaga University and take a hot shower and then slip into our cold wet cycling clothes.  I chowed down a double cheese burger, onion rings and a chocolate shake at Wolffeys and still had room for more!  June 21 is a welcome rest day in Spokane.  Bike cleaning, laundry, a trip to the local bike shop, and eating lots of food (and maybe a few beers) is the only thing on the agenda.

Odessa!!!

Today we rode from Vantage to Odessa Wa a distance of 83 miles.  We crossed the Columbia River via I90 (that was tricky) and climbed up the gorge.  We went through the towns of George and Euphrata and the wide open country of eastern Washington.  It rained on us for about half the trip. As long as we kept moving I could stay worm.  It was a fast ride taking us about 5 hours to complete the trip.  My legs are definitely sore after 3 days of riding.  We have only 1 more day of riding (to Spokane) before our first rest day.  That will be a welcome respite.

Into Eastern Washington

Today we covered the 72.3 miles from Easton to Vantage Wa in just under 6 hours.  This picture was taken just outside of Cle Elum looking back at the North Cascades and Mt Stuart.  The great weather and tail winds made it a relatively easy day.  I hope everyday is like today.  Yea right! 

Day 1 of the BIG RIDE ACROSS AMERICA

Day 1 of the Big Ride is in the books.  94.6 miles over Snoqualmie Pass and no major issues.  We are headed to Vantage tomorrow. An easy day with only 75 miles to ride...  This picture is of Snoqualmie Falls.

Welcome to my Blog

Welcome to Jeff's Big Ride Blog!!  I will be using this blog to document my bicycle journey across America!!  Thanks to everybody who contributed to the American Lung Association and supported my goal to ride across country.  And thank you to all of you who were there at the Slippery Pig on Sunday to wish me well.  You guys are awesone!!