Montana is spectacular

      I settled into Sula last night after a 40 mile ride from Hamilton.  Tried my new tent, it was like being at the Waldorf Astoria compared to the bivy sak.  It rained but I sawed logs all night. My tent was twenty feet from a fast running stream loaded with trout.  Drat, I didn't bring my rod! Tried it once before but it didn't take.  Standing in a stream constantly casting trying to hook the elusive trout is my idea of watching astro turf grow. anyways that is what I need is a few more pounds of useless weight on the drag strip.  It is amazing what I am parting with to lighten the load.  Socks, underwear, pit stick, it is a never ending quest to do with less.

    Ok, now for climb over Chief Joseph, 7240 ft.  I charged out of Sula and hit the climb fives miles later.  Eight miles up at a six degree incline and the new chain ring gear did the job.  I climbed it in two hours and still logged on another forty-nine miles.  Flying down the back side, I descended into the most beautiful setting of surrounding snow covered mountains and as far as the eye could see,  lush grazing farmland.  I felt so insignificant riding down the road with no cars around, just me.  You would have to be here to grasp how awesome it is out here.  Mile after mile of straight road in the middle of nowhere.  A Lamborgini would have a good time out here.  As I have always been told, if you have a hot car, bring it to Montana.  Should I give my Four Ranger a shot at it.

        I arrived at Wisdom after visiting The Big Hole national site of the 1877 battle between the Nez Pierce and US soldiers. I stopped in Wisdom to get a butt break and was immediately swarmed by Mosquitos. For the next eighteen miles, I was peppered with them and had to maintain ten mph to keep them off me.  A stop for even fifteen seconds was near lethal.  As I learned later, the farmers use open ditch irrigation which is a breeding ground for Mosquitos.  The scenery was the best but I couldn't let up for eighteen miles, including on the hills. My eyes and hands were constantly searching out the blood suckers.  It was wash"t fun.  Jackson, a three blink town, was a welcome site for my spent mosquito bitten body.   The owner of the Hot Springs Lodge picked up some bug spray which saved me that night. The can weights a bit, like I should complain.  

     Checked out the Transamerican bicycle race, it started five days ago. I have spoken with three racers so far, one English, one Dutch and one Irish.  They are riding up to 270 miles a day!!!  No back up, everyone is on there own.  I thought I was crazy.  The Irish biker did the Race Across America in eleven days!!!  So much for my pleasure cruise.  I could"t imagine subjecting myself to such a grueling race.  Everyone has their reason, sane or not sane.

       Tomorrow it is on to Dillon.  Yellowstone is in my crosshairs. Richie, bring home some firsts!