Jon & Carla's Great Divide Mountain Bike Adventure
2006
(or, Two Tails on the Trail)
 In
1998, we rode across the United States from Oregon to Virgina with our
children, Jodie, age 15 and Todd, age 12. Read about our trip
using the links below. Now the kids have grown up and left
home, so we we are taking the dogs. This time it's a mountain
bike trip through the Rocky Mountains, roughly following the
continental divide, called the Great Divide route, mapped by Adventure Cycling.
We are driving from our home in Gaylord, MI on July 29th for our
starting point in Rooseville, MT, on the Canadian border. From
there we will travel roughly 2470 miles to our destination of
Antelope Wells, NM, on the Mexican border. The route will be
about 85% dirt and gravel roads, 10% pavement and 5% singletrack
trails. We will carry all of our gear for camping in two "BOB"
trailers, plus panniers. We hope to average about 40 miles a day
and have three months to complete the trip. Lander and Afton,
our English
Cockers will run about 20 miles per day and ride in the trailers the
rest of the time. We will experience wilderness, scenery and
wildlife. There will be many hard times, but many exhilerating
m  oments as well. Why do we do this? Because God has given
us a wonderful country and this is the best way to be thankful for
it. We will be posting blogs as often as we can
get on the internet at a library. Check in frequently to see how
we are doing. Feel free to post a comment as well. We'd
love to share our trip with you. Jon and Carla Elenz, Lander
and Afton (aka, Two Tails)
PHOTOS
We will be posting photos periodically from the road. Check back
often. Be sure to scroll to the bottom for the latest ones.FAQ Everything you've always wanted
to know about bike touring. |
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ARTICLES ABOUT US
Summit Daily News article |
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We've added a few new photos. Check them out.
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| Posted by Carla Elenz at | | | |
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| Adding this blog as a guest register. Carla and I have met so many people out here that we know are following our endeavors and challenges. If you would like, please sign our guest register by adding a comment with your info and where you saw us. Home town friends and family can also sign in. Thanks, Jon
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| Posted by Carla Elenz at | | | |
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| This is a blog/question for the ranchers(Ross, Cody, and Gail) who helped us out at the Priest Pass fire. How did you guys make out with the fire. Did you have to move the cattle, or your neighbors? Have thought about the situation many times since leaving you. We did see another fire around Lincoln, and then we were routed around the Purdy Fire east of the Tetons at Union Pass, Wy. If you get a chance, please respond back as a comment or e-mail us at bikefam@freeway.net . Thanks for your help. Jon
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| Posted by Carla Elenz at | | | |
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Hey, this is a time for our readers to update us. Our map shows a side trip to visit the place of a tragedy of "Willie's Handcart" on the Mormon Pioneer Trail. This was an eight mile side trip on a long day in the Great Divide Basin area. Please search the web and respond back to this blog via the comment section. Thanks in advance.
Jon
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| Posted by Carla Elenz at | | | |
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"Never trust a guy in a car who says the road is flat, or it's all downhill, or it's not very far. Remember, he as several hundred horses under him and you have two legs"
Aug 31 14.4 miles to Boulder, WY (priv campground)
Semi rest day, since we had to split the distance for the next two days. Slept in, grocery shopped (had to buy-and carry-groceries for 7 days, as our next opportunity will be Rawlins, past the Great Divide Basin), went out for lunch and easy coast to the next town. Jon worked on the bikes a bit. Camped next to a Llama farm, which fascinated Afton. Saw an Osprey sitting near a nest, which we believe had chicks in it. It seems very late, so I wonder if it's a second brood.
Sep 1 38.1 miles to Little Sandy Creek (dispersed camping site)
Early this morning outside Boulder, we saw small complex of buildings fenced in, maybe 5 buildings on an acre with two cars parked outside, which said "USAF Pinedale Seismic Research Facility Det 489 AFTAC Boulder WY". Someone back in Pinedale had said it was the Air Force listening for underground nuclear weapons. Can anyone of my Air Force connections fill us in? Anyway, it's no where near anything and wouldn't be fun to be stationed there for three years.
Met another CD rider, Spence from Madison, WI. He did the first part to Helena with his girlfriend and is now traveling on his own. Moving at a slightly faster rate than us. He had heard about "the people with the dogs" and was anxious to take our photo and had promised to email it to various people he had met. I guess we're famous. Anyway, we visited awhile and actually met up again the next day and rode together awhile. Since then, we see bike tracks now and then and assume it is him.
We are traveleing along the Lander cut-off of the Oregon Trail, a shortcut developed by a guy named Lander which cut 200 miles off the Oregon Trail. There are markers at every point the Oregon Trail crosses the road. In fact, we camped right next to some old wagon ruts on the edge of the stream, and I can imagine the pioneers over 100 years ago camping there, cooking dinner and washing clothes in the creek, just as we have.
The land is wide open--you can see forever--I feel like I could yell and no one would hear me, just the Pronghorns.
But the big news--we hit 1000 miles today. The entire trail is about 2500. Our mileage will differ, as we go off route to campgrounds and shop, but we are making progress.
Sep 2 33.4 miles to Willow Creek dispersed camping site just past South Pass, WY
We've had really cold weather the last two nights. Some folks said it was supposed to be down to 27. We had heavy frost on our bikes. Hard to crawl out of the tent. But the sun warms things up fast.
More great views and miles and miles of nothing. Crossed the CD three times today (crossings 7, 8, and 9). Actually rode along the top of the divide for 1.5 miles and could look down on either side. The last crossing was the South Pass crossing which was important to the Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, and Pony Express. The town of South Pass, near there, is a restored mining town. Unfortunatly we got there too late to tour it. We'll come back some day. But they were nice enough to let us fill up out water bottles there, and pointed out a nice creek near there that we could camp at.
I was flying down a rather steep hill when I hit some bumps at the bottom, and Afton slid out of the trailer and got her foot stuck in my spokes. She was screaming and I couldn't do anything but hold the bike still until Jon could run back and free her. She took off running, so I guess she's ok.
Sep 3 35.3 miles to somewhere in the middle of the Great Basin
We had camped only a few miles from Atlantic City last night, which had a restaurant, so we decided to go there for breakfast. Unfortunately, they were not open for b-fast, so we had to cook our oatmeal anyway. In fact, Atlantic City looked as old as South Pass, only not restored. The only activity we saw was two old timers sitting in the general store, waiting for the town to die. Not a good way to start a long hard day. By noon, we got to the Sweetwater River "the only reliable water source for 69 miles". Filtered water and filled up all of our bottles and extra bladders. So with the extra weight, we headed into the desert. Not much traffic. Steep up and downs. Dry, quiet, bland. An occasional antelope. Because of the delays, we pushed on with few stops. Minimized our water intake. Same constant scenery, sparse sagebrush and brown grasses. Much washboard road--going up a hill is like riding a boat in the swell--up one side, down the other, up, down, up down. Going down is like riding a bucking bronco-not that I've every ridden one-but we bounce out of the saddle and flop back down, strain to hold onto the handlebars, our cheeks shake and our eyeballs roll and the bike seems to want to go wherever it wants. We let the dogs run loose all day, since we rarely saw a car.
We pulled off into the sage to camp. Just us and the night wind and the wide open skies. I felt kinda like the proverbial cowboy, sleeping next to a campfire, his head on a rock, with his horse and dog next to him. Only we have a tent and a fleece jacket for a pillow, and no campfire. We do have the dogs. And we are alone in the wilderness and no one but God knows where we are.
Sep 4 46.5 miles to dispersed camping site at A&M reservoir.
Today was much like yesterday. No water, dry, all the same. All we could think about was--speed, distance, and keep going. Our water was running low and we didn't know for sure if the A&M reservoir would have water. It was a long, hard day, and I have to admit that a few "words" were spoken. But the reservoir was full when we got there and we were able to drink our fill and recover from two hard days. One more day and we would be out of this long, hard basin.
Sep 5 55.7 miles to Rawlins, WY (motel)
Today was much better, maybe even enjoyable. Our frame of mind was much better, as well. We were in shouting distance of civilization and had long ago decided to get a motel, and later decided we also needed a day off to R&R. The first 14 miles were dirt, but mostly downhill. We stopped at an old log cabin, that looked like it had been lived in by a hermit. It was patched with tin, burlap, whatever he could find. It looks like the cattle had been using it lately.
Both dogs long ago learned to stand in the trailer with their back feet and put their front feet up on our back rack. They look like they are surfing. We don't really like them doing it because they are not as stable. I have a trunk rack on my back rack--it is kinda the size and shape of a loaf of bread. In fact, that is what we keep in it-bread and PB and other stuff for lunch. However today Afton (the little imp) figured out how to crawl completely onto my back rack and curl up on top of the trunk rack. I can't imagine how she can balance on such a little space. I can't look around and see her, but Jon got some good pics before we yelled at her. That is not safe at all, because if I go down, she goes flying. Maybe we should have just got child seats and put them in those! And imagine what happened to the loaf of bread she was sitting on!
The last 42 miles were on pavement, with a few small hills, but some nice flats too. We saw a couple herds of wild horses. The last 15 miles into Rawlins, we joined up with the Trans Am trail again. After going over a CD crossing (#11 elev 7174), we had a 9 mile coast down to the city. What a rush it is to coast along at 14 or so miles per hour, without any effort, just turning the cranks now and then to prevent lactic acid buildup in the legs. That's what biking is all about. Motel, shower and pizza and we felt great.
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| Posted by Carla Elenz at | | | |
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"Life is like riding a bicycle--for every up theres a down and for every down theres an up"--me after about 10 hours in the saddle
Aug 29 27.6 miles to Kozy USFS campground
First thing this morning at t he camp, they fed the ducks and geese right by our sight. Drove Afton crazy. Spent the morning in Jackson. Hit a couple bike stores, had our bikes cleaned good. Blogged at the library and went out to lunch. Left town about 1:00. Climbing out of Jackson hole, following the Hoback River--very pretty, wide and rocky bottom and clear. Saw an eagle crusing up the river, looking for fish for dinner. But the biggest surprise of all--we were riding along and all of a sudden came upon a University of Michigan sign right in front of a big metal moose, for some reason. (for those who don't know, we are both UofM Alumni and so are Jodie and Nik). Umm, I think we took a wrong turn. It was the UM Geological Station, where geology students can come to study--looks like it has a nice classroom building and small cabins for the students. So, Nik, Go Blue, here in Wyoming.
Aug 30 51.4 miles to Pinedale, WYO (private campground)
Pushed for a long day, but it was all paved and only one semi-major climb. Strong cross wind almost blew us off the road at times. Todd should be home from Europe by now. Welcome home! Jodie and Nik are leaving tomorrow for a bike trip down the coast of California-Nik's first. Have fun.
We will probably be out of communication for a good week. We will be entering the Great Divide Basin--an anomoly of the Continental Divide. It is a big roundish hole in the middle of Wyoming where the waters flow neither to the Pacific nor Atlantic Oceans. The only place in the whole US. Instead, they flow inward to the basin. The CD actually splits and goes around either side of it. Look it up on a map. We rode across it 8 years ago. It is dry, barren, with nothing but sagebrush and antelope. We may have to carry water for several days (8 gallons or more). We will try to blog again when we come out at Rawlins.
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| Posted by Carla Elenz at | | | |
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Aug 21 32 miles to dispirsed campsite in a sagebrush field.
Gentle ups and downs on gravel road all day, as we rode around Lima
reservoir. A cattle drive was coming down the road towards
us. We had no place to get off the road, so we squeezed against
the rock wall with our bikes. We know from experience that cows
will stop and stare at us and not pass by. Finally, they pushed
each other past, on the far edge of the road from us. They were
being driven by a young girl, maybe 12, on a horse-very
experienced. We pulled off the side of the road in the middle of
a sagebrush field to camp. No way to hang a bear bag there.
Went to sleep smelling the pungent sagebrush, which smells kinda like
sweetfern in Michigan.
Aug 22 23.9 miles to Upper Red Rock Lake USFS campground.
We are withing the Red Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, created in the
1930s to save the Trumpeter Swan, which at that time number less than
100 in the Continental US. Now it is over 2000. The lake we
are on had hundreds of waterfowl, and Swans, I understand. Did
not see them, but I think we heard them in the morning. Sounded
kinda like three notes on a trumpet. Are seeing Pronghorn
Antelope, but from a far distance, as they are quite leary
creatures. The campground has a nice running spring for water, we
will filled up everything and even took a "shower" in it. Brrr,
but refreshing.
After we went to bed, a big windstorm came up. Thought the tent
was going to fall down, as it was actually flattened against us a few
times. In Michigan, I would have thought a terrible storm was
coming, but no rain and as clear as can be here.
Aug 23 33.7 miles to Big Springs USFS campground.
We had run out of oatmeal for breakfast. Found out I could make decent toast by frying it on my tin plate on top my stove.
Started the day with 2 flats on my bike--along with one late
yesterday--all in the same spot. Jon decided my tire was bad, so
replaced the tire. Fixed the problem, but wasted an hour or
more. Crested Red Rock pass- our 6th continental Divide crossing
and also the border of Montana/Idaho. Stopped at the Hell Roaring
Creek, which is the beginning of the MIssouri RIver. There was a
sign noting that the water from this creek flows all the way to the
Atlantic Ocean. Afton rolled in a fresh file of cow dung.
Needless to say, she got a bath in the Hell Roaring Creek.
Side note: I know there are a number of young people following
our journey. Do you know what the Continental Divide (CD)
is? Is the (imaginary) line through the Rocky Mountains at which
all rivers to the west of it flow into other rivers which flow into
other rivers which eventually flow to the Pacific Ocean. And all
rivers to the east of it flow into other rivers, etc, which eventually
flow to the Atlantic Ocean (even the Gulf of Mexico is connected to the
Atlantic Ocean). So theoretically, if I put a toy boat in the
Hell Roaring Creek, it would eventually come out at the Atlantic
Ocean. Theroetically. So here's a quiz: 1.
Which side of the CD is Michigan on? Where do all the rivers in
MI flow to? 2. If we started on the west side of the CD in
Rooseville, and we've crossed it 6 times, which side are we on now?
Came out of the forest onto a road that was just being constructed and
it was wet and muddy with clay. The dogs and trailers were a mess
and needed another bath.
Aug 24 48 miles to Warm Springs USFS campground
Our longest day yet. Took the alternate route on the map, which
was 17 miles longer, but remember our motto--when they give you an
alternate, there must be a reason. It was 24 miles up a gravel
hill, that got steep at times, but was mostly long. Finally, we
hit the top, and pavement, at 3:30. Luckily it was mostly
downhill, and that's what saved us. We still didn't get to the
campground until 7PM. The whole day was 10 1/2 hours of
being the road. The dogs ran most of the way uphill. They
are tired, but hanging in there.
Aug 25 24 miles to South Boone Creek Dispirsed campsite.
Slept in till 7 and took an easy day due tothe long one
yesterday. Passed a number of farm fields early on-wheat and
potatoes (this is Idaho). Saw the Tetons from the back side off
in the distance. Crossed into Wyoming (we were only in Idaho 2
days). Met a man who was riding the trail on a motorcycle.
Most of the trail can be riden by dirt bike, with a few sections closed
to motor vehicles, that he had to bypass. Made me slightly
jealous because he is making such good time. The dispirsed site
we camped at had no facilities (table, outhouse, etc), but to our
surprise, it had a bearbox. Must have had some bear
problems. We are close to Yellowstone, so back into grizzly
country. There was some older bear scat back in the woods, but we
had to problems that night. WHen we first went in to the
tent, we were journalling and looking at maps, and hear a low
hum. We looked outside and saw nothing. There it is
again. Nothing outside. Finally we realized it was coming
from UNDEr the tent. We had captured a fly underneath. We
quickly found it and squished it. Your imagination can lead to
lots of fears.
Aug 26 39 miles to Colter Bay Village.
First rainy day we had. Storm kicked up about noon. Ducked
into an outhouse at a campground to have lunch under the
overhang. Through the dogs into the outhouse and they promptly
fell asleep. THen we used it to put our warm clothes on.
Road through the Teton National Park with the wind and rain and
motorhomes. We hit pavement, which again coincided with the
TransAm Trail that we did 8 years ago. Decided we needed a
cabin to warm up and dry off. Also had our first shower in 6 days
(yuckk). Went out for a nice dinner to treat ourselves. The
dogs enjoyed being warm and dry.
Aug 27 Day off.
Haven't had a day off yet, so we deserved it. Did laundry,
grocery shopping, visitor center at the Tetons NP. Moved to the
campground at the National Park.
Aug 28 58 miles (less 16 out of the way) to Jackson
As we road out of the Teon NP, people were stopping on the side of the
road to take our picture as we rode by. I started asking them if
I looked like a moose (moose watching is big in the NP) . Stopped
at Moran Junction, which is only a PO, to pick up a care package sent
to us via general delivery (thanks, Kim). More dried food and
warm clothes. Headed east towards Togwotee Pass, a paved CD
crossing that we also did 8 years ago. Stopped a a USFS office at
the base of the hill to ask about camping, etc. They informed us
that the road we were going on after Togwotee was closed due to a big
fire. We had 2 options-backtrack 8 miles to Moran Junction and go
down to Jackson, then east to Pinedale, where we could pick up the
route, or go east to Dubois and Lander, and pick up the trail much
later. We decided to backtrack. So, although it was a very
long day, our longest yet, we actually only advanced 42 miles.
Luckily, it was all paved, and just gentle ups and downs. In
fact, the last 15 miles or so were gently downhill. The ride to
Jackson with quick scenic. We followed the Tetons all the way and
watched them change with each angle. We have never been to
Jackson, and its quite a destination for all kinds of outdoor
adventures, so I don't mind too much, except the 16 miles we wasted.
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| Posted by Carla Elenz at | | | |
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Before I get into the daily blogs, I'd like to add a few general notes.
Dogs are such faithful animals. They go anywhere we go and do
anything we ask them to. At home they have kennels that are their
place to be. Here they have their trailer and the blue tent at
night. We can leave them in their trailer and go into a
restaurant or store for an hour or more and they will be patiently
waiting for us when we come back. At night, they are happy as
soon as the blue tent goes up. Especially Lander goes in it as
soon as it is up and spends the evening there. In fact, if
someone comes near the tent, he guards it. Their whole world now
is the four of us and wherever we are. They get quite upset if
one of us leaves. We were on a road once where it was wide open
with no traffic and we didn't think there were any bears or mountain
lions hiding in the sagebrush, so we let them loose to run. They
stayed right next to the trailer, where they'd been running for 3
weeks, only Afton was able to run up by Jon and Lander. She did
stop every so often to wait for me. A couple days later, we let
them loose again, and they did venture off the road a bit, Lander
running on the grass along side and Afton darting back and forth,
chasing birds and butterflies. Sometimes the dogs remind me of
sled dogs. We harness them up in the morning and I feel like
saying "mush". As soon as we take a break, they curl up into a
little ball for a "power nap". Both of their feet are doing good
now. Lander had some problems the first few weeks, but his pads
seemed to have toughened now. They aren't so stiff or sore in the
morning anymore, so I think they are getting Trail Hardy.
The weather has been about as perfect as it can be. It seems very
warm in the hot sun during the day while climbing up a steep hill,but
it's probably only in the 70s. As soon as the sun goes down at
night, bam, the temp drops and it's time to layer up and go to
bed. I think it's been in the 30s and 40s in the morning.
Brrrr. I have heard, although I'm not sure it's true, that the
Eskimos used to scale the coldness of a night by how many sled dogs
thay had to bring into their Igloo to keep them warm, ie, a one dog
night is not as cold as a two dog night, which is not as cold as a
three dog night, etc (is that where the band got its name?).
Anyway, we've had lots of 2 dog nights, as they love to snuggle in our
sleeping bags with us.
I appreciate all the concern about my wounds. I'm happy to say
the scabs are drying up and falling off. My thumb and forefinger
on my left hand are still a little stiff, but getting better.
Thanks for the kind notes.
We've pondered alot as we ride the reason for this trip. The last
trip in 98 with the kids was to show them the Country and meet its
people. THis is a little different. It is to challenge
ourselves, but from all the comments from people following us, we hope
we can be an inspiration to people of all ages, that something worth
doing takes alot of committment and alot of work, but you have to stick
with it, even when it gets tough.
And this is a atough trip-much more than the last one. We have
more weight, we have dogs to take care of, the roads are definitely
more of a challenge, and we are older. But like I said, you have
to stick with it, even with the going gets tough.
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| Posted by Carla Elenz at | | | |
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we are at the Tetons, but have no time to blog. everything going ok. had first rainy day yesterday.
To Potsey, good luck in your retirement, I appreciate all you taught me. Jon
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| Posted by Carla Elenz at | | | |
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Aug 14: 23.2 miles to Park Lake USFS campground
Got a late start from Helena after grocery shopping, picking up some bike parts and internetting. High in the 90's again. 15 miles of climbing on gravel roads. Pretty mountain lake with nice campground.
Aug 15: 21 miles to Basin (private campground)
Today was not a ride. It was not a walk. It was a push. The trail was a 4WD trail, but I doubt that even a 4 wheeler could easily get through. It was huge boulders up and down steep slopes. For over 5 hours and 7 miles we pushed and pulled our heavy bikes up over and around the things. There were times I couldn't even get my bike to budge and Jon had to help. Sometimes it even took two of us on one bike. The maps occasionally give an alternate route. Yesterday, we could have taken one, but it would have meant 2 days of Interstate/frontage road riding and it was so hot that we thought the off road trails would be shadier. Now we know there is a reason for an alternate route. ALWAYS TAKE THE ALTERNATE ROUTE. That's our new policy. Back on normal roads, we were on a very narrow road with a steep dropoff when we were passed by 8 HUGE road grading trucks. We clung to the shoulder as they passed. One wheel was as large as us and our bikes and our trailers.
That night, we camped at the "Merry Widow Health Mine", which offers trips into a radon mine to cure all kinds of ailments. (maybe it will cure my sore muscles!). We were camped next to a Mennonite family from Missouri. I guess they were more modern Mennonites, as they had a motor home, a car and a cell phone. Although they still had the traditional dress and family values. They have been coming here for 7 years to treat their son who has Muscular Dystrophy and they swear by it. Jon talked to them for quite a while. They promised to check out our website.
Aug 16: 30 miles to Butte (Motel)
Was a much better day than yesterday. Started out on a "non-motorized cattle access trail" and then only an old railroad grade thah rose high above the interstate and paralleled it for about 10 miles. At one narrow part, we were met by 4 cows that didn't want to let us pass. We kept riding and "chased" them about 1/2 mile until they had the brains to get off the road. We went through and old RR tunnel built in 1909. The last few miles into Butte were on the Interstate. Don't think that's a problem-we've ridden interstates before and they're really not too bad. Wide shoulders and everyone going the same direction and shouldn't be passing in your lane. We had another CD crossing on the interstate and even stopped to take a picture.
Went to a bike store hoping to get a 20 tooth chain ring for Jon. That's what I have and I can gear down much lower for the hills than he can. Sometimes he has to walk while I'm still riding. Of course, he walks faster than I can ride! Unfortunately they didn't have one that would fit his bike. A storm was brewing so we got a motel.
Aug 17: 39.24 miles to Wise River
Boy, are we getting soft!. Just because it took us 3 hours to ride 12 miles into a cold headwind, we got a cabin and went out to dinner. But a cheap little cabin in the mountains and a big greasy hamburger are really living. Wise River seems to have 2 businesses-a mercantile and a bar/motel/restaurant/cabin/campground, all run by Chester, who is also the cook.
The day wasn't too bad until the last 12 miles into the wind. We took a paved alternative (our rule!), which was gentle up and down. Had another CD crossing (our 5th). Stopped at a Post Office and mailed some stuff home that we decided we don't need. Had our first flat-Jon's rear tire from a tiny piece of metal he picked up somewhere.
Aug 18: 32.56 miles to Grasshopper Valley (Private Campground).
Long gradual climb up paved Pioneer Mountains National Scenic Byway. About 8000 ft elevation at the top, our highest yet. Unfortunately, there was construction on the down side. Out here, they have pilot cars that guide a whole sting of traffic through the construction zone. I've never seen them in MI, but we've dealt with them on out other bike trip. This on insisted on carrying our bikes through the area in his little pickup that already had stuff in the bed. There was no way that 2 loaded bikes, trailers, dogs and people were going to fit. By chance, 2 day riders came along at the same time as well. There was another pickup waiting to go down who took them. We really just wanted to ride down. After much constirnation, some not so pleasant comments, and much effort, we got all the stuff in the pickup. But our bikes were sitting on top of the trailers and the dogs were in the trailers and we were kinda balanced on top holding everything in. It was a 4 mile, bumpy ride down. If we'd have hit much of a bump, Jon would have gone out on his head. It was not safe, and furthermore, it was illegal to ride in the back of a pickup. It would have been much safer for us to just ride down. But that's company policy for you.
Aug 19: 45.5 miles to Clark Canyon Reservoir
New record in distance. The day started out easy-mostly downhill on the rest of the National Scenic Byway. Joined with the TransAm Trail, the one we did in 1998 for about 9 miles (Jodie and Todd, that would have been between Wisdom and Dillon). Met 3 gentlemen (and there was another in a van) who were riding the Lewis and Clark trail-3 weeks a year. Each takes a turn driving the support van. Stopped in Grant at a very cool restaurant called the Canvas Cafe. It's actually a canvas hunting tent, with cute tables and decorations. The propriator was great-bringing ice water for us and our dogs. Had wonderful apple pie ala mode and lemonade. When we got back to the dogs, there was a cat sitting just halfway between them, just out of reach-tormenting them.
Aug 12: 26 miles to Lima (motel).
Went off route again to avoid a nasty hill. Road a very pleasant frontage road all day. Saw a fox and what I think are sandhill cranes. Another note: the vegetation has changed dramatically in the 3 weeks we've been riding. Northern MT was wooded with tall, narrow pine and spruce, with abundant water coming out the the rocks in streams and springs. The feel was not unlike Michigan, except for the hills, of course. Now we are into drier southern MT. Sagebrush and dry grass are the norm. The roadsides are lined with foxtail weeks and spurge type plants with small burrs that get into the dogs fur.
A thought: Last week, I think it was Sunday, I was standing in a cow paddie field and looked up to the adjoining mountain, which was gold with dry grass at the top, and ringed with green conifers lower down. The Sun was just coming over the top for the morning. Cows were grazing on the golden grass and occasionally let out a low moo. Suddenly, the following verse popped into my head "I lift mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help" . Heaven knows I have plenty of hills and need plenty of help.
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| Posted by Carla Elenz at | | | |
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