Greetings from Missoula, Montana

Hi, All,

This is day 9 of the 2011 Big Ride Across America, and we're enjoying a day off in Missoula, Montana, having ridden nearly 600 miles thus far. We've only ridden for three days since our first day off in Spokane, WA, but the last two were long ones, and the day off is beneficial; a lot of us are suffering from various maladies due to overuse and long hours in the saddle. Gabe's hamstrings are tight - he needs to hydrate better before, during and after riding and to play less basketball when he should be resting in camp - and I've developed tendinitis in my left ankle that by last night had me hobbling back from dinner. I was still limping this morning, but rest and ibuprofen are working wonders.


From Spokane we had a relatively easy day, riding northeast with a tailwind to Sandpoint, Idaho. Weather conditions have continued to be excellent, with morning temperatures in the low-50s rising into the mid-70s. The scenery steadily improved throughout the day, as we rode into timber land - evergreen forests - and many signs along U.S. 2 promoting the logging industry.

After 45 miles, we reached Newport, WA, on the Idaho border, where during our lunch break we watched a local parade celebrating the yearly rodeo in town. It was kitschy to say the least, and a very mixed bag of participants, from local residents on horseback (including a decidedly overweight rodeo queen) to others in an array of old cars, a fire engine, a logging truck hauling a full load of what were 100-year-old trees, floats promoting local businesses, and another with a giant beaver as a mascot (a cute, child-friendly fellow tree-feller). A scary-looking Ronald McDonald was also on hand to promote fat-laden Happy Meals.


Spectators gathering on Main Street before the parade began ...


The Rodeo Queen


Local dignitaries ...


... wowing the crowd

Ronald with bagpipes


The oldest participants ...


Why the hula skirt?

Entering Idaho, we crossed over the Pend Orielle River and then along the west shore of Lake Pend Orielle to reach Sandpoint, where we camped outside the Sandpoint West Athletic Club. Then the next two days featured some of the beautiful scenery of the trip. From Sandpoint we cut southeast on Route 200, around the north end of Lake Pend Orielle (with a surface area of 148 square miles and the fifth deepest in the United States) with a view of the snow-capped Selkirk Mountains in the background, and then along the Clark Fork River, crossing from Idaho into Montana and riding 87 total miles to the town of Thompson Falls.


Osprey


Wetlands near Lake Pend Oreille


Approaching the Montana border


Freight line in the Clark Fork River valley


Mule deer

Then yesterday we rode our first "century" (100+ mile) ride of the trip, 104 miles to reach Missoula, amid contrary winds that slowed our pace considerably. The route began by continuing along the Clark Fork, then followed the Flathead River to the town of Ravalli. (All of the rivers, by the way, have been exceptionally high, and there's more snow on the peaks than I've seen in past summers.) We then cut north on U.S. 93 through the Flathead Indian Reservation, climbing past the Mission Range for four and a half miles in a headwind before the fast descent outside of Missoula. Traffic was fast and heavy on U.S. 93, but at least the road had been widened since '06; there was a shoulder which made the stretch if not pleasant, at least safer.


Clark Fork River (south of Thompson Falls)


Flathead River


Mission Mountains

Overall, then, the ride continues to go well. Great weather, great scenery, and good group camaraderie. This well-timed day off is allowing us all to recharge before the next leg - a four-day ride over the Continental Divide to reach Billings, MT, where the days will grow hotter.

-Charlie