Hamilton, Montana to Missoula, Montana

Brian’s Ride Miles Biked: 62.2 Average Speed: 14.1 mph Max Speed: 30.5 mph Time Pedaling: 4 hours 25 minutes Total Feet Climbed: 2220 Start/Stop Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Wind: Light head winds. Weather: Clear to partly cloudy skies, lower 50’s to upper 90soF Comments. The ride today promised to be gently downhill towards Missoula but I was unsure about the traffic as US 93 is the only way into Missoula from the south. The Adventure Cycling maps I’m using tried to keep me off US 93 as long as possible by taking the Eastside Highway as a bypass. This highway, or more appropriately, 2 lane country road, went through gorgeous farmland along the Bitterroot River valley. Although we are in a dry area, irrigation is big here via surface water taken from the Bitteroot River or groundwater. Lining the valley on both sides are mountains. The Sapphire Mountains to the east and the Bitteroot Mountain Range to the west. The tallest peak in the Bitteroots is Trapper Peak at 10,200 feet. This peak and others in the range contain spots of snow. The Eastside Highway eventually dumped me onto US 93 near Florence, Montana which took me into Missoula. US 93 is a very busy road but had a paved wide shoulder. Regardless, the noise, smell, and heat from the traffic was unpleasant. When this road entered Missoula, it turned into a 6 lane road with 2 of the lanes for bicycles. Missoula has a big bicycle road network but it is mostly on treeless roads. I eventually found side streets that carried me to the campsite but not before another flat tire. All in all, I was happy to find the shaded campsite with Joan waiting.

Joan’s Version

Whether it was the Bitterroot Mountain Air or locally brewed beer that allowed me a gentle slumber I will never know. I awoke refreshed and appreciative of the beauty surrounding me. Shelley and Brian independently rode away, leaving me to alone to savor the view, which I fully enjoyed.  Solitude, a serendipitous benefit of this journey, is a new and welcome guest in my world. The serenity and tranquil scenery sooth me, making me less needy of connecting with people.

Before I know it, 3 hours have passed and I must check on the progress of Shelley. Because I am 45 minutes later than promised and am confused about which route she took, I end up driving the fast route and back track looking for her. I meet up with Brian and we, with intermittent cellular connections, rely on the CB, broadcasting a request of the whereabouts of a 44 year-old petite blond on a bicycle. No response. I decide to drive back on the originally designated route when Brian’s cellular phone rings…she is fine and ready for a pick up about 8 miles back.

Within a few minutes, Shelley and I are off to Missoula to pick up a rental car and to drop her bicycle at the bike shop for shipment back to Atlanta.   After spending two weeks with us, Shelley is headed on her own to explore Glacier National Park.

Brian and I arrive at the KOA Kampsite, notorious for their parking lot setting, but with Brian’s efforts, he hunts down a scenic site with a beautiful view of the mountain. We soon see some familiar faces from the previous night in Hamilton. Ed and Elizabeth from Delaware, interested in our journey, spend several minutes hearing about our mission. After making a nice donation and wishing us well, they are on their way.

As we get settled in our site, we meet our neighbors, Bill and XXXX from Boise, who are stranded at the KOA site with a truck mechanical problem, instead of in the river fly-fishing. Bill, playing CEO of Boise’s Visitors Bureau, provides intricate details of the extraordinary living conditions in his Idaho. Brian and I considerate it worthy of a trip, as he describes a family-friendly city, with little crime, no pollution, and affordable lakeside or riverside living.

We consume leftovers for dinner and I hop on my bicycle to refill the pantry. On my way to the grocery, I stop for way too long at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore. Knowing we’re headed for some really rural areas, I buy some reading material, including a new book, "The Hungry Ocean", the tales of a female captain of a fishing boat. I think "The Hungry Bicyclist" is an appropriate title for our book and I head on, in search of calories.

Top on my list is a 1,200-calorie chicken-pot-pie as it’s easy to prepare and more importantly, favored by the pampered athlete who has become exceedingly finicky. As I scan through the flavors of Ben & Jerry’s, I see "Chubby Hubby" and after reading the delicious ingredients (chocolate covered pretzels, peanut butter, vanilla ice cream) I realize this is a flavor more to my liking. I opt not to select this flavor, ‘cause I know "Fat Wife" has neither a good ring to it or a good look!

I ride back to the site, where Brian is still slunked in his favorite throne, the lounge chair. Soon he is engaged in conversation with yet another RV neighbor a 70-something gentleman from Bloomington, Indiana who, along with his wife, rides bicycles through Europe with the Elder Hostel program. His wife later passes through our camp and offers her well wishes, too. We are inspired by their stamina as they are well into their seventies.