ROUTE:
Wisdom to Nevada City, MT |
DISTANCE:
122 miles |
TOTAL CLIMBING:
4,581 feet |
Click here for
Garmin
ride data - Fixed!!
(This is cool
if you like lots of data! It may take a few seconds to load but you can hit play
and time compress our ride)
DAILY REPORT: David,
John, James and Skip. This morning when we got up to clear skies. The sun was
just peeking over the mountains. The temp was a chilly 42 deg and it was
predicted to be 74 deg mid afternoon. Thundershowers were forecasted at Nevada
City at 8 pm.
So
we departed this morning under clear sunny skies. The boys didn't fully
appreciate how cold it was going to be starting out at 6000 ft. (ie they didn't
wear gloves, skull hat, toe warmers....) After 45 minutes they had warmed up and
will be much better prepared for our next high elevation departure (I am sure!)
As we were riding we overtook a
pair of self contained bikers who were riding from Portland to Chicago. We had
seen them yesterday at the rest station at the top of Gibbons pass but didn't
get a chance to really talk. We chatted for a while discussing each of trips and
parted ways. They hope to be at Chicago by mid August. They were amazed at how
far we had come in only 9 days. Safe biking! Shortly there after we stopped in
the town of Jackson for water/bathroom break and hot coco. At the general store
I met the owner who was originally from Puyallup WA. It truly is a small
world. ![](images/d10_hill.JPG)
Our first major climb was Big Hole
Pass (7,360 ft). The overall route wasn't too bad; just long. Skip was at the
top handing out water when we arrived. The same was true for Badger Pas (6,760
ft). This was a much steeper climb but shorter. On both occasions John was the
first to the top. He is very strong on the hills!!
We ate lunch in Dillon MT. We
actually ate on the Western University of Montana campus. Nice shady trees and
picnic tables. We were just past the half way point and were keeping our overall
ave speed above 15 mph. The key to Dillon was that there was cell phone
coverage. The twins were going into withdrawals since they hadn't been able to
text anyone for nearly two days due to lack of cell coverage. They were barely
able to eat lunch since they were going crazy on their phones.
Then
it was on to Twin Bridges nearly 30 miles away. When we got into town we found
Skip at the library. Turns out he had spoken w/ the Jackson Hole Chamber of
commerce and they wanted some information on our ride. Since we weren't sure
about having internet service at the hotel (and we didn't); he thought we should
an email there in the library. I'm glad we did because I had the rare
opportunity to meet a fellow WWII submariner - Bill Nicholson. He shared a few
"sea stories" with us and we thanked him for his service. He was very
personable and the town war hero!! I would have liked to stay and chat longer
but rain was forecasted and we still had 25 miles to go. Fair winds and
following seas my friend.
The boys were less than excited
with the remaining ride to Nevada City. We got a few
sprinkles and in the beginning there was a head wind. Outside of the small town
of Sheridan we had a close call w/ truck towing a large trailer. He missed us by
just inches as he barreled by us. I was really pissed and good thing I ten more
miles to bike to work off my anger. In general I had been very impressed how
drivers here in Montana will give bikers as much room as possible when passing.
It is very much appreciated by all bikers. Drivers passing too close run the
risk of hitting cyclists w/ a mirror, fender, etc and then it's all over. This
is by far my biggest safety concern - other drivers on the road. But I
digress...
The boys rode into Nevada City w/
their odometers at 122 miles. This is the farthest that either one of them have
ridden in their entire life. I was very proud of their accomplishments!! That
was over 8hrs sitting on a saddle. Wow!!
We
are staying at the Nevada City Hotel. What a really cool place. It is like you
stepped back to the 1800's. The owners were nice enough to provide two rooms for
the Riding4Hope Team. Thank you!!
We had dinner next door at the
Start Bakery. The food there was great and so was our waitress Anna. The boys
ordered the John XXXX which was a HUGE hamburger made w/ a pound of hamburger.
Surprisingly they both finished it and still had room for desert. Must have had
something to due with the number of miles pedaled today.
After diner we went up to Virginia
City a mile up the road. Another town from the 1800's. Also very cool.
Unfortunately for us most of the business had already closed for the evening. So
Skip will stop by there tomorrow on the way out of town.
Turns out there is no internet
service here in the hotel, so if all goes well I will up load this journal early
tomorrow morning at a WIFI hotspot in Virginia City. Otherwise you will have to
wait until we get to West Yellowstone tomorrow evening.
Thanks for joining
us.....ride
safely!!
The Riding4Hope Team
(David, John, James & Skip)
YOU DON'T SAY:
Dad - "John when you are the head of
the pace line you are supposed to avoid things on the road. How about
avoiding the cow manure since I just got sprayed with that stuff!!"
Skip - "There were so
many prairie dogs all over the road it seemed like I was playing a video
game trying to keep from hitting one."
John - This morning I woke
the boys up at 0515 for a departure at 0600. I walk over to their room
at 0600 and John was standing there amidst a pile of clothes, wearing
his swim trunks and watching TV -- "What? I am ready to go."
Sure you are.
James - When James got to the top of the
last pass "My man boobs hurt!!"
Dad - As we passed 112 miles late this
afternoon, "This is distance you would have to ride for a full
Ironman. This is why I have no desire to do a full Ironman....."
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DID I REALLY DO THAT?:
On quite a few occasions
while talking safety; I have cautioned the boys about "overlapping
tires" when in a pace line (ie the rear biker allows his front tire
pass the rear tire of the person in front of you) If the wheels touch
each other, there is a good chance a biker will go down. During the last
20 miles there was a strong head wind and everyone was riding close
together. John was riding behind James and overlapped his wheel. James
moved over hitting John's front wheel and John crashed. Luckily we
weren't move too fast and John was alright. Lessoned learned for all
parties!!
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PHOTOS OF THE DAY |
Big Hole Valley land of 10,000 haystacks! Those are the Bitterroot
mountains and the continental divide. That is were we were yesterday. |
A little celebration at the top of Big Hole Pass; 7360ft. the highest
point we have been on this trip so far!
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Hey, really that prairie dog was a monster. I almost hit it!!
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Yep, that's cow poo on my chin thanks to John riding through a pile on
the road and having it spray everywhere. The hazards of bike riding I
suppose! |
Skip's new car.
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Now this is what I call a hamburger!! And yes I ate the WHOLE thing; 1
lb of hamburger. Compliments to the chefs at Start Bakery!! |
More
photos on Facebook Album
Yesterday
Tomorrow
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