Day10

(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.

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.

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....."

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!!

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!
Hey, really that prairie dog was a monster. I almost hit it!!	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.	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!!

Day 10 (Tue 7/7/09)

The long day of riding!!

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