Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire On the road again.

Day Three (today)

Almost rode right by the booming megalopolis of Clancy but this sign made me stop in, Black Rifle Coffee, ain't that the official coffee of the 'Fire? Sign was so small tho I dunno how many regular motorists would notice....



Two miles above Clancy, maybe the coolest rest area in the world, with a sign celebrating the bad language used by teamsters back in the muleskinner days Sadly a sign at the previous rest area at the end of Day One said this rest area was gonna be torn down and made just a picnic area, hopefully the sign can stay...



OK, I was beat from yesterday so I didn't roll out of Helena until 1pm, it was hot, and tho I rolled out of Helena without it, I stopped first chance I got to fill the 3L CamelBack bladder to carry in addition to the six 24oz water bottles I was carrying. I recalled running out the day before and how worrying that was, in addition to being a PITA. That bladder has to sit high in the bag to avoid getting crushed, and it always feels like about the last straw. With all that water my loaded bike has gotta weigh on the far side of 90lbs.

Here's how I spent my afternoon, pedalling up from that far low background down around Helena, to the top of the pass, never woulda thought it possible.



Rolling down the far side towards Boulder MT...



Just about a 30 mile day, maybe. I am learning that in the mountains 30 or 40 miles a day is what I'm likely to get, on the flats I'd expect 60 or 70.

I continue to be enormously impressed by the locals here in Montana

Tks, the Upper Missouri is just beautiful.

...and on the way back, John Coulter asks to be cut loose, turns around, goes back UP the Missouri and discovers Coulter's Hell, AKA the Yellowstone Caldera. One tough futhermucker for sure.

I just want to get to Old Faithful, take a photo, and be on my way. That's 178 miles from here, most of it uphill, with at least two climbs on a par with today.

Six days if I'm lucky, more likely seven, possibly eight or more.

From there 112 miles to Cody, including a hard 30 mile climb up that famous valley with all the buffalo, moose and wolves and grizzlies.

On the positive side, ever'body knows its mountain lions that take out weary cyclists and not buffalo, moose, wolves or grizzlies

Don't think I'm gonna make it to Cody in time to jet down the plains back to San Antonio, Lubbock remains a possibility, and I could fly back from there.

Are you taking 69 down toward Yellowstone?

There's a ghost town in Comet if you're not dead by then.

You'll love Basin. Don't mention Trump.

Ya, Google says its all downhill to L&C Caverns SP. I hope so.

Stopped at Boulder maybe 7:00pm, checked into the motel about 7:30 started to work on photos. Drank a Pepsi to stay awake, dunno what happened but it kept me awake until like 3am. Somewhat sleep-deprived today.

Anyways, the OZ Motel here in downtown Boulder, I give it two thumbs up.

If you can find you one, Osprey bladders are way better than CB. They have a plastic back on them and don't slump or bind. I do prefer the CB bite-valve however.

It looks like a rather fun trip, all-in-all.

The museums in Cody are awesome!!!

I coulda taken 287 from Helena to Three Forks along the Missouri and avoided that climb but the uber bike nerd website says places along that road suck for bicycles, heavy traffic no shoulder. Gonna be another late start 'cause I'm tired but 40 miles to Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park oughtta be doable. After that you rejoin 287 for a steep climb to Norris.

Birdie, a song for you. Put the Jimmie Rogers CD in this morning, this was first on the disc. Thought about you "Away out on the Mountain":



Wish I was traveling along.....................................in the support vehicle...........................but not for the rapid decelerations!


Clark, or whichever one you are today.........................do you like boats? Wake/Funeral/Memorial Svc will be out in the Pacific if I can arrange for burial at sea. Bring your own booze.

Geno

Awesome pics!

Great pictures and a hell of a trip.

I’ll repeat what I said early on in this thread.

My God we live in a beautiful country.

Specific to Montana, I’m just glad to be here during their annual three weeks of summer

Thanks for sharing your photos and account of your adventures!

When I take time to check the Fire, I'm finding your thread to read first!

+1


Hey Birdie, this ^^^^^ seems like quite the compliment!

Geno

5:30pm Cardwell MT at the gas station on the Interstate, I’m just crossing it this time not following. 5 1/2 hours for 33 miles, mostly downhill, but was bucking a strong headwind all the way. Plus I stopped and slept for an hour in the grass by the roadside.

The road followed the Boulder River Valley, interesting ride, and I swear in Montana ya want to stop and take a photo every 100 yards.

7 miles (1 hour) to Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, 128 miles to Yellowstone, there’s a storm where I wanna go right now, gonna have to sit here and wait it out, four hours of daylight remaining.

what's the issue with riding in the rain? getting wet? cars can't see you? don't have rain gear? all of the above? do you have a plan for an all day storm, or is that not an issue?

First thing I would do is take a bath more than once a month. There isn't anything like that north of the southern border of Wyoming. If that was in your bed, it fell off of you...

Lightning strikes would be my first guess.

Cool 😎

That and high winds and hail, plus the knowledge that it’ll be passing shortly.

I can and have ridden in other forms of rain like the UK tour three years back. Less pleasant, more dangerous.