Jacob Friend
Mondays mornings are a little easier when you get to wake up under the warm Montana sun for a day of biking. While gathering enough courage to unzip out of our sleeping bags is challenging, we are fortunate to have this be our daily routine for the summer. Montana’s more arid climate and sunny skies have made mornings much more manageable than previous states. I think today was the first time all of us started our ride wearing shorts and no jackets.
Our goal for the morning was to make it 48 miles to Dillon, MT. We were warned by the host of the bike hostel in Jackson that there was nowhere to stop during this 48 mile stretch, so we were intentional to stock up on water and get into a good rhythm to start the day. What’s a better way to get the legs going than listening to some Kid Cudi? Michael recommended we listen to Kid Cudi’s Man On The Moon album which had me reminiscing on my high school days. The good music vibes combined with our steady pedaling cadence allowed us to crank out some mighty morning miles.
The gang rides out of Jackson, MT in the morning sun
There were two passes and a few flat sections separating us from Dillon. Our first pass of the day met us early and was accompanied by a strong headwind. At the top of the Big Hole Pass we were happy to set another elevation record for our trip: 7,400 feet. This came as a surprise to me since the climb wasn’t very long, but it made sense considering that we started the day at a relatively high elevation in Jackson (6,470 feet).
Friend crests Big Hole Pass
While biking down from the pass I was pleasantly surprised to see a bald eagle fly right in front of me onto a telephone pole. I stopped to take a few pictures then met up with the rest of the group to continue our adventure. I have loved the flat sections of Montana because of how far we can see in every direction. Big Sky Country is living up to its name up with vast terrain and diverse wildlife. The wonderful views helped us reach our next pass where we could enjoy a downhill finish to our lunch stop at Dillon. This last pass introduced us to a new section of Rocky Mountains to study and appreciate.
Bald eagle, east of Big Hole Pass
Brian says that our big biking days (like yesterday’s 91-mile day) aren’t as hard on our bodies until the following day. After grocery shopping in town, anyone looking at our lunch table could see that we were trying to recover from war. It’s always interesting to see the meals our group manages to throw together during lunch. Today was no exception. Our spread featured cheeseburgers, sprout and avocado bagel sandwiches, tuna and honey mustard tacos, turkey, hummus and avocado wraps, and many other questionable DIY food concoctions. Lunch is always a great time to laugh at ourselves and lighten the mood after our hard work from the morning.
A typical Bike Loud lunch in Dillon, MT
From Dillon there were only 25 miles remaining in our day to reach our destination at Twin Bridges. Since this part was mostly flat, we made great time getting to town which gifted us time to take the evening slow. I indulged myself with a quick nap on the grass which has quickly become one of my favorite parts of any day. It’s nice to get some me-time where I can listen to the wind, rest my legs, and clear my mind before going through the evening. After my nap I, along with Brian and Michael, rinsed off in the Beaver Head River while cleaning some of our clothes. Usher enjoyed some time at a picnic table and was lucky enough to spot a beaver and otter swimming in the river.
Bike hostel in Twin Bridges, MT (interior not yet open for the season)
Before we could get too comfortable at camp in the town park, dark storm clouds rolled in, shifting our plans for the evening. We originally planned on doing some grocery shopping to wait it out, but our 30 minute pit stop evolved into a 3.5 hour commitment. We took the time to play some more Euchre (Brian and I are 1-1) and befriend the owner of the market. While we were a little bummed to have a delayed bedtime and tricky dinner situation, we were able to enjoy ourselves amidst the uncertainty. We’re pretty good at keeping things light-hearted and for that I am grateful. The rain eventually subsided and now we’re back at the park sleeping in our tents with a tranquil breeze. Goodnight!
Brian and Friend clean up in a game of Euchre while waiting out a storm in Main Street Market
A late dinner and some last-minute journaling in the Twin Bridges town park