6/20 Going to the Sun?!

We woke and began riding east on the Going to the Sun road not knowing if we would be able to get over Logan Pass.  We had heard rumors over the previous days that the crews were working all day at clearing the pass and we hoped that we would be some of the first riders across.  The ride was epic along Lake McDonald before stopping at Avalanche Lake Campsite for some food, frisbee and sweet grass.  We locked up the bikes and climbed the 1.5 miles up Avalanche Creek to Avalanche Lake.  The well travelled trail was stunning and we found a place on the beach at the snow fed Avalanche Lake.  We took turns jumping into the refreshing near freezing water and then took a nap on the shores.  Staring up at the glacier carved rock cathedral was truly awesome.   We hiked back down to the bikes and started are way up the pass. We rode past the weeping wall until we finally reached a sign that told us to turn back.  We debated for a bit on weather to throw caution to the wind and attempt the illegal pass but we feared the potential fines and thought of maybe riding on icy roads and turned back.  We knew a meal awaited us at the McDonald Lodge, which we had visited on the way up.  It started raining and we pushed the pace to get back to the lodge before dinner service ended. We feasted after a long and exciting day.  We were pretty sure we would have to ride back to Apgar Campground in the dark but were overjoyed to find a spot close by at Sprague Creek. 

We chill by Lake MacDonald early in the day

We hiked up Avalanche Creek

Man reflects on Water

Mule Deer love urine

Avalanche Lake

Dan jumps in

Will soars into the frigid water

Goody porpoises

Aidan

Pete

Maps are good

Hey look its nature!

The last forested section before the climb

Near the Loop

We climbed

Glaciers were here

The road was closed just past Big Bend.  We were sure we could get to the top of Logan Pass but we heard the other side had snow drifts and we didn't want to get fined.

6/19 Up to Glacier

We woke and packed our stuff.Pete and Aidan headed out a bit early to catch the rays and chill. We rode out along Route 35 which would take us along the east side of Flathead Lake. On the way north I stopped and visited my Cousin Tina and her family at her house. Goody Will and I rode North until we found Flathead Lake Brewing Company, where I put back two beers and we got back on the bikes. The Porter and IPA combo made me sluggish on the ride and we soon stopped for food and rest in BigFork?. We ate Mexican Food and then I took a nap in the sun as Goody played the Uke. Alcohol and riding do not mix well for me. We started riding again on the sunny day  and stopped got some Mountain Dew Throwbacks (all natural sugar FYI) and took Montana Hwy 200 north. We rode fast on the narrow rode and soon hooked back up with Route 2.We climbed a bit through the foothills of the Park and excitedly approached West Glacier. At West Glacier we stocked up on some food and then rode into the park where we found a nice bike path that lead us to the busy Apgar Campground.  We grabbed the disc and went and chilled on the beautiful Lake McDonald before going to bed.

I left Polson with a more legit back rack set up.  

Riding Along Flathead Lake

 

Pete

Aidan

Short Bike Path in Glacier National Park

Lake MacDonald

Feasting at Apgar Campground

6/18 Rest Day in Polson

We did some major resting and recuperating in Polson.  After purchasing my ukulele in Moscow and riding in the rain I discovered I needed to find a new setup for my gear.  I had my aunt ship home a few books (sorry almanac) and by non-waterproof back sack that slides onto my rack so that I could close my panniers all the way and I put my sleeping pad and uke on my rack with bungees. ).  One of the books I shipped back that I hadn't used was the Five Tibetans by Christopher Kilham.  The Five Tibetans is a series of five dynamic exercises that only take a few minutes to do and make you feel amazing. I do it all the time now and have to give it a plug.  It is a great workout to incorporate to bike touring.  We all did laundry, which was a major score after a rainy day.  We watched world cup soccer, played some ukulele and ate lots of food.  We tried to fix a neighbors walmart bike but it was too spaint.  We talked to my cousins Tina's husband Bernie who informed us that North Dakota usually has a strong westerly wind.   But that in his days flying back from North Dakota he has experienced the occasional tailwind.  Aidan went on a ride over to see some dam.  I rode to the hardware store bought some bungies, went back to the Safeway, bought a case of Big Sky Brewing Variety Pack and carried it with me back to the house.  We drank some good Montana Beer and ate heartily. I felt very American.

Repair Station

Goody and Pete do laundry.  

My Uncle Gary and Aunt Susan

Goody plays the Uke

Aidan biked out to some dam

Some dam and a tree

6/17 A long ride into Polson

We awoke to a gray day and made our way into the town of Thompson Falls, where we ate at the local diner. We found Carrie and Ashley who had chosen to take the Thompson Falls road the night before.  We told of our epic adventure the night before and said goodbye as they were heading to Missoula and taking there own route the rest of the way back to New York. We hoped we would see them again.  We ate some great grub and saw Wayne's Wife at the local breakfast stop Minnie's (I think, maybe Mother Lode).  We continued on to the local hardware store where I bought some gloves and socks. Wayne showed up in the store with Will's Iphone that he had left in the Cabin. Score!  We said one last goodbye to our friend and then went outside to meet a new one. Aidan; Pete's cousin who finished up his last classes at UC Santa Cruz and then was driven out by his parents to meet us. He was ready to ride the rest of the way to New York with us. And what a perfect day to start. Aidan sported a 1970s 10 speed Univega which probably couldn't have handled Coopers Pass. But it was ready for Rt 200 through Plains and Paradise and the serene landscape of Western Montana! We rode down the valley along the Clarks Fork River a bit weary from the night before but lively in spirit from our fortitude and new companionship. I remember admiring how colorful all the rocks were in this region. Not your normal boring black and gray side of the road gravel but lots of color.  We stopped for some burgers in Plains where we first able to witness Aidan's ability to talk to other human beings. We rode and rode along the river all the way down to Dixon where we turned north on the 212. We were a bit haggard at this point and daylight was running late. Aidan decided to take it at his own pace and we forged on ahead.  A random dude stopped and told us we could stay at his trailer park but we were on a mission to Polson.  But we started north on the busy US 93 as the sun went down.  It was a tough ride made no more fun with all the traffic, but luckily we found a bike path that took us the rest of the way into Polson where we found my Uncle Gary and Aunt Susan's home.  We ate hamburgers and waited anxiously for Aidan who showed up an hour an a half later.  Aidan's Dad had a sixth sense moment and sensed his son was in trouble and found him on the road 5 miles outside of Polson.  Aidan was all good though and we made sure he ate a lot after he arrived and then we all went to bed.

The Clarks Fork River

Cars are even less fun in the Rain

The rest of the ride was long, we were a little spaint from the day before.  But we made it.