Day 74 Rest day in Missoula

Ah the luxury of a lie in and not having to cycle. If only my leg muscles could remembet how to walk . . . You think I am joking?

Today we were hosted by the Adventure Cycling Association at their HQ in Missoula and after a tour around the building looking at all the memorabilia since the first Transam ride in 1976 they laid on a barbeque in the very pleasant 98F sunshine. We also met Ellen's mum who dtove all the way down from Calgary on crutches to see her daughtet brfore she jets off to Korea for a teaching post at the end of the tour. Tough ladies, the Hadleys!

I could not resist indulging in some retail thetapy and purchased a Ttansam cycling shirt ( 79$ ouch), a pair of transam 76 socks and 2 new Continental Contact Sport slick tyres. After 2 more punctures I have binned the Schwalbe XR's.

Had my first ever haircut in the USA and rounded off the day with a Japanesr meal with Ellen, her Mum and a few of the crowd. We also enjoyed the company of Zac and West who we keep bumping into en route. Two good guys that we like.

But the most exciting news of the day has to be the return of KELLY so we are back up to 14.

Oh and I had ice cream and coffee at Mcdonalds as my nightcap.

Miles Today 0

Day 73 Darby to Missoula

Yesterday we arrived in Darby on Loggers Day. Basically this means that really hard looking men that usually chop down trees do thinks like log rolling and the lumbetjack equivelant of boules. That is chopping down trees and making them land within inches of a can of WD40. Enough said I think.

So today after nine very tough days on the road we had a straigbtforward seventy miles through the  breathtakingly beautiful landscape of Montana into Missoula where we have a much appreciated layover day, before we turn left and head for the Pacific.

As the campsite was miles out of town I have opted to share a motel room in the centre with Jack for a couple of nights. It is supposed to be a rest day aftet all and as the temperature forecast for tomorrow is 98F I didn't fancy all the cycling backwards and forwards.

On the subject of Greg's butt I have had a bid of ten pounds NOT to publish. A good starting point but clearly not enough!

Miles Today 72
Total         3752

Day 72 Jackson to Darby . . . A day of mourning

Today July 16th 2011 is a black day in the history of the Trans America cycle ride.

Ellen 'Iron Woman' Hadley, Queen of the Appalacians, First lady of the Ozarks, Conqueror of the Rockies, Eater of peach rings and Friend of the turtle has sadly lost her way.

She has now become Ellen ' I prefer to ride up hills in a nice car'  Hadley.

As a mark of respect to her former glory no pictures of today's ride will be published other than the most recent picture of the Ellen that we know and love, may she come back to us soon.

Ellen 'the unstoppable hill climbing machine' Hadley

1979 - 2011 Lest we forget.

Friends have rrquested that flowers should not be sent but donations can be made to Shelterbox, the Disaster Relief charity through this blog.

Miles Today 75
Total         3680

Day 71 - Dillon to Jackson (guest blogger Hadley)

Today's ride looked like this: ^^

Although the above seems to be a clear & succinct way of describing today's ride, Rob has instructed me to write more details about the ride and to do more 'gushing'.  So here I go:

Today's ride took us over two small mountains, through lovely, wide-open Montana countryside.  The roads we were on were small and had very little traffic, so it was easy to relax and enjoy the views.  There were no towns or services along the way - just rural Big Sky Beauty.  I rode with Joel and Marla (who were riding their tandem), just ahead of Rob (close enough that we were tantalizingly in sight, but far enough away that there was no way he could catch us).  Or so he claims.  At the top of the first pass, Joel and Marla and I apparently blasted off down the hill, just when Rob was about to reach the summit! 

This incident caused Rob to have a minor temper tantrum.  I am writing today's blog post in the hopes that he will be so appreciative that he'll forgive me for my cycling faux pas.

(ok.  I was losing steam on writing this blog post, but I've been recharged by Rob's praise of what I've written so far...)

We reached the tiny town of Jackson (population 30) after a mere 48 miles of riding.  For some reason we all seem to be unusually knackered and are now lying oh-so-slothfully in the animal-head-festooned Jackson Lodge, where we will be eating dinner in 9 short minutes.

That wasn't quite as gushy a post as Rob was hoping for, I think,  but it'll have to do because I'm only half conscious at the moment. 

Miles Today    48
Total             3605

A bunch of knackered Trans American cyclists after a hard day in the saddle

From left to right. Marla,Joel,Ellen,Sjef,Terry,Cathy (rear head view)

David

Holding a bullitt which he believes may date back to Custers last stand at Little Bighorn.

Day 70 Ennis to Dillon

Today we started with the hill known locally as the ten mile hill, average 7 percent gradient all tbe way up. Fandabidosa. I knew there would be a price to be paid for yesterday.
A short descent into Virginia city checked by real cowboys driving real cows up the road, gave me the opportunity to feast on a tri stack of hotcakes laced with butter and maple syrup, my new favourite cycling food. Alas the third stack  defeated me.
Along this part of Montana there are lots of old mining towns which have been restored quite authentically to attract the tourist. Thereafter the day was a long gradual  tiring climb with headwinds and the threat of a storm that somehow I managed to avoid. On arrival at camp I was greeted by Joel who immediately thrust a beer from his local micro brewery into my hand. What a fine fellow!
Dinner table conversation revolved mainly around the topic of Greg's butt and whether I should publish on the blog the photo  of it that Dara sent me.

Miles Today  72
Total          3555