Monday, June 28 - Day 15 - 60 Miles - 1000.4 Total Miles

Today in a nutshell.....huge climb over Chief Joseph Pass (7241 feet)....some level riding for 45 additional miles to Jackson, Montana....tenting at Jackson Hot Springs Lodge. Very little traffic and many, many mosquitoes.

Now, handing it over to today's guest journalist...Anna Dunn.

I decided to inerveiw the boys for my guest journal entry. Here it is:

Anna: Dad, how do you feel after your biggest climb ever?

Dad: I feel pretty good. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Just a couple sections were steep with head winds. Those sections were tough.

Anna: Kyle, how does it feel to always have Bobby in front of you when you are biking?

Kyle: His clothes are too small and he doesn't hold a line very well, but other than that it's great.

Anna: Bobby, what do you think the most tiring day was so far?

Bobby: Any day that ends in "y".

Anna: Dad, if you could have one wish for this trip, what would it be?

Dad: To make it to the Atlantic ocean and for my family to have fun while I'm doing it.

Anna: Kyle, which state are you most looking forward to? Why?

Kyle: Colorado, because there are big climbs and it's when we finally turn east.

Anna: Bobby, how many books have you read on this trip so far?

Bobby: Five and a half. I have one and a half books left.

Anna: Dad, what do you think of the weather so far?

Dad: I think it has been nice. We've had some rain, some cold, and some heat. Nothing terrible so far.

Anna: Kyle, if you could change one thing about this trip what would it be?

Kyle: I would shave Bobby's back and I might have skipped Oregon.

Anna: Bobby, why are you afraid of mosquitoes?

Bobby: I am not afraid, I am annoyed.

That was my little interveiw thing. I hope you liked it. I am having a great time on this trip and I am so happy that I get to have this experience when I am young. I hope that everyone back home at Covington and everyone else are having a great summer too. Just a shout out to ALL my friends at home. Hi Savanna and hi Jenna. I miss you and all my others friends. See you later for now!!

Guest Journalist, Anna Dunn Amongst Today's Scenery

Nathan, Trying Out That Ol' Reading Thing

Steve, Climbing Up Chief Joseph Pass

Sunday, June 27 – Day 14 – 69.5 Miles - 940.4 Total Miles

We left Missoula this morning and had taxi woman drive us back out of town to Lolo, where we left the course yesterday. It was nice to be in a town with things to do, but I was glad to see it in the rear view mirror. We were on State Route 93 heading south all day today. Only 6 people live in each square mile of Montana…I got to see all of those people today on Route 93. I never got a good look at any of their faces though, because the speed limit on Route 93 is 70 miles per hour. If you come upon a tricky section of road, they slow you wayyyyyy down to 65 mph. That makes you feel much safer. It really was not that bad. The shoulders were very wide and we had one of those rumble strip thingies between us and traffic. That way, we would have heard that annoying rumble strip sound prior to impact.

Because our plan was to camp in a cheap USFS campground, we did not rush today. We met Kim and the kids for lunch in a neat little café in Corvallis, after 32 miles of riding. That was not the best idea. It probably would have been ok, had I not finished the meal with apple dumplings and ice cream. The good news was, I got to re-sample bits of that dessert the next 20 miles down the road.

Our stopping point took us to the campground about 3 miles short of a town called Sula, which is at the base of a climb that we need to get over tomorrow (Chief Joseph Pass – 7241 feet). While we waited for Kim to arrive, we stood around in 90 degree weather and got absolutely bombed by mosquitoes. Being the loving father and husband that I am, I thought this might cause issues in the family’s sleeping arrangements….a van with open windows to stay cool and the blood sucked from their bodies, or the windows shut all night and severe dehydration issues come morning. So, we loaded up the bikes and backtracked 15 miles to a motel in Darby, Montana. Everyone will sleep comfortably tonight, and keep most of their own blood.

Until tomorrow!

Our "Home" For the Day in Darby, Montana

The Cafe in Corvallis that the 6 of us eat in mid day