Heather Bikes

Today we rode from Bannack State Park to May Creek campground. The first 30 miles had a lot of climbing and there wasn’t any place to stop until we got to Jackson. We stopped at a really nice lodge and had a beer before continuing another 18 miles on to Wisdom, where we were thinking of staying.
I saw a couple who were touring on a tandem, going the opposite direction and stopped, applying sunscreen. I waved and continued on, and quickly realized that it was bug spray they were putting on as I looked down and saw 15 mosquitoes feasting on my leg. I haven’t been motivate to ride so fast in a while, trying to out pace those little fuckers.
We made it to Wisdom and stopped at the store, where we were told that the mosquitoes had come 4 days before and are a result of the town irrigating the land. They go away in August, but until then, the town sells ‘Big Hole Cologne,’ bug spray with up to 98% deet. It was pretty miserable being in that town with all those mosquitoes, so we decided to go another 18 miles to May Creek Campground.
I was pretty tired by then and we had a headwind and a bit of climbing ahead of us, on a wide open road with no shade. It was really beautiful, and when we got to the campground I was glad that we had pushed on. The campground in wisdom was right on the main road, with no shade or privacy. The campground at May Creek was beautiful, away from the road in the trees and they had running water and a bathroom.
The people in Montana, especially the drivers, have been so nice. They pass with a lot of room, and they don’t beep, even to say hello. A lot of times, drivers will beep as a way of encouraging a cyclist, but it can be annoying and distracting. Seems like there are a lot of cyclists who come through here and people really respect them.

Today we rode to Bannack state park, which is where they first found gold in Montana.
We ran into a couple touring cyclists, the first was a young guy from South Korea who was biking from Washington state to Virginia. The next guy was also crossing the continent and told us that ‘Denver to Portland is a wimpy route’. I’m glad I didn’t tell him I only joined up in Butte!

I made it to Butte around 1pm today and Sam and Mick met me at the airport to help me put my bike together.
I should have packed the bike in two boxes, but wasn’t thinking of the weight of the bike and all my gear, only trying to get it down under 62 linear inches. The dude at the airport charged me $90 for it being 67lbs.
It was awesome having the guys come meet me at the airport. We got lunch in butte and then rode 40 miles to Twin Rivers. I haven’t ridden this bike since 2009 and it took a little getting used to all the weight of the panniers.
The ride was so beautiful and we are staying at a really nice free cabin for cyclists tonight. I’m so happy to be on this tour!

I’m going on a tour this summer – from Montana to Seattle for the North American Cycle Courier Championship (NACCC)!

It’s my first time touring with people and I’m so excited!  It’s also going to be my first time seeing this part of the US and I’m a little nervous!

I leave in the middle of June for Montana and will meet up with Sam and Mick, who will be leaving from Denver at the beginning of the month.

I can’t wait to see how big their beards get in the next couple weeks before I meet up with them!