Up at 8 am this morning and headed back over to the side of town where the ACA is located. Ate a really bad breakfast sandwich at a swanky little cafe while I waited for the ACA to open. Then stopped in and signed their riders log and got my pic taken for their riders wall. Bought my jersey, declined the tour of the building, took a selfie wearing my jersey (my overpriced $80 jersey) in front of the ACA building, then headed the 13 miles back to Lolo where I was yesterday to take highway 12 to Idaho. When I think about it, I did about 35 miles off-route just for the privilege of paying $80 for a TransAmerica Jersey I could have ordered online—I must be crazy 🙂 oh well, it is a cool riding jersey 🙂
Made it back to Lolo at 11am. Stopped at a gas station/market at the hwy 12 turnoff for some liquids—Diet Coke, orange juice, and a bottle of Perrier, before heading out of the sprawl and back into the Wild West. As I was leaving the gas station I saw a guy with a loaded touring bike sitting at the side of the building. I stopped to say hello. Turns out he is from Australia and he had left his bike unattended earlier in the morning and someone stole his handlebar bag that contained his passport, money, credit cards, etc. He was trying to figure out what to do…he was headed East but thought he may have to head back west to get his passport replaced. I gave him $40 to help with food and stuff until he could get his CCs replaced. I’ve been ultra paranoid about keeping an eye on all my stuff this entire trip. Every time I go into a market, cafe, gas station, etc., I take my handlebar bag with me—it contains my cash, phone, cc, etc., and I park the bike in front of a window so I can see it. A few days ago I heard of a couple from Europe who were riding west to east. They were staying with a warm showers host in Denver and both their bikes were stolen. Only takes one crook to ruin your entire tour.
43 miles in today and stopped at a restaurant in Lolo Hot Springs. This is a little camping, horse riding, swimming area on the edge of a national forest in the Bitterroot mountains. Been riding through thick pine and cedar forrest since leaving Lolo this morning—some massive cedar trees here. Still not sure about exact services ahead but think there should at least be camping and looks like maybe a bike only camping spot. Will be climbing Lolo Pass when I leave here…looks like a steep climb back up to 5,234 feet.
Started the Lolo Pass climb and seems when you see a “chain up” sign you know you’re about to start a big climb 🙂
3:45 entered my 9th State, Idaho and the Pacific Time zone at the top of Lolo Pass at 5,234 feet….in the home stretch how. Was a hot climb—over 90 degrees and full sun, but the climb itself wasn’t that difficult.
At 3:45—again—arrived at the Lochsa lodge, campsites, cabins, restaurant, and bar….a little oasis out in the middle of the Idaho wilderness. Next services is 66 miles away, so I’ll be spending the night here. Camping here is free for cyclists, so I’ll be setting up the tent tonight and fighting off the mosquitos. Sitting outside the county store here cooling down with a Diet Coke, a sparkling grapefruit drink, and a cool breeze.
Overall a very good day of riding after I got out of Missoula. It did get hot this afternoon….didn’t have phone service so not sure the exact temp, but I’m sure it got close to the 95 degrees that was forecast.
