In addition to absorbing our beautiful country from a bike and through the voices of locals, this trip is has been full of goals and milestones. I am exceedingly grateful for the generosity of so many and we are VERY CLOSE to hitting our $50k fundraising goal AND the $50k match. That’s $100k of instrumental funding for the CRI team and client programs! This really “moves” me and it will move others. I am so grateful, thank you! Let’s buckle the chinstrap and get’er done! In terms of goals, my “target” completion date is to hit in Astoria on Sunday August 25. I’m taking a few easy days to visit my stepmother on Thursday outside Missoula and the Adventure Cycling office on Friday in Missoula. Once I push from this respite, I have about 700 miles to ride over the course of 9 days. Achievable subject to potential headwinds and fires/smoke as I move towards Oregon. In terms of milestones, I hit my highest altitude on Tuesday (Day 50), crossing Big Hole Pass measuring nearly 7,500 feet. It was truly spectacular and almost felt like I was at the top of “The Wall” with John Snow in “Game of Thrones”. Instead, I met John from New York City. What a character! He’s pictured in my Strava. He’s 70 and traveling the TransAmerica route from west to east on a tricked out, 1989 vintage road bike, camping and entertaining everyone who crosses his path.
My ride on Monday (Day 49er) to Dillon was filled with shiny “gold discoveries“ including the sunrise and vistas plus a fly-by a key Lewis & Clark’s landmark, a limestone rock called “Beaver’s Head”, take a look and you will agree with the naming! This was the meeting spot known to Sacagawea for the Expedition to receive fresh horses from the Shoshone Tribe. Along the route I crossed paths with Scott (pictured) from Minnesota. He rode to Seattle from the Twin Cities and is now returning on his fully-loaded bike and packs weighing nearly 140 lbs…insane! He’s lost over 30 pounds. My bike/packs weigh in less than 50 lbs. Lastly, I discovered that Dillon is “solid gold” as one of my favorite western towns if you like that “old time charm, delicious food, mountain sunset and gracious people” sorta thing. I’m likely to open a local tourist office for them.
