Cruised into Missoula on Friday with the primary goal to visit the Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) folks at HQ. I’ve been in touch with Sam, in particular, over the course of many months. It was great to put a face with a name, but more importantly thank him personally for what at times has felt like critical, “life or death” information (bit dramatic, yes). Everyone I met in the office was an energetic delight. Must be only natural, working at a nonprofit focused on generating endorphins for millions of cyclists. The ACA has been around 40+ years when it began preparations for Bikecentennial, the 1976 cross country touring event commemorating the 200th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence. The ACA is seeking to find a planner/coordinator to develop a similar event for the 250th anniversary in 2026 (note to self, I’ve got “quals” having run St. Mark’s Episcopal annual May Fair!). The office was a nostalgic gallery of bicycles hanging on walls, which were donated by noteworthy riders over four decades, plus a big, colorful display of recent cyclists who visited the office. My “baseball card” is now up on the wall alongside the other 2024 “players”. I started and closed out the day at my favorite coffee shops in Missoula where I met another nonprofit guru David from the Trust For Public Land. He’s an impressive individual, combining experience working in the U.S. Senate with the leading national agency for preserving public lands. He was visiting from Bozeman where he works remotely covering the western U.S. His colleague who covers the CT region lives in New Haven. I’m thinking David has a better deal! I closed out the evening with a delish Italian dinner with Sue, one of only two, legit Italian places I’ve dined on my trek, the other in “Boz Angeles”. The random “Ps.” on this blog is that “The Prem” opened today and I got to see my beloved and bewildering United beat Fulham 1 nil (yes “nil” not “0”, get over it) on a late goal from our new, 23-year old striker Joshua Zirkzee. A perfect season is still possible!
