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Day 37: Annapolis!

  Beltsville to Annapolis, 31 miles, 1000 feet of climbing. Today’s ride presented us with the usual weather elements: warm and humid - we’ve ridden in hotter; sporadic strong headwinds - they helped cool us off; hills that had challenging gradients - they were short compared to what we’ve tackled elsewhere on this ride.  Nothing was going to prevent us from enjoying the last leg of our adventure - and we enjoyed it thoroughly! Any thoughts that perhaps we should have finished up last night instead of holding off the final 30 or so miles until this morning evaporated as we made the final turn to the waterfront in Annapolis and saw Susan, Ann, Bill’s son Peter, Mike’s son and daughter-in-law Matt and Deanna, and Mike’s brother Tom there to greet us and cheer us into the final stretch.  It really was a great day for us. We’re staying in Annapolis for the night.  We showered and had a lunch with the group and have dinner planned for later this evening at a nice restaurant in town. Mike is
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Day 8: Missing Missoula and Back In The Saddle Again



              



Missoula to Deer Lodge, 88 miles with very modest climbing of 1437 feet.  

We had a great day to ride with only an hour or so of headwinds, which of course were at the end of the day when fatigue started to set in. We probably could have ridden further today but kept our mileage at about 88 as we had made a reservation at the Warden Inn, (right across the street from the former prison for the territory of Montana, now a museum) and our general rule of trying to cap our daily mileage at 100 or a bit more.  (Our next option would have had us riding about 120 miles with a good deal more climbing.)

Fortunately for us, any free time that we might have needed to fill was taken up with a flat tire and then a minor mechanical.  Together, the two events took us well over two hours to remedy, and only that “quick” because we were able to consult with  a mechanic back in Missoula. In retrospect, the mechanical repair could have been solved by any child in about 20 minutes who could hold an Allen wrench and that would include time for them to refresh their sippy cup drink.  But we are happy to live and learn, even at our rapidly advancing ages.

We rode under bright (and big) skies here in Montana through endless ranch lands with snow covered peaks in the distance.  It was a pretty fun day, except for our frustrations at being mechanically inept.  Had a nice meal tonight at The Outpost where we had a great conversation with Allie who will soon be a graduate of UM.  Go Grizzlies.

Tomorrow we are off to climb over the Continental Divide.

Comments

  1. Ed PMay 30, 2021 at 8:03 AM

    This is what this trip is all about. Pure adventure and seeing this beautiful country in a way that can only be done on the ground level. I know I would have called for a Greyhound Bus by now and I envy you guys for the sites you are seeing and will never forget.

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  2. Ed PMay 30, 2021 at 8:06 AM

    Please don’t tell me you ate the “Oysters”!

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  3. UnknownMay 30, 2021 at 8:18 AM

    Sounds like a good kind of problem solving! Congrats in advance for the Divide. Watch out for "bear sign". All downhill soon (like riding south)...
    Cold and rainy here.

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  4. Ylva CMay 30, 2021 at 1:03 PM

    Let's see if I can comment now....it has been a challenge to do so
    I enjoy reading about this journey. Thank you for updating every day!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tom KennedyMay 30, 2021 at 1:58 PM

    Interesting going to Deer Lodge, I thought you'd be going over to Helena on 12. Cycling right past all my favorite streams.

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  6. UnknownMay 30, 2021 at 3:54 PM

    great stuff you guys! may you have following winds and propitious weather.
    blog is terrific - Lark

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  7. Charlie BaginMay 30, 2021 at 6:40 PM

    This is awesome! My friend and I are currently biking across the country, in Bozeman right now. We would be passing you tomorrow but headed down to Yellowstone on a detour! Best of luck, we’ll be following along on your journey!

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  8. UnknownMay 30, 2021 at 8:28 PM

    living vicariously rhrough you. im feeling in tip top shape now. keep it up...you guys are amazing.-Bruce

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