In the end, if you receive this update, it is thanks to the KOA internet satellite connection, because I am writting to you from Saint Mary, MT, in the middle of nowhere, in the land of grizzly bears. I took a boatload of pictures / video and will share the best with you. Unfortunately, the connection is not good enough today to upload the pictures (replaced by #), I will add them asap at my next stop when I have a better connection.
First, let me congratulate you on your donations to CASA. For now, we place19 out of 42 riders for total donations, and we are just getting started. However, I won’t tell you the total amount yet, because we have the potential to do much better. We are the only group doing our fundraising via the Internet, and I believe this gives us an unfair advantage. Two ways you can make a difference. One: make a donation here (all donations above $20 are tax deductible). Two: forward this blog to friends who could be inspired to give. If we increase our reach, even small amounts will help! All the funds are used to train children advocates in court to find a good home for neglected and abandonned children, and train volunteers to mentor these children in their life. You are truly making a difference in someone’s life.
Second, let me get back to our trip through Montana.
I did not mention to you in my previous blog that I got my bike only around 12am because it was locked in and the receptionist did not have the key. As a result, I spent the next 2 hours to put it together and went to bed at 2:30am. So, after 3:30 hours of sleep, I got up, shared breakfast with the locals and headed for the start at 6:30am.
It was really cold and the arm and leg warmers I just bought really came handy. Despite them, I was still shivering. I took road 2 North towards West Glacier. You could tell that in Kalispell, the mountain are not far at all.
Montana is the third state by superficy, but also one of the least populated (only 800,000 people). ,
Things seen along the road...(click on the picture to widen it)
Note: the sun road is named this way because of a mountain bearing this name.
However, I was not getting any at that time!!!
Animals met during the trip. I saw some elks (some kinds of big deers), a wild moose in the Park, an eagle, and some bears, but only the tamed version :-)
Animals met during the trip. I saw some elks (some kinds of big deers), a wild moose in the Park, an eagle, and some bears, but only the tamed version :-)
By the way, did you know that if you cross a bear territory, you have to let yourself be heard before entering, to make sure that bear won't feel threatened by you (if they hear you, they will simply move their cobs away and let you go). It is extremely rare to find aggressive bears and only grizzly bears are really dangerous. In the park, most of them are tracked by GPS but unfortunately accidents still happen. Never give food to a bear. It creates aggressive behaviors to obtain food.
After 33 miles, I stopped at the park entrance for a warm Americano.
Was already feeling much better.
After 33 miles, I stopped at the park entrance for a warm Americano.
Was already feeling much better.
Now, imagine you are at the park gate, it is 10:40am, and the park ranger tells you you are not supposed to ride along the lake between 11am and 4pm.
I insist I need to go. Although a little puzzled, she lets me enter the park (she probably knew I would need to break the law to pass the lake). I took my chance, rode furiously (over 22 mph) along the lake, and got away with it w/o being pulled over by the rangers. The lake is at least 10-15 miles long.
Then, change of scenery, we are starting a slow climb on the road to Logan pass, following a river coming from the mountain..
What was a little impressive for me was to imagine crossing the bears who will soon fish in the river to accumulate some fat for the winter. It was my luck that I did not meet any.
Park ranger bus to visit the park
Moving up in the mountain. I feel really great, although it is getting colder as I climb higher.
During my climb, I met with another bike rider, Al, who just came back from the top, and told me that it was really cold there. I did not have any gloves, and he gave me some small plastic bags to keep my finger warm. Looking at his gears, I could tell I was not prepared for the cold like he was.
10 miles later, reality struck, I was at the start of the big climb to Logan pass (12 miles, 6% inclination), and some panels on the side on the road clearly indicated that it was forbidden to bike there between 11am and 4pm due to constructions…It was 1:30pm. There was no way I could wait until 4pm. If the park rangers pulled me over, I was going to stay stuck there and I still was still 30 miles away from Saint Mary. I had just biked 60 miles.
I had to continue.
As I was starting the climb to Logan Pass (6646 feet), Bob and his wife Marsha (whom I had met the previous day in Kalispell), had decided to go through the sun road through the park, passed me with their truck, and offered to take me to the top. Although I felt in good enough shape, I accepted as I was concerned to stay stuck in the park at that time, and was not properly equipped for the cold.
God thank Bob and Marsha. 578
Without their help, I would have had a hard time to reach the top. See for yourself. The climb was pretty impressive. It included 3 miles of semi finished road with high chance of punctures for the tires, lots of one way traffic, and the weather kept deteriorating.
Finally, we arrived at the Visitor Center at the pass.
You can t really tell on this picture, but it was snowing. I was glad I did not finish the climb by bike.
After the visitor Center, we decended to Saint Mary. Passed beautifull Saint Mary lake.
and arrived at the Campground. There I met with Ellen and Rick (the organizers), their daughter Kathrin who is learning French. And a host of other people, 100 people, including 42 riders from all horizons. I shared the night with two other riders in a little cabin which was really cute and had a little electric heater.
Dinner was pretty cold as we were outside, but in a good spirit and we tried to keep each others warm. Rick gave us our instructions for the ride. Our first leg is Dupouyer, only a 72 miles ride with some climb.
The meteo foresees two inches of snow in the morning so we ll see how many riders will ride and how many will stay in the sag wagon. Apparently, some Indian elders will come tomorrow morning to send us a benediction for the ride. I think we are going to need it!!!
Looking forward to sharing the rest of this adventure with you.
A bientot,
Mathieu
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