We drove to Bend Oregon and got a hotel downtown. Friday morning, I rode parts of the Deschutes River Trail. Surfing a 20-foot wide “wave,” back and forth. One mistake, over the top, swim back upstream and get in line.
Time to turn around.
The bluffs on the other side of the river.
I met Phyl back at the hotel, we loaded up and drove to Sacramento.
Yesterday Phyllis and I left Deer Lodge in the morning and drove to Liberty Lake Washington. This morning I rode away from the hotel at 7:30, found the Spokane River Centennial Trail and rode west.
The trail went through Gonzaga University.
Downtown, Riverfront Park.
At this point I was still downtown and lost. Time to look at a map on my phone and figure it out.
Eventually I made my way to Fish Lake Trail. The smell of pine was wonderful.
Phyl picked me up about 9 miles down the trail and we started our drive to Bend Oregon. 31 miles today.
The sun goes down in Deer Lodge at 9:30 and it takes a long time to actually get dark. From my upstairs bedroom window, looking south toward town, you could see at least 7 different locations shooting big fireworks into the sky. It was quite the show!
A beautiful one-hour drive to Helena today. At a scenic overlook near MacDonald Pass.
Our primary goal was a trolley tour of Helena.
Several homes in the Mansion District were made of Montana rose granite.
Last Chance Gulch:
After the tour, we had a really good lunch at
Yummy ice cream! “Hi Phyllis” when we walked in. Small town friendliness!
Karen and Greg came over for dinner.
Over the past two weeks, BarbaraB has ridden with her grandsons, a few miles each day. Vince was quite proud when he rode 18 miles in one week.
Not to be outdone, Max rode 22 miles. Great job, BarbaraB, sharing the joy of bicycling with a new generation.
Sunday June 25. Cheryl, BarbaraB, and Jane rode out to Rio Linda and stopped at Bowinkle’s on the way back.
My bike on the OC&E Woods Line Trail in Klamath Falls OR:
Monday June 26. Kathy, BarbaraL, Coletha, Mike, Cheryl:
My bike on the Boise River Greenbelt:
Tuesday June 27. Dani, Mike, Cheryl, Kathy:
My bike just off the Wood River Trail in Sun Valley ID near a public art installation.
Wednesday June 28. Laurie and Brenda:
Thursday June 29. Kathy,
Brenda:
Friday June 30. Dani, Kathy, Cheryl:
My bike with Humpty Dumpty in the Bozeman MT sculpture park.
Saturday July 1. Brenda, Kristie, Laurie, Maria:
Dani and Kathy:
My bike on the Old Yellowstone Trail in Deer Lodge MT:
For being a small town, Deer Lodge is lucky to have two trails. I started at the Washington Street Trailhead. Almost 12 miles to Garrison. The trail surface: cinder, crushed stone, dirt, gravel. Not my favorite but I thought I’d see how far I could go.
A confusing sign. No bikes? The Grant-Kohrs Ranch is a National Historic Site, once the headquarters of a 10 million acre cattle empire, now commemorates the role of cattlemen in American history.
Those clouds to the west looked a bit dark. No worries. I still have 3 hours before the thunderstorms might arrive.
The property line of the G-K Ranch was just ahead. The trail became much more rutted and overgrown. Time to turn around. The scenery was beautiful. I hope this trail is improved soon.
A quarter mile later, time to turn around.
Uh .. is that thunder I hear? I rode a bit faster.
About one mile from Dave and Phyl’s house, I felt the first sprinkles. At 3/4 mile, I saw lightning strikes. Time to go turbo. I raced home at 27 mph. Later, Phyl told me the temperature dropped 20 degrees in 45 minutes as the brief storm approached.
arletelouise 