Montana


				*Pedal N Putt* *Montana*



	Home Trip Prologue \| Oregon \| Idaho \| Montana \| Wyoming \| Nebraska \| Iowa \| Illinois \| Indiana \| Ohio/PA \| New York \| How Do I Get To My Sister's House \| Best & Worst Awards \| Maynard Sentinel Columns

Montana -

All three of us were extremely impressed with Missoula, Montana. This is a beautiful, small college community of 100,000 people that is home to the University of Montana. They have done a masterful job of keeping their downtown alive. The older buildings in downtown hve not only been saved but brought to life. Their riverfront in downtown is really well done with bike paths heading all over the community. We played a muni course, Larchmont, that was long (over 7,000 yards from the back tees not that we played the back tees) and wide which was nice because one ball lasted the whole round. The 17th green was not green but white from the snow that was falling but typical of Montana the sun came out and all snow was melted by 18. We took an extra day off in Missoula to try and get up to date on the website. And we are changing our route and going directly from Missoula to Butte along the shoulder of I-90 unless we change our mind. Weather is really rugged in the Big Hole section of Montana and we are being advised to go a different direction. We will head for Butte on Thursday May 8th. mof

Day 14 - May 8, '03 - Missoula to Drummond

Two days off is enough to get you out of the habit. Our legs took awhile to get back in the mood for riding a bike as we left Missoula. It was also my first time for riding on an Interstate. Five miles into the ride I flatted. Flats are now a tie, Smith 2 Maynard 2. Let's hope it stays this way, but experience proves that is an unrealistic expectation. The story of my changing the tire is long an uninteresting. Changing the tire was also long and uninteresting. Needless to say, we were behind schedule by the time I was up and running. We rode I-90 as far as Drummond, Montana where we stayed in a motel just across the street from the main line of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Whey didn't we stay further away from the afore mentioned railroad? Because all of Drummond is across the street from the same main line. Miles ridden today 57-Total Miles 956

Day 15 - May 9, '03 - Drummond to Butte

Our wakeup call in Drummond came early thanks to the Northern Pacific Railroad. But this was a good day as we rolled into Butte after an 80 mile ride that included all Montana weather has to offer and that is a lot, sunshine, headwinds, tailwinds and snow, but not the kind of snow that Denver is experiencing. A limited report as AOL will not let me on their free Butte number, but seems more than willing to accept me on their dime a minute 800 line. I know their stock is in the dumper but what I didn't realize is they were trying to correct their financial troubles on the backs of ancient cross country bicyclists. If I can get back on this website with another (free) 'puter I'll update with details. OK that rant is over and I am on the 'puter of our hosts Christy and Steve here in Butte. We passed 1,000 miles on our trip yesterday. Riding the Interstate is noisy, boring, scary and the most direct route to Butte. Now that I have ridden I-90 from Missoula to Butte, thanks to billboards along the way, I am now a fountain of information regarding where the Old Car Museum is located, Deer Lodge, when Montana's Old Prison is open for tours, Butte and the location of every tatto and body piercing parlor between Missoula and West Yellowstone. So far I have a great day going. AOL is biting me in the butt and three moose walked through our hosts backyard while I was in the bathroom. As David Lettermen says, "I wouldn't give my troubles to a monkey on a rock." Tomorrow is an off day as we head for the golf course. It is the Jack Nicklaus "Works" course in Anaconda. Let's hope the snow can stay away. Miles ridden today 82. Total miles 1038

Our day off in Butte was great fun. Christy and Steve Johnson could not have been more perfect hosts. Christy's parents, Ralph and Carol Staton, old friends of Gere's (he doesn't have any friends who aren't old) drove over from their home in Gardner, Montana to spend the weekend with us. Ralph took Gere and I to play "The Work's" course in Anaconda. What an incredible experience. If you are ever within 200 miles of Anaconda, which is about 2 1/2 hours the way they drive in Montana (where we have yet to see a State Patrolmen) and you are a golfer, go play "The Works". Designed by Jack Nicklaus, this course is a restoration built where mining used to take place. It cost us $32 to play on a Saturday. The course is very walkable which we did. (It was a day off and we needed some exercise) The people could not have been friendlier. Anaconda is not a pretty town. It was mined for years and when the mine played out the company just left. This course is a wonderful addition to their community. Pedalnputt finally got to putt. It was worth the wait. It's on to Ennis (we hope). It will be over 80 miles with two passes so we could retire early. Time will tell. Also communication could be spotty the next few days as we head for Yellowstone and Wyoming. Currently we plan on getting to Casper a week from tomorrow or May 18th. Weather and mechanicals will dictate whether we keep that schedule but that is our goal .

Day 16 - May 11, '03 - Butte to Ennis

A beautiful two pass day. Left Butte and rode Pipestone Pass, no problems. Across a magnificent valley surrounded by snowcapped peaks to US 287. Stopped for coffee at a charming restaurant in the small, small burg of Silver Star. On to Twin Bridges, a lovely little Montana village. Storm clouds were in the distance but we pushed on through a strong headwind to Sheridan, Montana. There are some good stops and great stops but this one was incredible. Jan pulled into town just as we stopped. I ordered soup, beef noodle, not my fave, but I wanted soup and it came with home made noodles. Jan had pie and it turned out to be home made. And then it started to blow and pour rain and we were inside warm and dry. This was a killer stop. On to Virginia City through the delightful ghost town of Nevada City. Outside Virginia City, we climbed 1,200 feet in 3 miles. This pass has no name. I named it. Buttkicker Pass cause it kicked my fanny all over the place. Finally an 11 mile coast into Ennis, Mt. Miles 87 miles. Total miles 1125.

Day 17 - May 12, '03 - Ennis to West Yellowstone

There are good days, there are bad days, and there are days when you just want to lay down in the road and have someone hit you in the head with a shovel. That was today. Left Ennis, Montana into headwinds like I have never ridden in. 35-45 miles per hour and they were constant, unrelenting and just seemed to suck the marrow from your bones. After 3 1/2 hours we had made 25 miles and had ridden to the point of exhaustion. Then it started to rain. We surrendered and called Jan, our "Angel of Mercy." She picked us up. We recognized the onset of hypothermia and decided Geezerpalooza had best retreat to fight another day. We are now in West Yellowstone where the wind continues to blow and the rain continues to pound and I could care less because I've been to the hot tub. Tomorrow we ride through Yellowstone but I make this guarantee: Ten years from now when you see me coming your going to hide because, "Here comes Maynard and he is going to tell us about that damn bike ride from Ennis, Montana one more time." And you will be right. Miles today 25 of a scheduled 72. Total miles ridden on a bike 1150. Ridden in a car 52.

Moose Drool Cycling Society Welcomes Geezerpoolza

Maynard asks for twelve pack, told he has a two pack limit in Montana

Tough courses in Montana

Maynard refuses to take a one stroke penalty

American ingenuity at work

And here we thought we were out of gas for the grill