Wednesday June 21, 2023
Day 19
Wisdom to Dillon, Montana
Miles: 69.13 Total accent: 2,769
Totals: 933.8 miles. Accent: 33,908
81.21 hours in the saddle
We awakened to frost on the tent this morning. It was cold last night.
Lois Volkening stopped by to check on the campsite. She and her husband Larry run this camp and one in Dillon. It is an all volunteer non-profit. After chatting a few minutes, we make plans to met at a local coffee shop, the Hook and Horn. Lois is a fountain of information about the area and has agreed to allow us to video her. Once there, we enjoyed coffee and learned so much from her. We are SO fortunate.
Afterwards, we begin the trek to Dillon. The sky was decorated with expansion clouds shaped by the air. So beautiful!
Today was a rather meditative day; a healing day mentally, emotionally and physically. Long stretches of road, very light traffic and consistent landscape. It was so peaceful.
We rolled through Jackson hoping for a coffee break stopping at the Harwood’s Bunkhouse to say hello to Rick. We had explored this as a possible overnight stay. So quaint. After a quick lunch break, we were off again. A climb to Big Hole Pass at 7,400 foot elevation. This climbing thing is happening every day now!
Before one of the long climbs, I cast music to a JBL Flip4 speaker. As we passed a field with cattle and two coyotes, the cows began to call. I think they liked the music! This went on and on and on from one field to the next. It was such a curious thing!
As we enter Dillon, we stop by the local Safeway for supplies-oatmeal, peanut butter and real food-a prepared salad in the produce section, a roasted chicken, potato wedges and more tortillas. Not wanting to repack everything in the paniers, I tie the plastic bags to the bike and onward. I truly am beginning to look homeless!
Eventually, we roll in to BikeWalk Southwest Montana around 7:30 PM. The sign on the door say to call Larry or Lois for help as there doesn’t seem to be anyone around. Within minutes, we have the code to the washhouse and bike garage. We chat a bit and make plans to have breakfast with Larry and Lois in the morning.
While there still is time for others to arrive, it looks like we may be alone tonight. John, one of the volunteers, stops by and he shares more information about the camp. Drew spends a few minutes filming the camp so we can share this amazing place with other cyclists. It’s close to 8:30 before we get to dinner and shower. By 10, we figure no one else will be sharing the accommodations with us so the air mattress and sleeping bags are unpacked and ready for the night. For the past two days, we’ve been seeing signs that we are in bear country. I am so glad that tonight I don’t have to worry about bear or mosquitoes. Warm, clean and sated, we call it a day. Oh, what dreams will come tonight?
