Friday, August 3

Day Fifty-Nine: Soaking Up Sun in Sandpoint, ID

Teary eyed (just kidding!) we left beautiful MT for Idaho. We loved Montana, but had no idea what to expect from Idaho. Luckily, Idaho did her best to impress us:

Leaving Libby


Heading towards the MT-ID border
We stopped about ten miles from Libby to check out the Kootenai falls, which were very powerful and had a large volume. It was a great way to start the day, though the stop did slow us down.


Rapids at Kootenai Falls


The river near Kootenai falls.

At the Kootenai falls we checked out a rope bridge. It was my first time on a rope bridge. It was exhilarating to stand, uneasily, above the raging river. Naturally, we had to jump and shake the bridge to ensure that we got the full effect.

The shaky rope bridge over the Kootenai.
We eventually--reluctantly--passed the border into Idaho.


Crossing the border, during a descent!


Nearing Sandpoint, ID.
We arrived in Sandpoint, Idaho, a quaint and welcoming town. The women that greeted us at the church, our hosts for the night, were enthusiastic about our arrival. They insisted that we immediately venture down to the local beach (they made sure to usher us into their cars at once). The beach was wonderful, but after a day of biking we only wanted to stay for a little while before heading to showers and dinner.


The beach at Sandpoint. The locals insisted that stop here--for good reason!
Tonight I've decided to stay in, take some time for myself, and ensure a good night's sleep. I'm very excited to be heading into our last state tomorrow and want to be well rested for the journey.

Westward to Washington,
James
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Today was dedicated to the men and women of Libby who prepared our dinner last night. They were all awesome, sharing their stories surrounding cancer and their fight against it. Keep up the great work!

Day Fifty-Eight: Logging Over to Libby

We left Kalispell this morning bound for Libby, MT.
Libby is our last stop in Montana before Idaho.

We were pleasantly surprised when we discovered that Northwest MT had a lot of bike trails, so we took bike trails most of the way to Libby.





It was a fairly easy day, and we got to ride in a large group for some of the way (which is always a blast). It's generally unsafe to do this on the road but there's no harm in bunching up on bike trails.






Megan and I had to stop for some soda--we went for the 44 oz when we discovered that it was only $1!

We arrived at our host, Libby High School, home of the Libby Loggers. We are spending tonight in the upper level of the school gym, but not til after a wonderful dinner at the local church. We were graciously welcomed, fed until we were full, and then slowly made our way back to the school (and bed) with heavy stomachs.



Reflecting back on Montana, I have come the conclusion that these are the most beautiful 11 days of the trip. Montana is truly a gorgeous state with an abundance of lakes, mountains, and breathtaking views.

How is Idaho going to top this?

Missing Montana Already,
James
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Today was dedicated to the men of the Kalispell firehouse, who generously opened their (immaculate) living/work space. Thank you for all that you do and for making our trip possible!


Thursday, August 2

Day Fifty-Seven: Kickin' it in Kalispell

This morning we awoke and were told to leave Whitefish at our leisure, as we only had to bike 16 miles south, backtracking to Kalispell. Our next host was the Kalispell fire house.

Of course, the fact that the ride was only 16 miles did not stop Megan and I from getting lost along the way. It turns out that GPS doesn't work so well out West. Whoops.



Once we finally found the fire department and settled in, we got to check out the area. It reminded me of the New Jersey suburbs--a cluster of shopping plazas and parking lots placed along busy highways. Did I mention our host was hidden behind a Costco?



Tonight I'm drifting off to sleep while watching lightning dance in the far off hills. It's a mesmerizing way to softly greet sleep.

Sleeping Soundly,
James
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Today was dedicated to the oldest member of the church we stayed at in Whitefish, who continues to battle cancer and live her life to the fullest.


Day Fifty-Six: An Epic Day of Glacial Proportions

I returned to Glacier to travel back to the top of Logan Pass and hike the Hidden Lake Trail.
It felt like a scene from a movie--a group of adventurous young folk scaling the mountainside, hiking through snow and stream. The strong winds only added an element of novelty and fun.


















The day didn't stop there; after hiking we proceeded back down the mountain for a team building activity of whitewater rafting (pictures which I do not have access to, yet). The water was freezing, but the rapids were fun and any day out on the water is a great one.

Later this evening I ventured into town to explore Whitefish, which I found to be a bit too touristy and seasonal for my taste.



In short, today was AWESOME. I got to revisit Glacier, hike, whitewater raft, and explore a new town. Rest on a rest day? Nope, not today.

Winding Down,
James

Day Fifty-Five: Finding Whitefish

We left Polson, headed for Whitefish.
We made it to Whitefish, and then ventured into Glacier National Park...where we got lost for seven hours trying to pick up the mail.

There's no other place I would rather get lost. Take a look:

Leaving Polson, MT


Our route was along the west side of the lake


A picturesque vineyard




Entering Whitefish

Glacier, the most beautiful region of the whole trip...























I love Glacier so much that I'll be venturing back there tomorrow for a hike.

Awaiting Adventure,
James

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Today was dedicated to our hosts in Polson, for opening their space and giving us a roof.

Tuesday, July 31

Day Fifty-Four: Pushing to Polson

What a beautiful day to ride!

Today we left Missoula for Polson, a lakeside town about 70 miles north of the city.
I'm happy to report that it was an uneventful day: no accidents, no wrong turns, no poor weather--just the team putting another notch in the belt.

A land bridge for the animals--we passed under it on the way to Polson.


Descending into Polson, MT


Our lunch stop, about a mile from the host.


Tonight we're staying at a church that doubles as a school, with access to showers, internet, and laundry. I've nestled myself in a classroom corner, setting up my laptop on a desk. I feel as if I'm back in my dorm room, typing away at some assignment. It's a nice feeling of familiarity.

Still, many unfamiliar places lie between me and the finish line--and I'm excited for each and every one of them.

Into the Unknown,
James
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Today was dedicated to the children at Camp-Mak-A-Dream, for staying positive and joyful despite a difficult situation. I enjoyed meeting them, and wish them the best of luck in all endeavors.

Day Fifty-Three: Miss Missoula

Today I did something that I normally don't get to do--sleep.
I slept on-and-off 'til the later afternoon, at which point I finally got off the couch and decided to do something productive (I'm typically not someone to just lay around).

So after making myself presentable to the public, I gathered my dirty clothes (of which there was many) and clamored over to the nearest laundromat. I used the laundry time to siphon some WiFi and get some work done.

Later in the evening I wandered along the river as the sun set in the west:



People of all ages and backgrounds were using the riverside land. Some college students floated down the river in tubes, while others convened among the park benches, their dogs in toe.

It was a pleasure to have some time to myself to make phone calls and walk, just walk in my own pace and time to slowly relax. It feels like we're always rushing, moving forward, pushing westward--27 people, 27 opinions. After living within the same space with the team for so many days, it's enjoyable to have some alone time.

After ending my winding walk with a huckleberry ice cream cone (we are in Montana, after all), I scurried back to the host to get ready for the day ahead.

Westward,
James