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!

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.

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

Day Fifty-Two: Makin' Dreams at Camp Mak-A-Dream

The ride to Missoula today was lovely, we ended up on a bike trail that ran parallel to the highway. However, the four flats my group experienced--one of them being my own---were not as pleasant. I feel as though our frequency of flats has increased lately, perhaps due to tire wear-and-tear. Can you really go over 3,000 miles on the same two average (or less than average, depending on your ideal level of quality) tires? No.

Luckily the ride was a shorter one, and we soon arrived safely (though on low tires) at our host for the evening. But the day didn't end there. Today we had a really great opportunity, one to warm the heart and feed the soul: a visit to Camp Mak-A-Dream. Camp Mak-A-Dream an oncology camp that hosts a variety of different camps and retreats for those of all ages who have been/are affected by cancer. This week was kids week, so Team Seattle got to spend the rest of the day off the bike and hanging out with children who had one goal only: to have fun!

And fun we had:

• I climbed a rock wall, 30 ft up, for the first time. I was shaking like a leaf by the time I reached the top. The kids looked like Spider man in comparison to my shaky-limb dangle.
• I hiked to the top of Butte Mountain--the steepest hike of my life. It was sunny, hot, and a challenge; but it was well worth the view and sense of accomplishment.
• I assisted in a tent set-up competition by helping to instruct a group of boys as they frantically raced to finish first. We didn't win (though we know that's only because the other teams cheated, obviously).
• I learned the game aska, which is basically Ninja with your feet. Get stomped on your foot and you're out.
• I attempted to fly fish, which was the weirdest sensation. My arm just doesn't make for a good metronome (those of you who are the least bit familiar with fly fishing will understand this, everyone else can ignore this bullet point, it's really not that important. I don't think I'll ever be an angler).
• I got to frantically disassemble the tent I helped set up as it began to storm, and run inside after all the campers.
• I sung songs with the campers around a fireplace while simultaneously trying to stuff my face with s'mores. Note: gooey s'mores plus singing doesn't mix, especially if you can't sing to begin with.
• Best of all, I got to meet and talk with all these really cool kids.

Successful day? Yes.

Tomorrow's another rest day. I plan on checking out Missoula and seeing what this new place has to offer.

'Til Tomorrow,
James

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Today was dedicated to the camp counselors at Camp Mak-A-Dream, a bunch of ambitious, adventurous cancer survivors.