Note: Dan is providing a brief update for Liz
Sunday was a rest day and Monday was a very light ride day – only 28 miles. Leaving the West Glacier area Elizabeth gets a picture of the decorated village.
Elizabeth had a good friend Lois from our time living in Fremont, California whose son lives in Whitefish, MT. Elizabeth arranged to meet him at a bar after she arrived in Whitefish.
Tuesday, August 29 the riding starts back in earnest – 64 miles and 2700 feet of climbing on the route from Whitefish to Rexford.
The route was on Highway 93 Northwest adjacent to a number of rivers and lakes. Where an alternative road was available, the route sidestepped off of 93 but unfortunately there were not many alternates. The weather was ok but there was smoke – Elizabeth rode with her mask again to try and filter as much as possible.
Unfortunately Elizabeth found the residents and drivers in this part of Montana very unfriendly to cyclists – something she really had not encountered in the over 3600 miles already covered. Traffic was bad enough on 93 but horns, people yelling, etc. made this a rather unpleasant day.
Just before 2pm Elizabeth turns off of Hwy 93 on the final 5 mile stretch to Rexford Bench Campground on the shores of Lake Koocanusa.
Wednesday the forecast was for rain — lots of rain — for the entire day of 64 miles and 4200 feet of climb. After the traffic encountered on Tuesday there was concern about the days planned route on Highway 37. Elizabeth looked and found an alternative route that would cross the Koocanusa Bridge and be on a less traveled road on the west side of the lake.
Before 9AM Elizabeth gets a photo of a fellow rider crossing the Koocanusa Bridge. Below you can see the cloudy skies that dumped rain the entire day. These were some of the few photos of the day since Elizabeth kept her phone bagged to protect it from the rain.
Elizabeth is greeted (below) as she finishes the cold, rainy ride. Elizabeth was the only female who chose to ride – the others opted for a van ride to the Woodland RV Park that was to be their overnight spot. However, Elizabeth reported excellent scenery — even in the rain — and almost no traffic. Soaked through and through, Elizabeth is happy to be done and ready to try and find a way to dry out and warm up!
I am seeing that our Liz is very “bike fashionable”!
Outstanding- so brave and strong. 👏🏻🫶
Way to go Liz!! So disappointed people were shi**y in Montana. It’s too bad, because the land is beautiful! Onward and upward!
Hi Elizabeth! You are amazing! Keep pedaling! We are currently in Banff and Lake Louise and will miss you by about two weeks when we drop back down through Montana. Wish we could have crossed paths. You got this girl! Your momma would be so proud!
Margaret N
Liz, I’m trying to picture how Barbara would be responding to these posts. I can see her with an atlas, studying the route you’re taking each day and quietly having you in her thoughts always, praying for your safe arrival at the ocean’s edge.