Yesterday AM I waited @ Bracket TH at the N end of Bangtail divide trail awaiting a hitch hike shuttle ride to S end of trail. 26 degrees @ wake up so cold that doubled down blanket didn’t cut the cold that i turned on the heater. I waited geared up and ready to go if a ride should appear. No such happening. The sun warmed things up. No ride @ 10:00AM which was cut off time for me to pedal up the 4 miles to the high spot of the Bangtail as an out and back then ride down. I pedaled up. Took 58 mins to pedal 1752′ and 20 mins to fly back down. I encountered more hikers than bikers. Great hump up to the fly back down. I read Better Ride web site article about body position that I adjusted my position to which made an improvement in my bike handling ability.
At the TH I prepared for drive to Helena first stopping @ Rosauers for groceries. I Googled bike shops in Helena as I needed and open shop to buy the local trail map. I found Big Sky who is a Turner dealer. The GPS put me in front of the store before closing. I walked in. I bought the local trail map. I used their rest room. On the toilet tank I found 2 mags, one was the MBA issue 12/ 2010 that had my Riders who inspire article. Almost as if the shop was expecting me. I shared the mag w/ the shop personnel.
No camping in town. I drove W on US 12 to MacDonald Pass to Cromwell Dixon XG. I stayed here years ago on an earlier trip when I had my VW Westie. Today I sought out that camp site. It was occupied but the site across the road was empty which is where the guy who told me about living on the road for 33 years was camped. Our conversation that night planted the idea of my present odyssey. Thank you.
Today I drove back down to Helena to ride local trails that are right out of historic downtown. I drove up Davis road. As I was getting ready a truck stopped behind me. A guy greeted me. It was Eric from Hailey who remembered me. As he talked my memory recalled our events @ Sun Summit South. Eric rebuilt my headset and worked on my fork. He makes custom made frames. Eric gave me a ride idea outside of Boulder, MT that I will hit Tues. Smoke from forest fires have blanketed Sun Valley such that the air is bad to exercise in which is why Eric drove up here.
So I rode a bit of the trails climbing Ascension peak which offered a peak view of Helena. More better trails here. My solar shower was propped on the dashboard to soak up solar warmth. I took a tepid shower @ the TH.
I enjoyed a pint of beer @ Blackfoot River brew pub. I parked under a tree for shade and internet access.
I plan on returning to same XG which is almost 2,000′ above town. I am acclimating to altitude sleeping high and playing low.
I bought a plastic self stowing white wine glass @ a local shop. Some day when I enjoy a white wine I have the proper vessel to drink it from instead of a coffee mug.
Eric laid out a ride that I will do tomorrow.