Day 27 – What a View
July 19, 2012
Start: Butte, MT
Finish: Mt. Fleecer
Today’s miles: 39.7
Total miles: 734.4
Splats: 0
Divide crossings: 1
Wildlife: 2 Elk
Wow, I just realized I forgot to get my ‘free’ coffee from the KOA campground office this morning. What’s wrong with me?
I left the campground around 8:15 to head to The UPS Store. Last night, I picked up supplies to ship ahead to myself. It cost me $18 to ship a box with three days of food to the Togowotee Lodge near Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. I guess that beats carrying eight days out of Lima!
After leaving town, I began climbing the 6th Continental Divide crossing. I felt strong the whole way up and was rewarded on the other side by pleasant riding through spectacular views, followed by a fun and fast descent back to my favorite Interstate 15. I stopped often to take pictures today and to update the Facebook page with the day’s events. This was the first day I’ve had service on the iPhone throughout most of the day, including tonight at camp. I wouldn’t count on this happening too often. It would probably be better if it didn’t anyway; Facebooking while riding is a dangerous combination. Plus, having internet in camp makes it hard to appreciate the mosquitos and flies swarming outside the tent.
After my speedy descent to I-15, I began another big climb up Mt Fleecer. I had planned on trying to navigate down the infamous Fleecer Ridge tonight, but the view from up top was just too good to pass up. I’m in a field of blue and white wildflowers with an expansive view of the valley. I can see Butte and the ground I covered today from my tent. It’s kind of hard to believe that I rode it all on a unicycle!
