Coffee. This morning started off at 6:50, which for someone just crossing the timezone that is 5:50. So yes after I managed to get all my things packed I had some coffee and cereal with my host Keith. He had to go teach that's why I was vacating so early.
Today was going to be a leisurely day, couldn't get to my next location till sixish. Started off by getting some wifi at mc d's where I got in a few conversations with a locals group that was out for breakfast. They gave me some tips on the local roads and ways to avoid big traffic areas. Once I did start riding I was pleasantly surprised to have the road to myself for the first eighteen miles till I got to Libby damn. Yet again another twisting and turning road which hugged a railroad. I was able to stop and watch a few trains role by. Very impressive machinery, and so massive. It was painful to listen to the train as it was trying to stop right in front of me. I was a bit worried that the railroad conductor was gong to think I was someone trying to hop the rails. But it turned out ok.
As I moved my way north I passed Libby dam. It was a dam. Nothing to special, but the lake behind it was pretty low. That's what I road beside for the next forty-five miles. It was pretty hilly and it was super sunny. I created the cloud game today as I was riding. All it entails is staying in the shadow of a cloud or staying in the sun. And how you win is by getting to what you want. Example, if I was hot and wanted shade I would try and catch up to the shadow in front of me. If I was already in a shadow I would try and stay in it. Not to much to it. You can probably think of a few variations of the game. I guess you had to be there to get the full extent of it. So besides coming up with games I have started thinking of a certain idea and just mill that over in my mind. Today's thought was why I'm doing this bike trip. It was funny because today I ended up thinking more about the question than the answer and I really don't think many people have asked me why I'm doing this. I usually get asked where I'm going, how long, how many miles a day. :) Reminds me of a book called The Little Prince, if you have not read it I encourage you to. But anyways I thought it was interesting that the why has not come up and it got me thinking why did I do this trip. I mean it's a big change of life style for me and I have never spent more than one day consecutively on a bike or road more than 55 miles in a setting. A few things pop into my head, adventure, curiosity, and exploring. But those seemed to be all shallow reasons, not really the meat. Tragically I did not discover the in depth reasons for another couple of days. But maybe you could think of some reasons why I would do this. :)
Near the end of my ride I sure did find some climbing!! I pulled off the road and had a snack and chatted with some guys who were climbing. I guess there is about five hundred climbs in the area. I asked the guys if I could climb and they said sure but no me had my size in climbing shoes so i had to pass. As I was pulling into Eureka I saw my first road biker going the other direction. I got so excited, I don't know why, I didn't even know the guy. I think it revolves around the idea that it is someone who knows what I'm going through.
Tonight I stayed with Michelle and her daughter Zoe. Michelle works at the local clinic and is the only person there, along with a part time assistant. To say the least it sounds like she has seen a lot of different medical concerns in the short time she has been here. Her and her husband were looking to move into the country and build their own house and be off the grid! After about seventy miles today I hit they hay and went to sleep.
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