Day 101- Big Sky, Montana

On August 11th, day 101 of our Northern Tier bike tour, we crossed out of Montana and into Idaho.  Riding in eastern and central Montana proved to be a real challenge for us. Despite the level terrain, the unending wind against us from the west was brutal, and the ride was made all the more difficult in the 100 degree heat.  Adding to this the focus-demanding, deadly cycling along busy Highway 2, and we found ourselves drained each evening.  

We popped into Alberta briefly to ride into Glacier Natl Park from the north, through Waterton Lakes Natl Park.  WOW! What a spectacular change in landscape, weather, and scenery we found here, with awe-inspiring views around every corner!  The Going-to-the-Sun Road of Glacier NP offered one of the most jaw-dropping alpine descents I could have imagined.  Undoubtedly, we'll be back to this very special place again one day.

Following weeks in the Great Plains, western Montana was refreshingly new-- mountainous, cooler, and green.  This change inspired a new vigor in us as we closed the final gap between us and the Pacific coast.

Onwards!

WE DID IT!!

WE DID IT!!
On August 18th, 2019, we arrived on the coast of the Salish Sea in Anacortes, Washington after setting out from Bar Harbor, Maine 108 days ago-- how surreal!  This summer we covered 4500 miles, tens of thousands of feet of elevation gain, and every type of weather the continent could throw at us.  How bitter-sweet to be finished!  Oh— and we raised almost $1000 for YouthCare along the way, with our fundraiser at: crowdrise.com/CycleForChange2019

This arrival marks the completion of a "triple-crown" of coast-to-coast bicycle touring for me, having now completed:
•Yorktown, VA -> San Francisco, CA in 2016
•Jacksonville, FL -> Los Angeles, CA in 2017
•Bar Harbor, ME -> Anacortes, WA, now!
A grand total of ~12,000 miles (half the circumference of the Earth)! I think I'll settle down now for a while-- if I can...

...the road awaits, and the mountains are calling.

Expect vlogs for Montana, Idaho, and Washington to be posted soon!

Day 77- Windy North Dakota

On July 18th, day 77 of our Northern Tier tour, we headed west out of Medora and crossed into Montana.  Our route in North Dakota boasts the longest straight road in the US, on Highway 46, which cuts through seemingly endless horizons of corn, wheat, and soy.  The dramatic thunder- and windstorms of the Great Plains are totally unique, and intimidatingly powerful.  The westerly wind was relentless, but we were rewarded for our effort when we arrived in the badlands of beautiful Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

It’s now onwards to the Rockies!