Missoula, Montana

My day of stupidity.

Got an early start to summit Lolo Pass. Traced the river upward under postcard skies. Stopped about 10 a.m. for breakfast at Lochsa Lodge in at the Powell Ranger Station. Although I had been climbing since leaving Kooskia, it had been about a continuous 2% elevation. Now it increased to 6%. Finally summitted and decided I’d try for Missoula since my map showed it was basically 47 miles all downhill to here. In short, they were a long 47-miles and not all downhill. I dragged in here about 4:30 p.m. (I gained an hour when I crossed into MT) pretty beaten up. Before getting a room I had a bike shop install a new chain set (all those teethy things on the rear wheel hub) and chain. The old set was worn, resulting in sloppy shifting and the chain had stretched. After collapsing in my room I realized I had done 99 miles. No wonder I felt exhausted, weak and not too steady. Following a shower, I stumbled around and found a brew pub where I drained two Moose Drools in quick order.

I’ll lay over here tomorrow to let my body recover and to let the lesson of pushing too hard sink.

Tra la, tra la.