Doug Gardner - Twin Bridges to campsite west of Missouri Flats....... Breakfast at Wagon Wheel, and started riding at 0730. Saw lots of deer, and antelope in nice ride to Alder in Ruby Valley. Prairie dogs, hawks,eagles, osprey abound. Next towns of Nevada City and Virginia City were working re-creations of towns from the gold-mining days. Old trains, passenger cars, saloons, lodges were decorated and weathered to look like a town from that era. Immediately after passing out of Virginia City we began a 3 mile climb up a steep mountain to Ennis. We sweated profusely, but made the pass and then had a roller coaster descent for many miles. A beautiful MT valley opened up in front of us.
We literally coasted many miles to Ennis, then had a late lunch in Sportman's Paradise. Back on the road at 3 pm for what we anticipated to be an easy gradual uphill. There were no services on our maps for miles so we stocked up for dinner and the following AM breakfast. We were quickly bogged down in a strong headwind making progress slow and fatiguing us quickly. We had little choice but to fight through it. I was proud of the group's persistence. David got a flat tire which slowed us as well. We fought on into the wind, finally reaching an RV park allowing tent camping, and the adjacent to the newly opened Grizzly Bar for dinner. Many parties in the place asked us about the Ride. We finished eating with darkness approaching, and set up our tents, showered. I called home and enjoyed getting caught up on what my family had been doing. It was getting cold!
2 comments:
Met this group at the Grizzley Bar and were very impressed with their fortitude. Despite an obviously very trying day, they were all smiles and ate heartily. Discussed their mission and where to spend the night. Will pass their goal on to my hiking group, but will wait a week as the local Cancer Relay is in progress in the Madison Valley. Good luck and will continue to watch their progress.
Doug, My name is Mariana and I met you with my boyfriend Clayton at Kim and JDs's going-away part for you. We are very impressed with your journey and I hope things are going well! It sounds like it has been rough at times, but very rewarding. Keep up the good work!!!
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