Day 20, Sunday, August 6, 2012, Apgar, Glacier National Park, to Whitefish, MT

Day 20, Sunday, August 6, 2012, Apgar, Glacier National Park, to Whitefish, MT

A very cool morning in the park greeted our spinning. We overshot the turn off for the Adventure Cycling route and had to double back. 

About two miles down the road the pavement gave way to gravel. The ACA map did indicate gravel, but the dashes were pretty obscure until the map is in bright light and I have my sunglasses off. Mike took one look at the gravel and turned around to head back to the 2 freeway. I checked the road out attempting to find a track without washboard ruts. I found the track to be either far right or far left. I stopped to tell the remaining gang where to ride and they had surrounded a Subaru. The girls in the car told them, apparently, the road had always been gravel. An important question not asked was had they ever traveled the whole road? After talking with the boys they turned off into a driveway about half the distance between me and the gang. By the time I returned to the pavement Geno and Bob had taken off for the 2 freeway.  Herb, Jay, and Frank stayed behind to check it out for their selves. We rode back down the gravel to about the same place I had originally stopped. It seemed to rough. Too much washboard. We turned to go back and the Subaru emerged from the driveway as we pedaled back to the pavement. They smiled prettily and drove off.

Frank and Jay decided to take the freeway. Herb hung back. I looked hard at the map, in the light, and it seemed to indicate the gravel section was pretty short. I showed Herb and he was game to give it a longer try. Herb shot off finding a track to follow and I a bit more cautiously. It was mild downhill into an S turn and badda-boom we were on pavement.  Less than a mile of gravel. In fact only the first part I had originally tested had any washboard, the rest of the road being comfortable to ride.

We were rolling along when we came to a Y and standing off to the right were a couple. They were watching a black bear disappear into the trees about 25-30 yards down the road. I never clearly saw the bear. Maybe a dark silhouette was the bear. Herb saw the bear. Anyway Herb asked them about the road ahead, which way was Blankenship Road? Was it pavement or gravel? They impressed me as a little unobservant. they weren't sure about the road ahead although both were natives, born and raised in the Flathead Valley. The wife remembered to call her parents who brought their boat down to the lake frequently. While the wife was on the phone we told the husband about our trip, where we were headed next, etc. We got a report from the parents through the wife, which turned out to be quite accurate.

Down the road we went on pavement turning into pavement with less upkeep, but quite smooth and rideable. When we reached the bridge marking the spot on the ACA map where the road was paved all the way to Columbia Falls I stopped and took the two pictures below.

The Mcdonald River, right, joins the North Fork of theFlathead River, left. The Apgar Mountains inside Glacier National Park. Actually the rivers mark the boundary between National Park and private or public land.

 

Down stream from the meeting of the rivers. A favorite fishing spot, apparently.

We had good pavement and a tailwind with mild gradients on any inclines all the way to Columbia Falls.

We met up with the other five and made our way out of Columbia Falls to Whitefish on some nice back roads. We met several local cyclists also using the same route. 

     

Once in Whitefish Bob and I elected to find a bike shop open on a Sunday. I needed to get my rear wheel trued as it had 1000 miles on it without any attention.  It needed attention as it had some pretty good pulls to the side. No hops, though. The first bike shop sent us off to another bike shop when he heard it was a custom built wheel. He was honest about his ability. 

We rolled down Spokane Avenue, stopping at various motels to see if they had room and what their room rates were. We found the dedicated bike shop within a larger sports shop, reminding me somewhat of REI. The mechanic said he could have the wheel done by closing time on Monday. Bob wanted a replacement mirror and they had the exact same mirror for sale. While talking with the sales clerk he told where we might find an RV park with tent space. It was right across the road and was fronted by Cheap Sleep Motel. 

Turned out the motel office was the same for the RV unit, but the desk clerk indicated they had no tent space but plenty of motel space. So here we are in the lap of luxury again.  

Day 20 is a rest day in Whitefish. I am hanging out at the motel until my rear wheel is done.

Stats: T= 3:18, Mx= 30.7, Av= 11.2, El Gain= 1095, Mx Alt= 3287, ODO= 3712, D= 37.3,