Day 29, Wednesday, August 15, 2012, Hamilton to Sula, MT

Day 29, Wednesday, August 15, 2012, Hamilton to Sula, MT

The al fresco dining, August 10, at the Laughing Horse Restaurant.

Taken with my iPhone. I had forgotten they were there.

 

Hamilton: the setting sun through the smoke.

 

 

Notice the brightness to the left of the smoke and sun. It was clearing sky to the south.

Woke up before the alarm went off. Laid there waiting for the alarm to go off. Turned the alarm off after it went off. Laid there another half hour, then I got up. Fixed myself a cup of coffee with the room's coffee maker. Drank it and ate a chocolate chip cookie left over from last night's dinner. Then, I dressed for the day and went to breakfast. I was the last one there, but the waitress was johnny-on-the-spot and so was the kitchen staff. 

We had discussed the night before riding a parallel street through Hamilton. Herb led the way to the first turn and we had a quiet journey across Hamilton. The 93 was busy heading south toward Darby. Not too long after I noticed a parallel bike path again and dropped down on to it. We rode the bike trail until it ran out after, maybe, two or three miles, maybe more. 

We stopped  in Darby for snacks and coffee, although Geno put away most of a chili dog special. I, on the other hand, put away a good size cinnamon roll.

 

 

What Trapper Peak looked like today.

The ACA profile of the ride to Sula indicated there was approximately 700 feet to be gained and a drop of a couple hundred into Sula. The profile showed several distinct ups. What turned out was an imperceptible climb at a steady one or two per cent then a quick drop into Sula.

After we got our cabins and had some lunch (the kitchen closed down at 1:30 and reopens tomorrow at 7 AM.) I took off to explore the unpaved road to Gibbon's Pass. The actual road was a hard packed sand that would have occasional soft spots when either the front or rear wheel or both might wash out. After a couple of wash outs I became more vigilant in trying to see those areas. There was some wash board, but climbing up and rolling over wash board surface wasn't much of a problem. I determined to ride as far as the first ranch, which turned out to be an abandoned B&B. The road made a serious turn up into the hillside and showed much more serious wash out or runoff gullies one would have to dance along the edge of while pedaling a bicycle with loaded panniers. It looked like less fun and after the descent of what little I had climbed it all seemed too daunting. The wash board became teeth chattering, although they did dampen the speed. The soft sandy spots were just as treacherous going down as they were going up. To make sure of my decision I stopped in at the Sula Ranger Station and asked if the road over the top was the same as the climb to the top. The lady reiterated what a sign had said, the road is not maintained, much. There could be a tree down or a large boulder in the road. 

I then rode out the East Fork road to find the wildlife viewing area. I never did find it and turned around at a log cabin community center to head back to the Sula Country Store park.

Geno and Mike are in bed. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS? IT'S 6:15 PM. IT'S STILL DAYLIGHT (for another 3 hours). Boy, no tv and no wifi and some people don't know what to do with themselves. What's worse is they will start rattling around the cabin at 5 AM (or earlier), turn on the lights cause they can't see a thing, BECAUSE IT'S DARK OUTSIDE!!!

   

Stats: T= 3:34, Mx= 28.3, Av= 12.8, El Gain= 1310, Mx Alt= 4606, ODO= 4009, D= 45.8 (about 9-10 miles extra)