Day 2 ….. I hope you like to climb…and climb, and climb!

After a hard day one, Ray and I look forward to a full day of riding on the Tour Divide.

We decided to spend the night in whitefish Montana, because the forecast called for rain until about noon. They weren’t lying…

We rode in the rain basically for the first 4 to 5 hours of the ride some of it heavy, some of it just a misty rain. After that the climbing started. We knew we had several clients in store for us throughout the day, culminating with what looked to be a fairly easy ride into Holland Lake. But as is usually the case, looks can be deceiving.

What we thought was going to be a quick 15 mile ride down the highway into town quickly went sideways and we were diverted off onto a dirt road and did another 1500 foot climb. It just never seemed to end! It was also on this 1500 foot climb that we were introduced to the Montana State bird! I have never seen mosquitoes so big, but when they hit you it feels like you’ve been hit by a moth!!

We also saw dozens and dozens of shownshoe hares! Beautiful!

At any rate we pushed and pushed and pushed trying to get to Holland Lake Lodge before the convenient store and restaurant closed, and in hopes of possibly finding a room there. What we found instead was that the store and restaurant were closed yesterday! They were nice enough to let us fill our water bottles which by this time were completely empty having gone through 7L. Forget to mention that we were also completely out of food at that point. As we looked for a tent site in the campground we were flagged down by the camp host and explained that there was a group campsite set up for cyclists. We must’ve looked pretty pathetic because his wife came out to the trailer door and gave us two cans of chicken noodle soup and some saltines. Thanks to Val and his wife!

They also let us know that the group campsite had freshwater.

That soup, some saltine she also gave us, was ALL the food we had starting Sunday! Not good.

Until next time!

Shane and Ray