Melancholy Day

From Sunday July 1st, I think, maybe its Saturday, no cell or cell data service again, maybe for a while now. Rode 87 miles from Missoula to Condon (yes I got the spelling right, no spell checker on the Treo thing that I know of. Was a beautiful day, but Martha left yesterday. Martha rode the second segment, from Breckenridge to Missoula. We both rode about the same speed and are the same age, so we kind of naturally hung together. We rode together some, often she would be ahead of me she was a very strong cyclist. But often we would ride together. We would clean and work on our bikes together and usually sit next to each other at dinner. She had a great sense of humor, a wonderful laugh, and was a very pleasant person to be around. But yesterday was her last day on the tour. I helped her break down her bike and pack it in the bike box. In a way I kind of felt like packing my bike up too, but there is still the third part to go. That day to pack up my bike will come soon enough, a w
eek from this Thursday. The time on this tour has gone by neither slowly or quickly, just one day at a time.
Then Martha and I had some cheese and crackers and a beer, walked into the town of Missoula for awhile. Then dinner last night andthen said a very quick goodbye, I am not much for long goodbyes.
So today I rode alone again on my bike with one yellow tire and one black tire. I am going to use the one yellow tire to remind myself of all the troops keeping our country free, much like the yellow ribbon.
Tomorrow we have a century day as we ride into Glacier National Park. Then we ride up Going to The Sun road, only 2 days after its been open for the season. They have to use heavy road construction machinery to get the snow off the road to get it opened. The last time I went up Going to The Sun Road, it was raining, wet and cold. The next day the road was closed for snow, hoping for better weather this time.
Keep the rubber side down Martha.
- Mountain Lion