Ride the White Line

We received further confirmation from the ranger office in Bigfork that our planned bike route was heading for a closed area. The Montana highway 83 is closed, the Forest Service back-roads west of the Bob Marshall Wilderness area are closed, and Seeley Lake has been evacuated because of the Jocko Fire. Our only option is to ride around the closed areas on some major highways, and then regain our planned route near Lincoln Montana.

We began our new route by riding south along the east side of Flathead Lake on Highway 35. The lady at the Bigfork Ranger station did not recommend biking this road because there is no shoulder and lots of traffic. However, there really was no other option for us since we are going south. Our first mile on this road was not very encouraging as we passed two roadside memorial crosses, a freshly smashed fawn, and a funeral home on top of the hill. At least we had a nice view of Flathead Lake. The worst traffic came from the logging trucks with two trailers. The allowance for a bike along the side of the road was especially thin when two of these large rigs were passing each other. The best we could do was ride the white line along the edge of the road. This was especially difficult when the guard rail was just above the white line, which forced us to ride on the left side of the white line.

Thanks to roadside signs, we learned this highway was created in 1917 by Montana state convicts. Other than being paved and adding guard rails this road has not changed in 90 years. The convicts had a blatant disregard for the safety of future cyclists when laying out the plan for this road. Therefore, I believe our current convict George Bush and the entire Bush Administration should be placed in a chain gang, and they should build a pedestrian/bike path along this highway. This project could both save a cyclist, and our country from the rest of the world. I would be happy to supervise.  However, we eventually made it to the end of the highway just in time for 10 minutes of torrential hail and rain. I think the lightning probably started more fires than the rain put out. For now the rain has cleared the smoke and falling ash from the air. Highway 93 to Missoula was a much better road. We commando camped Wed. night hiding in the grass of a National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge was complete with deer, geese, ducks, chiggers, and a weasel. Last night at the Missoula KOA Campground, we are treated to car alarms, screaming children, and people in yellow shirts driving golf carts. I miss the chiggers. After one more day of going east on highway 200, we should be able to rejoin our planned route along the Great Divide at Ovando. We both can’t wait to get back on the trail and be in a place a little less civilized.