Shaun Rides His Bike

Trans Am, Day 85: Dillon, MT to Wisdom, MT

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Shaun

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I don’t think I’ve had better roads on this entire tour. There was almost no traffic (in contrast to yesterday’s climb!), and the shoulder was adequate, if not ample. Furthermore, the drivers seemed more considerate than I’ve become accustomed to since Pueblo, Colorado. It could be due to the fact that there were usually really good sight lines, but they usually just got fully into the other lane to pass me. By the end of the ride, I was feeling pretty cheerful towards drivers in general, and I started waving at all of them. The ones traveling the same direction almost always waved, with their hands visible through their back windows. I only had one rude driver who passed very close, on a straight and flat stretch of road, with no other traffic visible. He was driving a Mercedes Benz convertible, with Texas license plates. Hmmm.

Today’s ride consisted of two climbs, with a valley between them: The Grasshopper Valley. Once I crossed the Big Hole Pass, I was in Big Hole Valley. These two valleys have enormous cattle ranches, and there are fields where hay has been baled into giant cylinders that literally go on for miles. These valleys are beautiful, and the people are friendly. I stopped for lunch in Jackson, MT. There was only one restaurant open on Thursday, and I talked to some locals about the valleys and cattle ranching. The people who live here love it here, and I can see why!

Dawn outside of Dillon, MT.
Dawn outside of Dillon, MT.
Abandoned cabin with (I believe!) a sod roof!
Abandoned cabin with (I believe!) a sod roof!
This area looked just like the areas surrounding Taos, NM.
This area looked just like the areas surrounding Taos, NM.
Looking down over the Grasshopper Valley
Looking down over the Grasshopper Valley
Another pass! 😁
Another pass! 😁
Taken just past the summit of Big Hole Pass - another Lewis and Clark waypoint.
Taken just past the summit of Big Hole Pass – another Lewis and Clark waypoint.
Eva and Ernst are from Switzerland, and they are experienced tourists who are doing the TransAm, heading eastward. I kind of thought I'd seen the last TransAm riders heading east, but they know what they're doing!
Eva and Ernst are from Switzerland, and they are experienced tourists who are doing the TransAm, heading eastward. I kind of thought I’d seen the last TransAm riders heading east, but they know what they’re doing!
A nearly pristine pair of Craftsman channel lock pliers, stamped "Made in the USA!"
A nearly pristine pair of Craftsman channel lock pliers, stamped “Made in the USA!”
When I crossed Big Hole Pass, the sky was mostly blue (as you can see above). After lunch in Jackson, the sky was mostly gray behind me. Completely coincidentally, I was listening to Beethoven's sixth symphony, the fourth movement, when I noticed this sight in my rear-view mirror. All of the hair stood up on my body at once.
When I crossed Big Hole Pass, the sky was mostly blue (as you can see above). After lunch in Jackson, the sky was mostly gray behind me. Completely coincidentally, I was listening to Beethoven’s sixth symphony, the fourth movement, when I noticed this sight in my rear-view mirror. All of the hair stood up on my body at once.
This is a Beaverslide, used to create tall haystacks more easily. They were invented right here in the Big Hole Valley! Some farmers still use them.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaverslide
This is a Beaverslide, used to create tall haystacks more easily. They were invented right here in the Big Hole Valley! Some farmers still use them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaverslide

This was my road for almost all of today's ride. Yes, it is chipseal, but my 1.5" tires don't care. It was delightful!
This was my road for almost all of today’s ride. Yes, it is chipseal, but my 1.5″ tires don’t care. It was delightful!
Hay bales for MILES!
Hay bales for MILES!

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