Thursday 7-5 Day 11

Start: Avon, MT.
End: Townsend, MT
Scheduled Miles: 60.8
Actual Miles: 60 .8

After my usual breakfast of oatmeal and juice we started out with a nice 11 mile climb. The first 7 miles weren't too bad but the last 4 were very steep, as we started to climb to the continental divide at McDonald pass. Those last four miles took all of 45 minutes to do. It was tough. But I kept thinking that if I could do Tony's record setting 46 minute climb spin session, I could do this. So if you were in his class that day, you can do this too! At the top of the pass was a sign proclaiming the divide and elevation 6325 feet above sea level! So we had to take the typical photos of course. Next was a 12 miles all down hill. The first six I did at speeds over 35 mph. Yee Haw! No pedaling. I've never gone that fast for that far before. (Which is just about what Tour de France riders do in the flats during team time trials.)

The rest of the 36 miles was somewhat uphill with headwinds, very tough. Scenery range from coming down off the mountains to rolling hills, with cattle ranches on either side. We're still in a "valley" but the mountain ranges are slowly spreading apart.

Rolled into Townsend and stopped in town for my first cheeseburger of the trip (at a local cafe, so far no chains) and a few supplies.

Tonight we stayed at the high school and with temps in the high 90's many opted to "camp" in the gym including myself. Dinner was put on by a local Lutheran Church, steamed vegies, salads and CHICKEN CORDON BLEU! Desserts were typically Lutheran, and I introduced a fellow rider to rhubarb crisp and pineapple pistachio fluff. Good Eats!

Tonight it will be early to bed, we have a 101 mile day tomorrow and temps are expected to be over 100 degrees. We should be on the road by 6AM to avoid as much of the daytime heat as possible.