7/1-Well…I Was Warned!

Since breakfast wasn’t ready until 8:00, I didn’t need to get up at the butt-crack of dawn. I wasn’t going to miss one of Scott’s muffins. Today was blueberry…delicious! 

It was still kind of chilly so I wore my leg warmers, and my arm warmers over my hoody, but I didn’t wear my puffy jacket. 

The majority of the route to Drummond was downhill on the highway. 

It is July 1st afterall

Highway miles

Welcome back shadow!

I finally stopped at this historical marker to take off the leg warmers and arm warmers. 

As I continued on the hwy, I saw this funny sign. I think it was for the museum. 

The museum, and yes, it was open

Lots of metal animals

I wasn’t too far out of Drummond by now. I rode in on a back road. It went right by the Drummond City Park that allows camping. 

This is where I would have stayed if I’d been able to make it. 

In Drummond, I stopped at the convenience store for some chocolate milk and a snack. I was 27 miles in and it was about 10:00. Not bad. 

From Drummond I was ever so gradually climbing on a frontage road along I-90. I stopped to take my yellow shirt off as it was getting warmer. I looked back, and saw a cyclist approaching. I knew immediately that it was Dan. I’d wondered if he would catch me today. We chatted for a moment. He was also heading to Deer Lodge, but staying in a hotel. I also suspected, but didn’t think to ask, that he was doing a different route into Deer Lodge. With what came next, I’m absolutely certain he did. 

Bye Dan!

The frontage road had those annoying cracks every few feet. I found if I rode smack dab in the middle of the road, they weren’t so bad. 

I turned off the frontage road at Gold Creek. There was one of those “Make-a-wish” camps. Only they called it “Make -a-Dream”. 

Just a handful of miles later, I turned onto Old Stage Road. At first it was paved, but then it turned to gravel. But, it was good gravel. 

Short break for a snack. 

Interesting little shack

Awesome gravel!

I had started a 4.3 mile climb. Things were going great. Then the route continued onto a much less great road. 

Less gravel, more dirt. 

Uh oh, this must be the part the guy who commented on my blog post said might be mud…but just for a mile or two. Let’s just say, I was warned! It was indeed muddy, and for way more than a mile or two. In fact, more like about 8 of the 10 miles of “gravel”. 

Twice I had to scrape the mud off the tires and the chain stays. Fortunately, the drivetrain stayed pretty clean.

Sometimes, there was a side route

The scenery was pretty good though. 

There were 3 more climbs after the 4.3 mile climb. Two were 1/2 mile long climbs, and one was 1 1/2 miles.

One of so many lake puddles to negotiate. For this one, I climbed up on the grass on the left.

I saw only one side by side the entire mud section, and it was just before the last climb. I told them it was pretty muddy that direction. They were surprised I had come that way.

More views

The cows were curious as to why I would choose to do this. I was too.

You can see the last climb in the distance. 

From the top of the last climb, it was mostly downhill all the way to Deer Lodge, but there were still muddy bits and puddles to weave through. Finally, I could see the town. 

Down down down

Finally on pavement into town.

I stopped at a burger place that said it was and A&W, but it wasn’t. They did have A&W root beer! As usual, since the chocolate milk and snack in Drummond, I had eaten very little. I was suddenly quite hungry. 

Refueled, I headed for Indian Creek RV and Campground. Of course, it is next to I-90, but I don’t care. For the first time on this trip, I’m camped on grass. Should be comfy. Penny, in the office, said Welsh Chris was here a week ago. He is riding a lot of I-90.

My new friend. She’s a tripod (3 legs).

Tomorrow I should make it to Butte. So looking forward to getting my Brooks saddle. Although, my butt wasn’t too bad today, even though I did 61 miles. Of course, that’s because I had so much hike-a-bike through the mud.