Redeparture - Day 19, Missoula to Darby

The New Yorkers left Missoula yesterday, and today I got a late start on my quest to catch up with them. Historically I’ve been a lot faster than them, but that might change now that they sent half their stuff home. I’m also currently spending a couple hours in Sula to write every blog entry since Lewiston, which isn’t helping the chase. I did, however, spend a good 8 miles or so keeping pace with a Trans-America race participant, so that probably helped my time.

On a tip from Chris, I stopped in Hamilton to try a burger from Nap’s Grill. It was delicious but also huge, which turned out to be a bad thing. I could hardly move when I left the place, and only made it to Darby, about 60 miles, when I had hoped to push for Sula, which is a little farther and higher. I stealth-camped outside a fishing access at the top of a low cliff over the Bitterroot River, which is very fast-flowing and provided some pleasant white noise for the night. Of course, I didn't think to take a picture. This was also the first night that it has been cold enough for me to really appreciate my 20-degree sleeping bag.


Here's a large rural Montana store:

Here's a sign that some local kids had put up for the Trans-America bike race. It's not for me, but I signed it anyway.

Finally, it's not easy to read, but here's a billboard I saw that doesn't appear to be advertising anything besides the human quality of grit. It features John Wayne saying that he doesn't "much like quitters, son."