Saturday July 10, 2010

We left Ray’s Road Side Camp, had to install a better homes and gardens pad to help cushion Bill Bartunek’s buns. Headed out on North Fork Road full of traffic and dust to Red Meadow Lake Road where we started our assent to Whitefish Divide at 5,560 ft above sea level in a nine mile stretch, unlike yesterday when we gained that altitude in two miles.

Contrary to popular belief a bear not only craps in the woods, but also on the road that goes through the woods, as we had to avoid several piles of “stuff.” Stopping at Red Meadow Lake Rob spots a bear cub running across the meadow, only it had a long fuzzy tail and barked.

Leaving Red Meadow Lake we start our descent in two to three miles we never had to turn our bike peddles once coasting down the mountain anywhere from 18 to 28 mph. We had three incidents two with Jude, she scrapped up her shin with her peddle and had her bake stick. Irene lost her chain.

Turning onto Lower Whitefish Road a motorist stopped to tell us he had seen a bear cub one mile up the road only it had no momma with it. Bunching up like a covey of quail we started up the road and never met up with the bear.

Finally arriving in Whitefish, Mt. we passed a bike shop where we dropped about $130 on bike supplies. Then off to our campsite two miles off the trail our camp wench had BEER ready. Thank Goodness for the camp wench, Pam, and camp organizer, Darrel, or we could never survive this ordeal. All said for our 50 mile day.