Day 42 July 11, 2019

Note: this post appears out of order due to gremlins in the machine.—Ed.

Henry's notes for today:

Libby Dam

Day 42: Another early wake-up in Eureka's tent city, because we certainly wanted to be packed and out before the sprinklers came on at 7:30 am. We savored a hearty breakfast next to the local curmudgeons' table at Cafe Jax. Knowing that there were really no available services for essentially the entire 70 miles to Libby, we stocked up on provisions and fluids at the grocery store before leaving Eureka. Hwy 37 out of Eureka had a better shoulder, and the angst level riding this road was much lower than on Hwy 93 yesterday. Lake Koocanusa came into view, a 90 mile long reservoir which extends into Canada. Since crossing to the western side of the continental divide, the crystal clear waters have been a distinct and enticing contrast to the muddy rivers on the eastern side of the divide. We soon crossed Lake Koocanusa Bridge, the longest and highest bridge in Montana. The 46-mile scenic course on the west side of the reservoir was quite hilly, with the trade-off that we probably encountered less than a dozen cars on that stretch of road. Apparently, there is a sizeable Amish community on that side of the lake. Libby Dam is an engineering marvel. After passing the dam, we turned back onto Hwy 37 for the last 14 miles into Libby. There was notable headwind on this stretch.

Susie and Greg in the middle. Steve is on the right

Steve with the bike group after breakfast

Our Libby hosts for the evening were Dr. Greg Rice and his wife Susie. They have been avid bicyclists for decades, and Susie is responsible for initiating and continuing to organize STOKR (scenic tour of the Kootenai River) 25 years ago. STOKR is an annual 2 day bike ride out of Libby that supports Habitat for Humanity. Proceeds from the STOKR riders allows one Libby HFH house to be built every two years. Greg has been practicing family medicine for 42 years in Libby. We did some light maintenance on our bikes upon arrival, cleaning and lubricating moving parts. Linda's chain is still within tolerance. Susie had ice cream at the ready for our dessert after dinner, so that we would not go to bed with any unsatisfied cravings.













Maps of today's ride:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3835923633

https://www.relive.cc/view/u3660699964