After breakfast Richard and I perused a Montana map and he graciously agreed to drop me off in Big Sky where the road widened with healthy shoulders. The weather was perfect for starting a cycling expedition – sunny but cool, no wind. I cycled about 50 miles to West Yellowstone – 30 miles gently uphill and then 20 miles coasting, entering Yellowstone National Park about ½ way. Great feeling to be back on the trail again after five yeras….although that damn trailer feels like I’m dragging a boat anchor!
I tent camped at Grizzly RV Park ($11) and met Harvey, a TransAmerica cyclist from Idaho. Harvey is riding a Trek 520 touring bike – same model I used for my 1996 TransAmerica Virginia-to-Oregon expedition with Adventure Cycling Association (ACA). Harvey recently retired from the LAPD and is on his way to Denver to visit his son before his deployment to Iraq. For dinner we loaded up on trashy carbs at the new McDonald’s and bedded down about 10pm.
