Today we rode from Seeley Lake, Montana, US to Lincoln, Montana, US. Clouded day with sometimes a bit of sun, 10 drops of rain. Road conditions included gravel roads, paved roads, jeep tracks, lots of washboarding. Highlights of the day include sceneries from the passes, changes in scenery between forests and farmland, clouds.
Riding statistics: on Wednesday August 10, 2022, the 10th day on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route route, it took 10:16h (07:28h moving time), between 07:55 and 18:11, to cover 111 km (69 miles), including 1284 m (4213 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 15 km/h (9 mph). During today's ride the average temperature was 29 °C (88 °F) with a minimum of 16 °C (62 °F) and a maximum of 48 °C (126 °F).
Totals: So far, it took 2 days, 18 hours, 21 minutes and 16 seconds of cycling time to cover 949 km (590 miles), including 11141 m (36554 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 14.5 km/h (9 mph).
Leaving Seeley Lake
At 6.30 we were awake and started packing our gear and store everything on the bikes. We had a quick breakfast and left around 7.30. We first needed to go back 4km to the route since Seeley Lake was just off route. From there we had lots of gravel road, but all fine to ride on. We have seen many elk and cows this morning. There have been some climbs but not that important. The bigger ones would be for the afternoon when its hot.
Ovando
Around 11:30 we arrived at Ovando. A very small community, living very much of the bikers (cyclists and motorcycles). There is a general store where we got some Huckleberry ice (which is apparently only available in certain parts of Montana). After enjoying our ice creams and eating some more unhealthy food we walked around to see the saloon, fishing store (with some bike parts), and checked out the wagon, teepee tent, and jail house, all in which you could sleep in as a cyclist passing by. After completing our break we continued our way towards Lincoln.
Huckleberry Pass
This afternoon we have to get over the Huckleberry Pass. Quite a high pass, but people in Ovando informed us that it is quite doable. Not too steep. It turned out they were right. Well, in fact there were some steep sections but somehow doable without having to stop too much. The road conditions were not always that good. A very rough and rocky road, so sometimes you need to balance with such low speeds and trying to avoid certain rocks. All in all, the road up to the top of Huckleberry Pass went well, and soon we were hoping for an awesome downhill. Unfortunately it went down, but the road was so rocky to we could not go down full speed. Way too dangerous. In to make it all more fun, there were still two uphills included, both with a distance of 2+km. However, we managed to complete those successfully as well, and after that we could enjoy a nice downhill on a good road surface. After several miles of gravel road we got to the town of Lincoln.
Lincoln
Lincoln is a very small town and at first we went to the city Park to camp. Unfortunately there were no services and we were in a desperate need for a shower. Fortunately there is also a very small RV park in town, we we passed earlier, and they had places available for a very nice price, including shower (for bikers). After setting up the tents in the nice garden next to a small stream (and Elk walking around), taking showers, we went to the local bar for a burger (that is all they have on the menu, and even if you wanted to, there were no veggies on your burger, they don do that). Tomorrow we might try to get to Helena, but if would be the 4th long day in a row. We’ll see where we get.
Gallery
Your progress is really good! I had a little laugh about we have only burgers and we don’t do vegetables. Well it is what it is. Keep on riding and have fun!