Today we cycled from the Kreis Pond Campground to a dispersed campsite on the Olympian Trail between St Regius and Haugan. The morning started cloudy, but after a few hours we had lots of sunshine. We rode non-paved most of the day, except between Superior and St Regius.
Riding statistics: on Tuesday June 11, 2024, the 34th day on the Western Wildlands Route route, it took 11:02h (07:53h moving time), between 06:56 and 17:59, to cover 111 km (69 miles), including 1501 m (4925 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 14 km/h (9 mph). During today's ride the average temperature was 25 °C (80 °F) with a minimum of 8 °C (46 °F) and a maximum of 46 °C (122 °F).
Totals: So far, it took 10 days, 13 hours, 2 minutes and 33 seconds of cycling time to cover 3633 km (2258 miles), including 39944 m (131056 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 14.7 km/h (9.1 mph).
When we woke up this morning at the Kreis Pond Campground there was sunshine at the east and not so nice clouds at the west. We had to go west. Yesterday we introduced a detour to get to the campground, now we had to get back to our route. It turned out to be a little climbing and then 10km downhill on a nice gravel road. We were back on the Nine Mile drive which we left yesterday. We have to ride this nine mile drive to the end and further. After that we have to cross some mountains to get to Superior to get back on the official Western Wildlands Route.
The ride on the Nine Mile Road got more remote the further we got. Eventually no more houses or barns, the road changed from a wide gravel road into a smaller, less maintained road, into a double-track that had seen better days. Especially the water from rainfall and snow melt did not work out well for the road. Now many sharp rocks are loose and difficult to ride on. We had to climb over 600m in elevation over a distance of almost 10km. Though job, but someone got to do it.
When we reached the top we had magnificent views. And, we could start a downhill. Unfortunately, at first, the road surface was as bad as during our climb. So we had to be very careful. But eventually the road got better and better and the fun increased. Especially since my navigation send us over a section with a sign that it was not passable for normal traffic. That traffic had to take a longer alternative. We’ll, for our bikes it was great. Very steep switchbacks, I really needed both brakes, and after a while my hands started to hurt from braking. Big smiles all over.
The downhill ended in the town of Superior. That is where we bought some food for the afternoon, evening, and next morning. While eating our lunch we net two other bike-packers. Two friends knowing each other for years while to both lived in the far east. One American and one Australian. Together they have cycled a lot.
After finishing our lunch, we continued our ride. Via a back road we rode to St Regius. A very small town, basically living from being a highway stop. At the gas station we bought some cold calories. That included a local Montana Huckleberry milkshake. It tasted well.
Our ride continued on the Olympian Trail. A former railroad track, which is now a non-paved path for especially cyclists. We decided to look for a camp spot within 15km of the trail, because I read that after that the options aren’t great. At a certain moment Fons had again a nature call. As usual, I rode a bit further, stopped, and started snacking. This time I stopped at the side of the road where there was a clear view on the river that runs in parallel. The river was about 4 metersower than the road. I got my bag of mini chocolate chip cookies, opened it and started eating. All the time making some noise with the cookie bag. At the same time I heard a noise next to me, but down below. I looked down and there was a moose eating. It looked at me the same way I looked at the moose. And we both continued eating. It wasn’t too much bothered by my, and I enjoyed watching it. When Fons was done I called him silently Nd asked him to come over quietly. Apparently the moose did not like the view of Fons and we t away.
A little further we found a nice spot to setup camp.
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