Day 54 Week 8, Thursday 12 June 2025

This was a tougher ride today!  It started with a 1900 ft hill climb with up to 7% grade in places.  Going to Dillon Wyoming through Twin Bridges which is the Northernmost part of our route across the US.  By now the hills are not so tough, just have to grind through them.   The downhill was quite steep at first, up to 7%.  I don’t like to go to fast so I was pulsing brakes on the way down, maxing out at 32 mph or so.  The second part of the ride after the turn South at Twin Bridges was tougher.  We had a quartering head wind and the scenery was not that spectacular. Plus there was NO shoulder and quite a few trucks, many cattle trucks, zooming by at 70 mph.  In most cases they would change lanes to pass- it was only a two lane road, but several trucks passed WAY too close for comfort.   After the initial climb we passed by the towns of Virginia City and Nevada City.  I stopped by Virginia City for a coffee and pastry at the Train Depot, then went to the museum at Nevada City.  Fascinating collection of old buildings from the 1800s, arranged like a small town.  You could actually go in the buildings and they were outfitted as they were originally.  The barbershop with the old barber chairs, the apothecary with all the old racks of medicines, the saddlery with all the instruments for making saddles, a livery stable with all these old carriages.  The buildings were all log construction, some with lap-siding on the front.  Sidewalks were made of wooden boards and they had hitching posts for the horses.   They also had a crazy exhibit of mechanical organs used fairs and merry go rounds.  A huge band organ that mimicked the sound of an entire band, complete with drums.  Really cool. 

Everyone got into camp at different times, but by 4 PM we were all present and accounted for!   No flat tires today!   We are staying at a bikers hostel, the Bike Walk Southwest Montana Hostel.  Pretty cool place, run by a fellow who just loves bikes.   He fixes up bikes and gives them away to people who need a bike but can’t afford it. 

Here are the RidewithGPS stats:

Here is today’s video