Day One: Check

     Well, there it is. Day one wrapping up. I am in camp just south of Darby, MT and what a day it's been.

     I left Missoula much later than I had planned. But doing so meant that the temperature had already risen and I didn't have to layer up. 

     The roughest part of the day was navigating Highway 93 between Missoula and Lolo. There is no off highway bike/ped path so I had to climb my first hills of the day on the narrow shoulder with cars and trucks whizzing by. When I'm driving, I always make an effort to slow down or move over for cyclists. Many thanks to the motorists who did this for me today. 

     After this treacherous section, it was smooth sailing through to Hamilton. I stopped briefly in Victor for a delicious lunch of PB&J tortillas and a Jazz apple. 

     I rolled into camp around 6pm, attended to shelter, water, food, and then some much needed relaxation. I am still always shocked by how delicious rehydrated food can be after a long day.

     After dinner, I bomb proofed camp and have crawled into my tent so I can update you all and catch some Zzz's.

     Tomorrow will be a big day. I have my first big passes to climb which I am sure will kick my butt. I'm already a bit sore from today's 70ish mile ride. I can honestly say that I'm looking forward to my first day off. 

     As always, thanks for tuning in, I'm excited to continue my journey tomorrow morning!

-Morgan

The Sounds of the Trip

     I've been trying to decide whether or not to bring music along for my ride. I listen to my tunes (one ear only) while riding around town and the notion of creating a monster playlist is very appealing. But I've decided to not listen to any music for the length of my trip.

     There are obvious safety issues associated with listening to music while riding a bike. The two biggest problems are that you can't hear traffic coming and you might be rocking out too hard and fall off your bike. But neither of these are the reason I decided to leave the iPod at home. 

     I read the title of an article once that posed the question of whether runners were listening to their music or to their run. I assume that the rest of the article touched on the ideas of immersion in one's environment and understanding how the body is feeling and reacting to the stress of exercise. But I didn't read it. So, I'm only speculating.

     The title of this article did get me thinking though; how do I want to experience this journey? Do I want it to be saturated with the all too familiar whining of Ke$ha and Taylor Swift or do I want to really hear my ride?

     I decided on the latter.

     The sound track to my trip will be the noises I encounter along the way. Some will be pleasing (the wind whistling through my helmeted hair, the tweeting of birds), some will be irritating (the noises of traffic), and some will be frightening (the roaring of trucks whizzing by,  the growls of animals attracted by my steak body spray).

     Good or bad, this mix of sounds will be unique to this trip.

     No other person will hear this same collection of noises.

     It will be the symphony of my trip. 

     The perfect soundtrack to my journey. 

-Morgan 

The Route

      Finally complete, I'm happy to share the route that I will be taking to Colorado. Google Maps has the total distance summed up at 977. The bulk of the trip will be on a section of the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, a trail system that crosses the entire United States. I will find my way with the help of some old-timey paper maps published by The Adventure Cycling Association.

TransAmerica Sections 4-6 Maps

     There will be 16 days of biking through four states, three national parks, and a dozen or so passes. I have a number of rest days built into the trip that will serve to keep me as fresh as possible.

     My average day will be 56.6 miles, the shortest will be 25 and the longest will be about 90.

     Now that I have the trip laid out in front of me the task ahead is looking daunting, but doable.  The days will be long and strenuous but very rewarding.

     I am itching to get on the bike and go, but there are still some preparations to make. Stay tuned for more to come in the next few days before I embark on my journey.


-Morgan

Biking & Blogging

     

     I'm not a blogger, nor am I a biker for that matter, but this summer I will be doing a whole heck of a lot of both.

     I am fortunate enough to be working again this summer for The Road Less Traveled, an experience I am wildly excited for. We have a phenomenal time at staff training in Colorado before each leader team heads off to their respective trips. Before all of that begins, however, we need to get there; some fly, some drive, and this summer, I will be touring from Montana to Colorado on a bicycle.

My Noble Steed in the Beautiful Missoula Valley

     The steed I will be riding (right) is a Trek 7000FX, with recent upgrades to the drive-train, shifters, breaks, wheels, tires, and pedals; and a pretty sweet set of racks and panniers to help me haul gear. I should take this time to thank the good folks over at Missoula Bike Source for taking care of me and my bike. And a huge thank you to the First Bank of Mom for helping fund the upgrades. With the support of these amazing people, I am feeling good about the approximately one-thousand miles (each way) and the small hills (a.k.a. the Rocky Mountains) that stand between me and my destination.

     I've decided to blog my journey and do my best to bring the experience to you, my adoring fans who certainly will number in the thousands. This was the advice I got from a friend who bikes a lot more than I do. Take pictures, write a blog, and stay hydrated. Good advice, but not the super-secret tip I was hoping for that would have made my trip a piece of cake. Blogging is foreign to me, so I will not only be learning about bike touring, but also about how to make this the best blog I can.

     So there you have it. This will be the most I have ever biked and the most I have ever blogged. It goes without saying that I am going to have an amazing adventure this summer that I anticipate will be filled with struggles and achievements, pain and pleasure, sore muscles and a clear mind. I am excited to see the world at a slower pace than most do when traveling. I am excited to find out about my environment, my bike, and myself; and to share those experiences with you.

     Thanks for reading. I know I am looking forward to the adventure ahead. I hope you are too.

-Morgan