It was such a treat to catch some Z’s in a hotel last night! A good night’s sleep really helps both of us feel less grumpy and more awake. We hit the road bright and early at 5:45 AM, heading from Kalispell to the Canadian border, where our adventure would begin.
The drive to the border gave us a chance to take a peek at those less-than-ideal roads! The shoulder areas were covered in debris, and the roads without shoulders were super fast (70 MPH) and twisted through the forest. The weather was just perfect: a light breeze from the north and a cool 45 degrees. To keep everyone safe, we mounted the NightRider Lumina 350 with the strobe on the back to ensure we were visible.
We arrived at the border just before 7:00 a.m., and Jordan crossed into Canada. Londell, unfortunately, didn’t have a passport, so he had to stay behind.
Jordan had a quick chat with some Mounties and USA Border Patrol before hitting the road. After just a mile, he realized he was overdressed and quickly shed the jacket, arm warmers, and gloves. Not long after, he was back on the road, heading to Kalispell (73 miles). The road was relatively quiet, and the first 90 minutes were uneventful, making for a relatively enjoyable ride.
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Londell discovered a car wash in Eureka, Montana, where two days of insects had been removed from the vehicle. Eureka, Londell thoroughly washed the car (Pun intended)! Soon after, Londell and Jordan were reunited, and the day appeared promising.
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You know how it is, right? Everything good has its challenges! The rocks and stones were a real headache, and we figured they caused some trouble with the bike. Jordan mentioned that the rear tire seemed to lock up, which gave him some concern. So, we put the bike on the rack and took a good look. It turns out the brakes might have been the culprit. Since we couldn’t find anything wrong, he was back on his way! Londell managed to snap a few photos and get a good feel for the road.
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The last 20 miles were a bit of a slog. People were generally friendly, but there were a few who weren’t too keen on sharing the road with a bicycle. We finally arrived back at the hotel just before noon. The tourists were out in full force, and it was great to take a break from the road for a bit. Jordan took a quick break before heading to the store to grab some Powerade and oranges. Now it’s time to chill out, but Jordan might go for a quick ride later.
Ride summary:
- Strava - 72.8 miles - 4:26:27
- Speed 16.4 MPH average, and maximum 33.52 MPH
- Cadence is 76 RPM average, and maximum 128 RPM
- Heart rate 128 BPM average and maximum 169 BPM
- Ascent 2,565 feet and descent 2,221 feet
In addition, we encountered challenges during our evaluation of the trip from North Kalispell to Swan Lake. The available options were either unsafe or unappealing. Consequently, Jordan opted to embark on a 20-mile journey out of town in the morning, followed by an additional 10 miles to complete the 100-mile day.
At approximately 4:00 PM, we packed our bicycles (including the second one, which Londell would ride), and proceeded to Kila, located at the western terminus of the Great Northern Historical Trail. This trail would lead us to Somers, Montana, situated at the northern end of Flathead Lake. Jordan would ride the trail to Somers, Montana, where Londell would park and ride in reverse to rendezvous with him.
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Londell and Jordan met up on the trail, and Londell covered just over 2 miles. After getting back to the car, Jordan thought it would be awesome to ride back and hit 30 miles for the day! So, he set off again on the trail. Once he got to the Kalispell trailhead, we loaded up the car, grabbed some food at Q’doba, and headed to the hotel to pack and get ready for another ride tomorrow.
Ride summary:
- Garmin tracking - 30 miles - 1:50:52
- Speed 16.23 MPH average, maximum 26 MPH
- Cadence 77 RPM average, maximum is 117 RPM
- Heart rate 128 BPM average and maximum 161 BPM
- Ascent 347 feet and descent 528 feet
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