After eating breakfast in our room, we got an early start by Eaton standards (8:30). It was supposed to be 100 degrees today. Leaving Eureka we expected a fairly easy day with one long climb over Whitefish Divide. Didn't look bad on paper. First we climbed out of Eureka on pavement as a warm up. After a short stretch on US 93 we turned onto Grave Creek road for the start of the gravel. There were forest fires in the area but we didn't see any sign of them today.
Our route is taking us along the west edge of Glacier park. Last trip through here going the other direction on this route there were some beautiful views of Glacier park but not this time. It was much too overcast.
Back to the climbing. It got very bumpy and grades of 1-9%. Didn't hit my 14% threshold so no walking. We stopped for a break near a pretty stream and three guys from Canada stopped to chat. They were farmers in between planting and growing so decided to go for a week long bike ride. Nice guys! We left them in the creek..... Or by the creek... Definitely not up the creek eating lunch and we resumed our bumpy slog. So this is why we are riding full suspension bikes.
Near the top it got even better. Bigger rocks and steeper. Now this is what I call fun! Now I know why I had those epideral shots before we left. Thanks Doc Dean!! As we were cresting the top another guy pulling a trailer caught up. He was from Scotland. When we road this trail in 2009 we didn't see any bikes. I think people are finding our treasure.
The scenery is incredible. We are in the middle of nowhere surrounded by mountains. What more could you want? How about a cold coke... We had a great downhill but it was so bumpy slow was the speed of choice. When we were climbing Hap asked me what gear I was riding in? I said 'moving' just moving'.
We arrived at Tuchuk campground in sunshine. Stay tuned. We stayed at this same campground in 2009 in the pouring rain. Maybe we should've kept going? Found a nice spot by a stream, set up camp and took a "cold bath" in the stream. It started to cloud up and decided to put up our backpackers tarp as a shelter so we would have a place to eat if/when it rained. Sure enough it started raining just when we finished. A deer walked within 10 feet of our shelter. It was fine though we had a dry place to eat our spaghetti, drink our wine and a warm dry tent to sleep in. Went to bed at 7:30p asleep by 8! Yeah sure have trouble sleeping in a tent!
Tomorrow we are expecting another "easy ride". Stay tuned!
