SEPTEMBER 3, DAY 2

MISSOULA, MT to BUTTE, MT  : 137 MILES 

Once again I discoverd that Mother Nature always wins and does what she wants and not what we ask for. All we wanted today were sunny skies and 75 degrees and what did  we get? Rain! It rained  for the first 50 miles and was windy;  but it  a tail wind which fooled us into thinking  that we were really fast.  Then we had a  rude awaking for the next 35 miles with  a head wind of 20 to 25 mph. The  sun was completely blocked out and the temperatures  fell to 45 degrees. We were really cold.

Lunch was at the 80 mile mark at the town of Phillipsburg. The wind blowing 25 miles +  but the food was great as usual;  Hot dogs and deli sandwiches taste good when you have been riding hard. ….. 60 miles left to go. 

5 miles out of town we started on the big climb of the day.  A 10 mile climb with the grades of 6 - 10% reaching an elevation of 6,300 feet. I  climbed  well. A 15 mile descent reaching speeds of 45 miles an hour was the reward! The last 35 miles were flat with a side wind.

Total miles today 137
Today's climb 5500 feet
Total overall climbing 16,500 feet

Despite the cold we saw some beautiful country today. 

LIFE IS AN ADVENTURE TO BE LIVED AND I'M LIVING IT!!