Travel Day

Most travel days start at Point A and end at Point B. We have done some exploring during these road trips, but mostly just go for it. One reason being that it is challenging to find a good spot for the dogs if we stop. We can't tie them up under a tree in some random parking lot for obvious reasons, and through the summer it is too hot to leave them inside the truck or even the camper. So, we usually just push to get to the destination and then explore.

We did something different between Montana and Washington. We stopped at the Hiawatha Trail and took a fun detour, a 15 mile bike ride through the woods on a Rails to Trails bike trail. It was awesome.

A couple of factors let us do this as it was up in the Bitterroot Mountains and the high was only supposed to be in the low 70's. We found a large parking lot that allowed us to open the camper so the dogs could be comfortable and we could take our time. We also started traveling on a Saturday, so we didn't have to race as Chris didn't have to work the next day. Also? We operate with a flexible crew, so a stop in the middle of a lazy drive was pretty great.

We had started driving around 8 in the morning and got to the trailhead around noon. We hopped on our bikes and rode this terrific route. The trail starts by going through a 1.7 mile long tunnel that is pitch black, so you better have a headlamp on! The entire trail is downhill and takes you through approx. 9 tunnels and over 7 trestles that offer incredible views. I am usually an excellent gauge of distance, but around mile 7 Oliver started asking how much further we had to go. I guessed we had gone about 3 miles, so he was a bit put off to think we still had 12 to go. Five minutes later we came to a map and found out we were half way there which perked everybody back up. Austin declared that if we lived there he would ride this EVERY DAY! until we reached mile 12. Then he was done. Luckily those last three miles went quickly and they found friends at the base to play and chase caterpillars around with until the shuttle came to pick us back up.

At the top of the shuttle ride you ride back through the 1.7 mile long tunnel. "Hey dude, do you want to ride with us?" Austin asked his new friend. And so we did. This nice mom was out biking with her two kids and we combined headlamp power to get through the last of the ride. We said our goodbyes and immediately realized everybody was hungry.

"Did we eat lunch?" I asked.

"Nope." Chris answered.

A couple of bars had gotten this group through their first 15 mile bike ride with smiles mostly on their faces. Yup, we operate with a flexible crew.