Day 4 - Vines to Bitterroots, Starts Wet, Ends in Bourbon [Full Update]

My day four only began after day four's earlier, early morning atmospheric disturbance calmed down a bit. Yes, early in the night, about 1 to 2 am, thunderstorms rattled my tent and kept me semi-awake and out of my normal REM sleep from time to time. I was snug as a bug in a rug in my sleeping bag as flashes of lightning illuminated my humbled nylon tent. As dawn approached, thunder claps were further in the distance, but rain sprinkled still. My iPhone alarm went off and caught me in a deep, short, inter-thunder slumber. I laid and listened, still thunder, still sprinkles. Cancelled the iPhone marimba solo and cancelled rising. There is time to wait the storm out and re-start the daily tour start-up later. I fell fast asleep.

This sleep, wake, assess the outer-world-cycle went on for a few more times. Finally, I had to make a gamble and decide to press "control-alt-delete" to reboot the morning. I emerged from the tent about 7:00.

Ok, not raining, but moisture all around and a dark and ominous gray lid of clouds made me a bit concerned about the day's forecast. More thunder claps in the distance. I needed to fire up breakfast, pack and set out - felt like I had no choice.

In my grand total of two solo supported trips, seven days across this trip so far and last years trip combined, I had not yet faced an adverse weather situation, Well, there was last year's tour, last day over Bluett pass with cool temps, some rain. Not a big deal. Bluett pass was only a minor anoyance. Plus, I would see Jen that day and knew if things were bad, I could hail her for an evac. But today, in the middle of Idaho's Bitterroots, I was strung pretty taught, a spoke on a wheel of concern.

I had left my backpack stove out last night - even after I thoroughly, surveyed Camp Slogger for left out items before I went to bed. And you know what? That stove would not start due to it being rained on during the night. I am already a bit frazzled by the weather and was seriously worried my cup o' joe and bowl o' oats would not come to a... basket o' fruition. I really tried with that thing. I kept hitting the igniter. I kept blowing the fine water droplets out of the burner screen, I cursed, I crossed my finger and toes... finally she caught and little blue flames circled the burner, roared and of it went. I plopped my micro water kettle on the burner and sat down on the picnic table bench and in a few easy minutes had a nice cup of coffee in my hands. Half cup in the gullet, I concocted some backpacker oatmeal. Rather dry.

But wet still threatens. Morning temperatures were a bit cool. I pack up camp Slogger. I head out of camp.

Just as I exited the main entrance to Wilderness Gateway Campground, BOOM, CRASH, HAIL. I thought oh great. I pulled into the camp ground kiosk with its little cedar roof overhang and tried to stay dry. It hailed for about 10 minutes - little white ice pebbles dancing all over the ground. As soon as it subsided - off I rode. Twenty minutes later, BOOM, CRASH, more HAIL. I left the Burro on the shoulder of the highway and sprinted for a big pine for shelter. This is getting old and I'm getting cold.

If I have to deal with weather all day, I'm not going to be a happy, recently departed from my campground, camper. I only have 40 miles today on the docket, so I could likely muddle through it. The hail subsided after about 15 minutes. Hop on the burro and decide to push on.

This time, a weather calm prevails and I am able to start making some miles and feel better. Still, though, the distant thunder is quite active. I'm also feeling buoyed by the fact at the end of today's ride is Lochsa Lodge. I just need to keep riding and get there.

Signs and saying I'm making progress - but you can see its still cloudy and wet.

By about half way to Lochsa Lodge- the weather turns to being quite nice. Its cooler today due to the left over low pressure system and rains, but the sun is out and its nice. I'm thinking its no hotter than 65 or 70 degrees.

Getting nicer...

My hood ornament, Winchester took some rain today.  But, he ain't one to complain that lil buddy of mine.

Yes, now things are swimmingly, er bicycling, well. Then in a moment, chaos sets in. I am riding along and I hear this high pitched metallic "ping". I knew exactly what the sound meant. Broken spoke. I look down and the Burro is wobbling from the rear wheel. And its a pretty large wobble. Wump, wump, wump. I slow down, stop and examine the damage. One spoke is pulled from the rim. I check its 35 other brothers and sisters and they seem ok albeit each will need to do more work for sure. So, I take a minute to ponder the state of my machine and believe if the dues ex machina is to show itself at all, now is the time. I ponder some more. I have a spoke wrench, but no spare spoke (way to go Slogger man!). The wheel on the rear takes the most load on a touring bike and I know I have at least 40 pounds back there in extra mass. Ok, here is what I am going to do since the "God From The Machine" is obviously not coming - I'm going to shift the weight to the front wheel as best as I can.

This is what I came up with. I moved the panniers to the front rack and now most of the weight is on the front. I head off up the road.

Uh... not so fast. The bike is handling HORRIBLY. The front end sways back and forth and I am not able to keep the bike going straight - at least not without a lot of concentration and elbow grease. This is dangerous. Time to make some more load adjustments. I end up with the panniers on the back and the tent and sleeping bag on the front. This seems to be the best fore-aft balance. I get back onto the road and keep my fingers crossed.

The weather continues to improve and it is just one of the glorious bicycling days. I am feeling really good and cannot wait to pull into the Lodge. The wheel seems to be holding.

Thar she blow's! 

I get in about 2 and the afternoon is early. I can't get into my cabin until 3 pm. I park the burro outside the lodge and grab a bite to eat. Food is par excellence!

I ran into this 'guy' hanging around the log convenience store. A hand written sign on the store said "CAT STAYS OUTSIDE!" Ok. Got it!

I got into my cabin about 3:30.

I chilled for a couple hours and got a nap in. There is something so satisfying about a nice nap after a long day's ride. The door was open to my cabin, the windows open and invited a cool breeze in - very special. I went back to the lodge, grabbed a burger and a beer and headed back to the cabin. Time for the flask, I poured Woodford Reserve Bourbon. Cheers to the Burro!

I made it to the cabin w/o any real issues from the broken spoke. I decided to look at the issue more closely as I sipped my bourbon. Yep... broken spoke, separated from its nipple. Not much I can do at this point. Tomorrow is mostly downhill ONCE I get over the final 8 miles of Lolo pass. The downhill side concerns me since I will be moving at higher speeds and the wheels are therefore subject to higher forces. Will the wheel fold under the stress? I don't know.

As usual, I am out by 8:30 or so. Tucked in my cozy cabin... I head off to the Land of Nod.

Here are the daily totals:

Distance:	39.82 mi
Time:	3:29:21
Avg Speed:	11.4 mph
Elevation Gain:	1,421 ft
Calories:	1,950 C
Avg Temperature:	70.9 °F

A really mellow day except the rainy start and the broken spoke. Tomorrow is the last day of the tour. I feel like its been a success - but still have one day to be sure.

The Garmin routte data: