We woke up to changed weather this morning, and the group bundled up leaving Missoula. We faced a 99-mile day and a late start because breakfast couldn’t be served before 7 am. Some headed out early and skipped breakfast.
The first 50 miles, we had steady rain, which tapered down and dropped off. The roads were wet as well, so even when the rain stopped, the trucks and cars splashed a lot of water. We wandered up the Blackfoot River Valley for much of the day. We watched the river get smaller and smaller and turn into a series of creeks. Missoula is at 3500 feet and we crested the end of the Blackfoot at over 5500 feet.
The second half of the day featured clearing skies, and a nasty wind. Much of the time it blew from the side, but as the day grew later and the climb grew higher, the wind switched over and was behind us much of the time.
By 3 pm, we still had 25 miles to go. It was a long day, but very satisfying. Camp was set up in the same high wind, and we had some tents go sailing before they were staked down.
Late in the day today, at the top of the world, cresting the pass between valleys, there was a lone small evergreen tree. It was adorned with Christmas tree ornaments. All by itself in the middle of July in the middle of nowhere. Just riding along.