A Teacher trying to Divide - day 11
near Wise River
Thursday 18th July
I spent ages trying to ride out of Butte. On the way I stumbled past the KOA campground that I couldn’t find last night! I passed a strip mall so I was able to go to Walmart to get sleeping shorts and replace the sandals I lost a million miles ago on the descent from Red Meadow Lake.
My saddle sores were pretty bad last night and despite an early start the pain was rising in time with the sun.
I can’t deny that I felt pretty down about this unplanned injury. All the months and months of training rides, planning & preparation and excitement was being slowly destroyed. Each side was red, raw, inflamed and there were signs of infection too… I started chugging Ibuprofen every three hours or so.
In my haste to make good time I pushed on too far on Highway 2 before the railroad trestle and had to lose all the height I had gained! But I reckon it is always better to make uphill mistakes as you fix them by riding downhill. Back in the groove I enjoyed the steady climb on FR 85 up to a 7200 foot Divide crossing where I was rewarded with views across to the Pioneer Mountains to the west of the Scenic Byway.
Then the wheels fell off my bogey. Within the space of less than 4 miles I had to push 4 times. I just couldn’t bear the pain of seated climbing in the heat anymore. This was ‘My Time’... This was what I had signed up for. Time to take a look at the map. I had planned to ride through Wise River, picking up supplies on the way and then choose from one of the many campgrounds on the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway. It was devastating to realise that was not going to be the case. I was gutted to be let down in this way. Not my strength, or endurance, or navigation, or bike-wrangling skills but the cumulative effect of the heat, the pressure and I suspect a slightly raised saddle just outside of Fernie. A short stop for cinnamon bar, a drink and some more Ibuprofen. It was so peaceful except for the birds who sang for me up there in the mountains whilst my emotions were bursting.
I-15 came into view as I started my descent. So did Fleecer Ridge - another Great Divide landmark. One that I was not going to get near in this weakened state. Instead I went into robot-mode and took the 18 miles of frontage and highway to rejoin the main route before Wise River. The ride alongside the river was beautiful and I soon pulled into the famous Wise River Club. I organised my camping fee at the bar and headed out back to find a sheltered spot from the wind that had picked up. The young guy who passed me on the descent to I-15 arrived and set up next to me in the shelter of the barn. When I asked him how Fleecer was in that wind he replied - ‘It sucked’. We shared a table for our dinner and beer. Then Michelle & Marty arrived. Even Steve who I had not seen since Fernie. He could tell by my reaction that I was surprised to see him. I couldn’t bear to tell any of them how I was doing, not right there in the buzzing welcome atmosphere of the bar, it could wait.
Butte to Wise River, 56 miles, 3600 foot of ascent, 9 hours (6 hours riding + 3 hours stopped)
