August 15, Missoula to Lolo to Stevensville, Corvallis and then Hamilton, 63 miles

A very eventful day. We left the hotel early and discovered halfway across the parking lot that Leah’s bike will not shift in the 9 speed cluster. Headed right back to the bike shop, hoping possibly they open early, they don’t but someone inside sees us and tries to help. NG. Her shifter is stripped – which is frustrating given that the bike was supposed to have been thoroughly tuned up back home and then these guys here supposedly set it all up after it was shipped. Anyway, they don’t have one but target us towards a bike shop in Hamilton that should.
Headed out to Lolo in mixed rain and sunshine. Only thing open in Lolo is MickeyD’s, so we had a first for our entire trip. Back on the road and Leah immediately has a flat – pebble thru the tire and tube. She’s riding a thin tired road bike and it may be an issue going forward. But for now, a very quick tire and tube change and we’re good to go.
At a gas station before Stevensville we met a local (fresh transplant from CT) man who was very interested in our trip and incredibly helpful. He offered us a place to stay for the night and although that of course was not useful for us it was a very nice gesture. A few miles down the road he caught us with us again – he had printed up googlemap directions to the bike shop we need to find in Hamilton. So many people on the road are so helpful.
Struggled against terrible headwinds throughout as we rode down Rt93. Turned on to local rt 269 towards Stevensville to escape the traffic and quickly crossed paths with a farmer market that was being held by Hutterites – they are an upper mid-west Amish like sect that we’re likely to see more of.
Stopped at a small shop just before Corvallis for a snack. The woman there said she’d never ride a bike on 269. I said we had left 93 because of all the terrible traffic there. She said, yeah, but nobody gets hurt over there, everybody gets killed on this road. Thanks for the encouragement.
Headwinds make for very tough going and the bike shop – Red Barn Bicycles – is actually 3 miles past Hamilton, sort of deflating. We’re pushing hard to reach them before 4:00 when they close. Finally find them and the guy there knows his stuff, is very helpful, fixes Leah up perfectly and gives us directions to our campgrounds. Not far and not bad but no café or restaurant. So after setting up camp (after riding all day), we backtrack towards Hamilton looking for food. Found a gas station with a Quiznos and that was the end of the journey.
Back at campgrounds, we are right on the Bitterroot River and many people are fly fishing. Fascinating.
Two final notes – during the day we crossed paths with a sole young man riding transam for Parkinson’s disease. You can find him on the “teamfox.org” website, his name is Bailey. He was being supported on his trip by his father trailing in a van, his Dad is a Parkinson’s patient. Great story.
Other note – in Red Barn Bicycle there was a signed and framed US Postal, Levi Leipheimer jersey. Turns out the mechanic has a connection with him. Awesome stuff.