The ride from jackson to   Dillon was tough. No water hot and a strong headwind. I made it to McDonalds in Dillon and didn't die of thirst afterall.
This part of Montana is tough cycling..today I rode over two high passes to get out of the big hole and much of the ride was about thirst and wind insstead of the scenery. It had its moments. Though. I dontike dillon so I'm going to push on to twin bridges this afternoon.

As I took this shot an elderly lady asked me if I wanted to be locked up in jail...apparently they do it for kids and wannabe outlaw accountants etc. But what I really wanted to do was lock up the low life who threw a beer bottle out of the car window at me as they passed to close and to fast . It happens a lot in the UK so it didn't bother me..in every barrel of apples there can be one rotten one.  The road out of Missoula is a fast busy road and it seems Montana drivers are less considerate than Oregon or idaho. I had a good ride though...80 miles in hot sunshine with one hot summer downpour to cool me down. My legs took hours to loosen up this morning but by the afternoon I was rolling! I stopped to help a young guy who has his bike upsidedown . His rear wheel was buckled and needed a bike shop wheel true. He was 50 miles out of missoulla hungry and had no clue what to do. I couldn't fix it but loosening his rear brake at least got him moving a bit. I gave him some biscuits and fruit and he said he would hitch a ride to a bike shop. I couldnr do anymore to help. I'm in my tent next to the bitterroot river just outside sula.

Shinto outside the adventure cycling headquarters in misoulla Montana.

Leaving missoulla is a tough one as I've enjoyed my two days here a lot. I've met wonderfull people and had a great time. The city is very bike friendly and getting to meet the guys at the aca has been amazing. I could do with about a weeks solid sleep but I'd miss all the fun!
So for me its time to head out to the pass quite literally as chief Joseph pass awaits me soon..then the big hole and onto Yellowstone in a week approx.
A huge thanks go to the Sullivan family for being so hospitable and for a wonderful evening last night. David and anders I wish you happy trails and tailwinds...it was cool to meet you all. The adventure cycling association is such a cool thing. I encourage anybody thinking of riding in america to make contact with them on the website!
So...time for this wandering rider to saddle up and ride out of town onto the adventures that await me on the road...now where is my cowboy hat? Lol!

This morning I popped back over to the aca office to pick up a high vis triangle for the busy highway to come as I ride out of Missoula. There was a local radio station there doing an on site broadcast and they saw I was from England and on a loaded touring bike and a few minutes later they had me on air being interviews about my trip etc. The station was trail 103.3 and they said the show was streaming online as well. So..after that I rode to Hamilton and in a gas station on the way I met chuck...chuck is in the band northern lights with rick who I met in the bar two nights ago. Rick was the drummer in spinal tap ! The funniest film ever made :)

Missoula has a great music scene!

Outrunning a summer downpour riding out of Missoula this morning

Todays ride was all about big climbs , bugs, Indian battlefields, more bugs, then the headwind from hell in the big hole, Thunderstorms, intense heat, rain, dust and then I met up with anthony again in jackson suffering with exhaustion . He was the guy with the broken wheel yesterday. He'd been through the same hellish ride I had from wisdom to Jackson on a crappy mtb no food or water or money. I was really worried he could die out here and there is another big climb to get out of the big hole tomorrow. I bought him a drink gave him Ice creAM BREAd peanut butter jelly and chips at least he'd have half a chance. Earlier I had stopped at the battlefield at big hole where I think the local indian tribe the nez perce got wiped out by the us army. The chief Joseph pass was easier than I thought so I must be getting fitter..as this was over 7000ft and its the first of two continental divides I must cross. As soon as I got over the pass and into the area called big hole I was eaten by bugs. Big hole is a huge crater like areA surrounded by mountIns 360 degrees. In the hole its just one huge swamp and the bugs are everywhere. They should call it bug hole not big hole. As I type there is a big thunderstorm going on. I just got my tent up in time. I am pitched on the school basketball pitch in Jackson montana. The lady at the local store said it was ok and nobody would mind.

I met Susan from Colorado riding to missoulla.

On the montanna idaho state line guys get to go in montanna and girls in idaho. I stayed in Montana and headed over to Jackson.

The big hole battlefield where bad things happened to Indians who did not deserve it.

Montana roads go on forever. Next time you eat a steak think of these guys!

Crossing the continental divide at the sumit of chief Joseph pass this morning.

The view from my tent here on Jackson Montana at sunset tonight. Jackson has a population of 38 people.