After resting and recovering in one of the most beautiful places on earth for almost a week, I regained most of my strength and energy. Ben's aunt Val has been the most amazing host I have ever had and has taken very good care of us. She has cooked us some of the best vegetarian dishes I have tasted and I feel very lucky to be here. Her home has a very peaceful and rejuvenating feel and I have loved being able to spend some time here.
Ben is still not feeling quite up to par. He has pretty severe pain in his mouth and still hasn't been able to eat as much. We are hoping to be able to leave for Canada sometime toward the end of this week, and still have a lot of preparation to do before we head out on the last leg of our trip.
Jul 25, 2011
Day 53 Into town (LeAnn)
Ben and I felt well enough to bike into town today. There is a 10 mile paved bike path that goes right into Kalispell. It was a nice ride to start off with after we had been resting for so long. Though it was difficult to control our bikes with no gear on the back or front to weigh them down. We stopped at a few bike shops and outdoor stores and bought the rest of what we need to prepare for canada.
Day 51-52 Still Recovering (LeAnn)
I finally got outside to explore a bit. The gardens are beautiful with giant sunflowers and even a strawberry patch with a few late season stragglers still growing. Aunt Val also has 25 acres of beautiful woods and a genuine tepee. I am eating a bit more now, but still feel very weak. Ben is also still quite tired and not able to eat much.
Day 48-50 Sick in Bed (LeAnn)
Ben and I were both out for 3 days. We both slept a ton and we couldn't eat much of anything. All of Aunt Val's animals kept us company. She has five dogs, eight cats, a bunch of chickens, two horses, one pony and a big old turkey that sits outside the sliding door of the basement and constantly gobbles at his own reflection. Thank god we got here just on time.
Day 47 We made it to Kalispell! (LeAnn)
Ben woke up still feeling somewhat ill this morning. I let him rest a while. We had a visitor come in to check us out. It was a little brown and white Least Weasel. He snooped around in our clothes and played around crawling in and out of my gloves, then hopping towards us to peer into our tent and take a look at the odd creatures that were inhabiting his home.
Luckily, Ben started to feel better, so we continued biking until we made it to Polson for the Cherry festival. As we were walking our bikes through the tents of merchandise, three younger teenage boys asked Ben if he was in the movie Troy. That wasn't the first time that Ben has been mistaken for the actor Eric Bana. I guess I'm dating a movie star lookalike.
After Polson, we pushed it up several steep climbs all the way around Flathead Lake until we found a bike path just outside of Kalispell and followed it the rest of the way into the city. Ben's aunt offered to pick us up in Kalispell, since she lived a few miles out of town in Kila and said her house was difficult to find.
Underneath the street lights we were cheerfully greeted by a white pickup truck, a spry woman and tiny black poodle named Buddy. Finally, we were safe and sound for a little while.
Luckily, Ben started to feel better, so we continued biking until we made it to Polson for the Cherry festival. As we were walking our bikes through the tents of merchandise, three younger teenage boys asked Ben if he was in the movie Troy. That wasn't the first time that Ben has been mistaken for the actor Eric Bana. I guess I'm dating a movie star lookalike.
After Polson, we pushed it up several steep climbs all the way around Flathead Lake until we found a bike path just outside of Kalispell and followed it the rest of the way into the city. Ben's aunt offered to pick us up in Kalispell, since she lived a few miles out of town in Kila and said her house was difficult to find.
Underneath the street lights we were cheerfully greeted by a white pickup truck, a spry woman and tiny black poodle named Buddy. Finally, we were safe and sound for a little while.
Day 46 Wildlife Sanctuary (LeAnn)
Today, we continued biking on what is known as one of the most deadly highways in Montana. Highway 93 has more crosses on the side of the road than I have ever seen in my life. We stopped at a little grocery store in Arlee and bought the fixings to make corn tortillas with beans and veggies. I always like to buy a few pieces of fruit as well, any kind of fresh produce just tastes so much better when you're on the road.
We made it almost to Ronan when Ben started to feel a little ill. Thankfully we came across a wildlife sanctuary. Ben and I left our bikes and found a little overgrown trail that led straight into the woods. The trail led to a tunnel-like entrance with wooden walls on either side sprinkled with little holes to view the wildlife. The walls led to stairs and in we climbed to a wooden shelter with a bench in the middle and more holes built into the walls for bird watchers and the like. Beneath the floorboards, tiny little purple and yellow bell flowers crept up on spiraling tendrils. The entire place had magical feel. We brought our bikes in and Ben laid down to rest while I cooked a dinner of lentil and vegetable soup. Poor Ben was having hot and cold sweats throughout the night.
We made it almost to Ronan when Ben started to feel a little ill. Thankfully we came across a wildlife sanctuary. Ben and I left our bikes and found a little overgrown trail that led straight into the woods. The trail led to a tunnel-like entrance with wooden walls on either side sprinkled with little holes to view the wildlife. The walls led to stairs and in we climbed to a wooden shelter with a bench in the middle and more holes built into the walls for bird watchers and the like. Beneath the floorboards, tiny little purple and yellow bell flowers crept up on spiraling tendrils. The entire place had magical feel. We brought our bikes in and Ben laid down to rest while I cooked a dinner of lentil and vegetable soup. Poor Ben was having hot and cold sweats throughout the night.
Day 45 The Adventure Cycling Association (LeAnn)
We were two miles outside of Missoula, still trapped on the busy highway when I got a flat. Luckily, we had a spare tube and quickly replaced it so we could get into town and refill our empty water bottles.
The Adventure Cycling Association was extremely helpful. They had a freezer full of ice cream treats and ice cold water for us to drink. We were able to sign up for a year long membership for free and had our pictures taken and stories documented for the cyclist wall of fame. We also bought front pannier bags for both of our bikes, because Ben's were starting to fall apart and we decided we needed to be better prepared for the Canadian wilderness and not take quite so many risks. They gave us a map of the town and we went about our errands- bike shops, outdoor gear store and finally Mongolian Grill!
The Mongolian Grill was unfortunately not quite as good the second time around and Ben being the extremist that he is decided that he was done eating buffets. (We'll see how long that will last).
Biking outside of Missoula, we searched and searched for a spot to camp along the busy highway. There was nothing but houses. The dark night had settled in and it was very difficult to see the road as the headlights from cars glared in front of and behind us. Then I got another flat, I pumped my tire up just long enough to keep some air in it for a few more miles and we eventually found a spot off the side of the road just secluded enough behind some trees to settle in for the night. There was a flat spot on some grass next to a creek, just big enough for two people to sleep.
The Adventure Cycling Association was extremely helpful. They had a freezer full of ice cream treats and ice cold water for us to drink. We were able to sign up for a year long membership for free and had our pictures taken and stories documented for the cyclist wall of fame. We also bought front pannier bags for both of our bikes, because Ben's were starting to fall apart and we decided we needed to be better prepared for the Canadian wilderness and not take quite so many risks. They gave us a map of the town and we went about our errands- bike shops, outdoor gear store and finally Mongolian Grill!
The Mongolian Grill was unfortunately not quite as good the second time around and Ben being the extremist that he is decided that he was done eating buffets. (We'll see how long that will last).
Biking outside of Missoula, we searched and searched for a spot to camp along the busy highway. There was nothing but houses. The dark night had settled in and it was very difficult to see the road as the headlights from cars glared in front of and behind us. Then I got another flat, I pumped my tire up just long enough to keep some air in it for a few more miles and we eventually found a spot off the side of the road just secluded enough behind some trees to settle in for the night. There was a flat spot on some grass next to a creek, just big enough for two people to sleep.
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