Beautiful morning I was up at 6 and started packing. I knew we wouldn’t be going anywhere for a while, but I just wanted to get that all started. As it so happened there wasn’t any condensation to get rid of so I could start Packing the tent almost immediately.
I made some coffee and sat down to take carcae of Wordle, and while I was doing that Denise arose and broke down her setup as well and then caught my attention as she moved over to the pavilion to wait on us. I wasn’t too far from joining, and it didn’t look like Rebecca was moving yet.
With Rebecca up and with us, we left the Merry Widow and went back into Basin proper to the only eating establishment to get another healthy ingestion of breakfast. While we were eating, our camp owners, Kim and Veronica arriveded for their own breakfast. We exchanged pleasantries, gave an update on our plan for the day, and we parted ways.
Another couple came in who were out RVing and chatted us up while awaited our food. They were from Franklin Twp outside of Philadelphia, so we all felt a little closer running int each other so far from home.
Full of food we departed Basin and headed West on frontage road to 15 that alternated between pavement and gravel. Along the way was a point of information saying that one of the richest gold mines in the entire basin (Not Basin the town, but the geologic basin) was right up on the hill. They took out more than 5 Million over 15 years from the 1890s into 1908. Very productive.
The grade was easy, and before long we made a right off the Frontage, dropped under 15, and entered what would be a series of stepped valleys as we made our way to the Continental Divide again. Each valley was smaller than the one we left, and the road was a fairly nice grade nearly 95% of the time. Finally we topped out and there was the CDT trail markers crossing the road. Sweet.
It was wrong to assume downhill all the way to Butte, but it was mostly downhill until we hung a left and began a rather long last climb through a fairly ritzy section of homes that were just outside Butte proper. With that ascent behind us we ran into a local on his single speed gravel bike and he offered us his yard to camp if we wanted it. Very nice, but we were heading into town for lunch, and still had “Big Plans” for the day, so we declined and moved on.
We dropped less than a mile and were in Upper Butte. Dropped some more and a left on Park and we started perusing the food establishments until we found The Hummingbird Cafe where we found some really nice food. Vegan too!!
We realized our goal for the day was too ambitioustious, so we trimmed it back and went in search of groceries. We needed to cover tonight and the morning as well as lunch so we could get to Wise River where they have everything we will need tomorrow. It was hot now and we left downtown Butte and circled out around the Montana Resources open mine operation which was keeping Butte a mining town. It was big, but it was also ugly. Just remember, those companies pay a pittance for the privilege to mine, basically nothing, and they reap big profits while scaring the land.
The 3 bears was this giant box store where we did some shopping. The ladies went in first while I watched the bikes, and then I went in picked up a few things. Hand lotion!!! My hands are so dry. We packed and left and were about 2 miles away when a white pickup truck flagged us down and asked if e had left a back and red bag back at the 3 bears and my hand went to my back pocket where my black and red money/CC bag was supposed to be. My heart skipped two beats. The dude asked us to wait, and he drove back and got it. I take back everything bad I said lumping Montanans into a dirt bucket because of some of its drivers. That guy saved me a trip back. I would have been lost had I gotten to camp and not had that. Wow! Thank You.
We rode down the road about another 5 miles away and tucked in off the road at a day use facility. We will be good and out of here early.
We were looking at the paper maps, and I suddenly realized that I after tonight I will have only two more nights with these lovely ladies before I detour off the GDMBR and ride into West Yellowstone. I need to look ahead and find a place to stay for 1 night and I need to get my bike fixed as well. I had a part shipped there and they need to install it. I am sad, but we will make the most of the time we have left. Tomorrow we have 55 to Wise River. We are taking g an alternate route that skips a Biggee of a climb. Yea alternate routes :)