Rusty Crank Coast to Coast Bicycle Tour across the USA on the ACA TransAM Route

TransAm Day #48 July 13, 2018 Darby, MT - Missoula, MT 69 Miles Ride Time 4:48 Hours Tour Total  Miles 3444 details at: https://cyclemeter.com/4b2d99e24f1383f2/Cycle-20180713-0726-77451 I slept great last night at Warm Showers host Curtis’s house in Darby. It was wonderful to have a shower, shave, a washing machine/ dryer, and a big comfy bed. I woke up early, and was excited about visiting the mother ship- Adventure Cycling, in Missoula. We had looked at their cyclist visitor page last night and noticed several friends on the page. My photo should soon be there as well:  https://www.adventurecycling.org/resources/visiting-cyclists/ I left before the others got up and headed to the Parkside Cafe for Eggs Benedict. There I met Paul and Amanda from Bikepacking Roots. They are trail blazing the Wild West Route from Canada to Mexico on mountain bikes. It’s completely off road and rugged. They showed me their cue sheet and elevation profiles. The trail will op...

Off Day - Missoula  I slept well last night in my dirty blood-stained sleeping bag liner on Warm Showers host Bruce’s floor besides the grand piano. This morning I met two Californian TransAm east-bounders whom I shared the floor with, although I can’t remember their names. I gave them the bear spray TransAm east-bounder Jeff had handed me in Kansas. I love how the canister keeps being shuffled back and forth across the Rockies like a relay baton.  I met TransAm west-bounders John and Beth from Librarians on Bikes librariansonbikes.com . We’ve been riding at the same pace for several days, but they start much earlier in the morning. They've recognized my bike in front of numerous restaurants and breweries, and they were the couple I had heard at the American Legion park in Wisdom. I had sumptuous breakfast tacos at the Buttercup Cafe, which was an adorable place. I spent hours compiling and editing yesterday’s journal over refills of coffee. Afterwards I wen...

TransAm Day #49 July 15, 2018 Missoula, MT - Powell, ID  58 Miles Ride Time 4:29 Hours Tour Total  Miles 3555 details at: https://cyclemeter.com/4b2d99e24f1383f2/Cycle-20180715-1040-83220 I slept great last night on the floor besides the grand piano, where I bumped my head, at Warm Showers host Bruce’s in Missoula. I got up, shaved, and folded all our laundry. Afterwards, I lubed my chain, inspected, and cleaned my bike. A French cyclist was Skyping with his family about the World Cup. I’m wearing my new socks.  I pedaled over to the Buttercup Cafe for breakfast. There was a marathon in Missoula, and locals were cheering. Missoula is the most northern point on the TransAm. From here I head south and west. I’m now on ACA TransAm map number three. There’s a little over two weeks left in my trip. I was in Missoula thirty years ago, and camped for several days alongside the Rattlesnake River, outside of town. Missoula is a special place, and I enjoyed be...