DAY 12 (Friday June 29) West Yellowstone, MT to Ashton, ID:  74 miles, average speed 18.4mph. Started out very cold around 40F. Started the ride with a 1.2 mile climb at 6% grade and temp quickly went up to 52F, so we stripped all our extra clothing off. Temp went to high 80s later. Mostly a downhill ride today with some rolling hills, NO HEAD WINDS after two solid days of it. We added an optional 10 miles to our ride, down to see "Big Springs". Picnic was at another beautiful spot...Mesa Falls..breathtaking. The pictuires will do no justice to it. Stopped to feed the fish - giant brown trout. Pictures:  (1) leaving MT back into ID, (2) Big Springs, (3,4,5) Mesa Falls - picnic spot, (6,7) Tim & the trout, (8) first view of Grand Tetons, that we will attack on Saturday June 30, (9) view

THANK YOU

I am two weeks in and I wanted to thank some people who have made this possible.

(1) My family - Maureen, Katie & Meghan - I love you very much and miss you all a lot! Thanks for supporting me.
(2) Bikeway bikeshop in Wappingers Falls - you guys are all great !! The club ride whipped me into shape and the support I got from Doug, Mike, Rob and all was amazing! My bike is kicking ass. Please go to Bikeway if you need anything related to bikes !!!!
(3) AFSP (Maria Idoni) and all my "contributors" - thanks for helping me give this purpose beyond just a great cycling vacation
(4) IBM - thanks to all who are backing me up while I am gone, especially Chris and Susan - I appreciate it more than you know

DAY 11 (Thursday June 28) Ennis, MT to West Yellowstone, MT: 74 miles. Started cold again in low 40s, then up to 80s. Again, had a heavy head wind all day, another uncomfortable ride. No major climbs but a steady rise in elevation all day, and a little climb before picnic (lunch). Picnic was a very beautiful spot. In 1959 7+ earthquake, the whole side of a mountain fell into a river valley during a landslide that killed several people, and created a natural dam and lake. The lake was named Earthquake Lake. Our picnic overlooked the lake and the river valley we climbed through to get there. Pictures: (1) view - Theo/Erin, (2) many ranches all day, (3) met Richard, self-contained cross country rider from Oklahoma, left home in May and will circle the US on his own until October, (4,5) views, (6) downstream from the landslide, (7) landslide site, (8) Earthquake Lake, (9) valley we climbed out of - picnic site, (10) Earthquate Lake.

DAY 10 (Wed June 27): Townsend, MT to Ennis, MT. 77 miles. The day started out at 43 degrees, then went into the 80's by end of the ride. We had major head winds all day. We hit a bakery for danish and hot chocolate at mile 30. Not many big climbs or big descends, but had one 5 mi climb at 7% grade late in the day. All in all, the winds made it an uncomfortable day. Facts: Saw 12-15 antelope in a field, saw a major forest fire in the distance. Pictures: (1) camp, (2) view - antelope, (3) stop at bakery, (4) view, (5,6,7) riding with Erin & Theo, (8) summit, (9,10,11) views, (12) fire, (13-16) views

DAY 9 (Tuesday June 26): Lincoln, MT to Townsend, MT. 91 miles. Averaged 18.6 mph for the ride. We had one big hill to climb near the beginning of the ride up Flesher Pass to the Continental Divide. It was approximately a 7 mile climb, not so bad, last 3.1 miles was at a 7-8% grade with switchbacks. Beautiful climb, but lots of head wind, up to 40mph gusts. We had head winds all morning. The mountain climb was followed by a funfilled 20 mile decend, with more switchbacks. We had great road conditions and reached 43mph. No more major climbs, but we had a steady head wind right up to Helena (Capital of Montana, which we toured by bike). Coming out of Helena, we had a strong tail wind that pulled us fast for about 20 miles, then in the last 5miles, turned on us and hit us with a heavy head wind which was one of the toughest head winds I have ever seen. I was pulling at 39 mph, hit the wind and struggled to get to 15 mph. Facts: (1) We saw a twister where the tail wind turned to head wind, (2) we where in Lewis & Clark territory, and (3) we learned beetles are killing the pine trees. They are burning trees to prevent them from jumping to new sections. Pictures: (1) view- Theo, (2,3) views, (4,5) looking down 1/2 way up Flesher Pass, at summit with Erin & Theo, (6) the decent, one of our tandems, (7) view, (8) Helena, (9) Sand storm, (10) view, (11) Townsend, MT, (12) Tim finally catches a train, (13,14,15) views.