July 12, 2005
Day 56: Sunrise to Many Glacier
(Been getting long-winded lately.)
Boy was it a loud night last night. People talking - starting cars - inflating mattresses with motors - horns beeping every time someone locked or unlocked a car. So it was nice to ride down to the lakeshore for breakfast where it was empty and quiet. Delightful in fact.
I rode the back road around Lower St Mary Lake. It was mostly dirt and rutted in a few places, but it was empty. Many Glacier Road was a different story - busy with cars, RVs, and motorcycles - but not a single cyclist.
I got to Many Glacier campground to discover that they had moved the hiker/biker campsite to a postage stamp at the intersection of two loops. Yet more evidence that cycling sucks in the national parks and that the parks really don't care.
I hiked over to the far shore of Swiftcurrent Lake and spent the afternoon on the rocks. When I got back I took a shower and washed out some of my clothes. Actually, I wash my clothes while I still have them on - then I wash me. I met a nice couple from Tacoma - Gabe and Jaci - who were hiking in the park. We talked at length about faith and service. Then I wrote another diatribe to Don and Bev back in Lawrence while I was having a great pasta dinner at the Swiftcurrent Inn.
I finished up the day with a quiet walk out to Redrock Lake. The sun had already dropped behind Swiftcurrent Mountain; yet, all the other peaks remained brightly lit. The breeze was stiff - drowning out the rapids and waterfalls at times. I sat on the shore of the lake and watched the crescent moon come out right over the crest of Grinnell Peak.
Today's ride: 28 miles (45 km)
Total: 2,946 miles (4,741 km)
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