Milestones
- Part of my 2nd Annual “Bike-A-Palooza” (SEE the Whole Trip)
Ever since I started seriously riding my bike in 2021, I had read about the “Hiawatha Trail”, and wanted to add it to my bucket-list. Then my friend (since 2016) Linda Young told me that she rode it with one of her friends in September, 2022. This made me very “jelly” (i.e., jealous). That is when I began planning to bike that route in 2023.
THE “CROWN JEWEL” OF RAIL-TO-TRAIL ADVENTURES
Originally, Linda was going to go with me. But, her husband Jim wasn’t guaranteed to be available. He is busy as a successful entrepreneur/consultant and there wasn’t much chance he would have that exact day free. In the last few days before I arrived, Jim got the time off.
The ride starts with a trip through the 1.661 mile long St. Paul Pass Tunnel, also known as the Taft Tunnel. It is a highlight of the trail that follows the crest of the Bitterroot Mountains near Lookout Pass Ski Area.
I bought a 3000 lumen bike headlight. It was perfect for the tunnels, which were very cold, dripping water from the ceiling, and muddy. I don’t have claustrophobia, but more than once I thought about how far underground we were.
Spending time with him was a big highlight.
Months previously, I had been a little concerned about how my bike would handle the trail. It turned out that the trail was quite easy. I saw several little girls on the trail with pink-streamers hanging off their handle-bars. Unfortunately, I left my streamers at home…. đŸ™‚
Jim yells “ACTION”… Linda says “SHHHH”…. OMG so funny!
Jim leaned over the side of a trestle and took this picture…. if I stare at it very long, I get a little dizzy.
After finishing our bike ride, Jim and Linda and I went to eat at the “1313 Club Bar & Grill – Historic Saloon & Grill” in Wallace, ID. The beer and burger tasted fantastic. I tried to talk Jim/Linda into ordering a plate of Poutine (a dish of french fries and cheese curds topped with gravy), but they saw what it was made of, and their colon chose to decline the offer.
This bike ride was the absolute “pinnacle” of the entire trip. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. This part of my trip made the whole palooza worth every hardship.