Home Sweet Home, Missoula!

We did it! Seven hundred miles and fourteen days after we started in Seaside, Oregon, we're back where it all started in Missoula, Montana. The last few weeks have been amazing and full of ups and downs, both in terrain and in our rookie bicycling experiences. But its been decided that we are rookies no longer. We (just me, actually) have had our first flat tire, rain storms, blazing sunshine, forty degree weather, both head and tail winds, crossed mountain passes, a swim in the Columbia River, biked in the dark (only once, don't worry concerned parents!), asked for help, received help when we expected none, been forced to walk our bikes uphill, camped in city parks and front yards, soaked in a hot spring, and have completely indulged in every food craving known to us. It almost feels like we never left, but sometimes it feels like we've passed a lifetime while crossing Oregon, Washington and Idaho to get here. We have many great memories, bumps and bruises, hunger pangs, dirty laundry and much bigger leg muscles to remind us how far we've come, though. That, and we can look back towards Lolo and know that we climbed the pass in less than an hour in heavy rain and 41 degree weather feeling strong and capable after twelve days of tough cycling. If that doesn't say something, well, we're in trouble.

Our first stop in Missoula was Adventure Cycling Association where we proudly posed for photos with our bikes, enjoyed ice cold soda, and got our gear weighed for the first time. The results are in, drum roll please!
Black Betty (Flynn) and all her delights: 80 pounds!
Lance (Carolyn), with full water bottles: 81 pounds!
Schwee (Emily), last but not least: 84 pounds! We're attributing those few extra to the acrylic paints Schwee is lugging around.
We loved that Greg our photographer told us that if our bikes weighed less than our guess we could load up our bikes with gear equivalent to the difference in weight. Looks like I get to pack an extra 19 pounds worth of warm clothes, Halloween costumes and snacks (highest priority, for sure).
Another favorite was the "What is the most unusual item you are carrying?" question on the form we filled out.

Carolyn: a furry blue gorilla by the name of Henry Kipling. He knows best.
Flynn: a pin identifying her as the Earth Delegate
Emily: those acrylic paints! Her panniers sure do look beautiful because of them and her artistry.

Stop number two was The Bridge for some much craved for slices and Cold Smoke. There was a lot of lip smacking and sighs of delight. No more needs to be said except that there was some debate over whether it should have been the first stop.

Its wonderful to be back, especially knowing that some of our greatest hurdles are behind us and that we're much further along on the learning curve. No doubt there are a few more spills and "whoops!" ahead, but this time, we've trained. Come what may!

-Carolyn