Day 15 – Rest Day, Missoula, MT

Today was a rest day.

Last evening we finally met up with David O’Neil.  David is from Christchurch, New Zealand.  We have been corresponding for about 8 months via e-mail.  David had to delay his start of the ride to June 8 and has been working to catch us riding extra miles every day to make up time.  David’s start was delayed due to work reconstructing his business in Christchurch which was damaged by the earthquake in 2011.  It was great to finally meet him and spend time getting acquainted.  David is riding to raise funds for Alzheimer Research.  David’s business is in Alzheimer patient care. David will ride with us at least past Glacier Park.

We slept in and enjoyed a laid back day.  We road about 4 miles into Missoula and visited the Headquarters of the Adventure Cycling Association.  We logged our ride got our pictures taken.  We got some map updates that will detour us around the Balkaan oil fields in North Dakota where truck traffic has made riding hazardous, and the oil boom has made lodging scarce.

We said goodbye to Kevin and Chris, riding partners for the last few days.  They will be heading south from Missoula toward Yellowstone.

We also had the opportunity to meet up with Brian Castaldi, a friend, and professional counterpart who served with me on the Board of the National Technical Investigators Association.  We had lunch and got acquainted with his son Nick and daughters Kate and Emma.  We spent the afternoon with Brian who shuttled us out to the REI store to get  some needed supplies.  Missoula is a beautiful city in a beautiful location.  It is also the home of the University of Montana.  Joe and I rode thru the campus on our return to our hotel in the afternoon.

Tomorrow we head north toward Glacier. We anticipate a two day ride to West Glacier then a one day ride to East Glacier.  As of today the route over Going-to-the-Sun Road is still closed as the crews work to clear the winter snowfall.  Our alternative is to take Route 2 along the south edge of the Park over Marias Pass.