DARBY, MT
It began cold and wet, 16 miles from the destination. Putting on cold, wet shoes in the morning is a delight. I hit the trail at 6:00.
No big climbs, but lots of blowdowns and brush. Even when the trail got easy I was finding every tripping hazard.
I had no cell phone reception, so I wasn’t sure how I was going to contact Frodo for a 30 mile ride. Imagine my relief when I arrived at the Chief Joseph Pass parking lot around 12:30 to see her white and blue van sitting there. HeHo!
We stopped in Sula for lunch and got to the hotel, where my new lithium batteries and earbuds were waiting for me. After the usual shower/change/laundry routine and other logistics I went into town. I got to the candy store just before it closed, and HAD to go to nearby Bandit Brewing for some samples; the best beer of the trail! I did my resupply just as the Pirates began their game. HoJo got into town and we all (Frodo, Maverick, Voyager, LaddyLongLegs, HoJo, me) went to Little Blue Joint for dinner. I had some great fall-off-the-bone ribs; yum! I then went next door to the Sawmill bar to see and hear an incredible Pirate comeback win. Raise the jolly roger!
Darby is really nice, and I’ll be here tomorrow until lunch and get back on trail.
Did you watch the whole Pirate game that went 14 innings?