Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Day 17

Paradise, MT to Missoula, MT

Miles: 65.75
Elevation: 2,293
Time: 6 hours 18 mo

Total miles: 818.21
Total Elevation: 37,113
Total Time: 83 hours 37 minutes

Sweet dreams!
Yeah. Maybe not.
While much of touring is filled with sunshine and butterflies, sometimes a tired body processes differently.
Last night, we settled into a beautiful resort-Piece of Paradise- in a beautiful tent set on the river. Annie, the owner, came to chat and share some area history. It was an amazing setting with a journal sharing amazing experiences. As we settled in for the night, it was a bit breezy with tent flaps tapping. Our bodies were cranking out heat as they continued to build/repair muscle. I was soon drifting into a slumber but my mind was on alert because of the unfamiliar sounds. And my dream/awake state is not so different. A neighbor zipped their tent making my asleep mind think they were coming into our tent. Be warned. My near sleep/awake state is met with verbal outcries. Thankfully Drew reassured me and back to sleep. And seemingly minutes later, a cat of some type was snarling and fighting for its life. House cat? Wild cat? At some point in the night, it sounded like it might be raining. And the sound of trailing water. At first, I thought a deer might be urinating by the tent but the sound continued. I still am not sure what it was but perhaps it rained nearby creating a temporary creek.
Knowing we had a few miles to cover, I’d set the alarm for 5:30 wanting to get up and rolling early.
The alarm signaled and we were up. I felt as if I’d worked all night. It was going to be a ‘day’. In these situations, I don’t talk much- super focused- no fluff.

6:19 am- on the road. And what a wonderful gift it is to see the sun rise! Amazing how that happens without any doing on my part. My guess it will continue long after I’m gone. What a great feeling knowing I’m not responsible. I can just enjoy!!
A side benefit of getting up early is low traffic albeit every one was up and at them an hour later.

We rode along with a rock bank to our right where the sun hit the stones and a small rock popped from the surface to hit my forearm. That’s a first!! What a surprise!
Further down the road, we saw Oreo cows.
Theresa Garrett shared fun area info.
We are now in the Flathead Indian Reservation. While we continue to see dead rattlesnakes on the side the of road, I found two gopher snakes behind the Flathead Reservation sign. What was I doing behind the sign? lol!
We continue to see trains along the way. I am so intrigued by trains and airplanes. How they have changed the world!
We also saw a first-wildlife bridge. Sadly, there were dead deer nearby as well affirming how important they are.
As we arrived in Missoula, it felt like coming home. In our 2023 tour, we stayed at a Best Western near the airport and we returned there today. It made me realize we have history together even in our sweet 4 year time together.
A bit tired from the previous night, dinner was items we had stuffed in our packs. A hot shower. Laundry done (every three days for the three sets of bike clothes) and on to NeverNever land.