In all honestly, we’ve been incredibly lucky so far on this trip. We’ve had great weather, awesome company, and little to no bike problems…. until now. With that said, folks, we’re stuck here in Hamilton, MT while we wait for a part of Dylan’s front fork that’s coming from California. It seems that the last owner didn’t put all the parts back in when he rebuilt them. The part should be here tomorrow afternoon, when they’ll rebuild the shocks and send us on our way. In the meanwhile, though, we’re just here in Hamilton exploring the town (yes, it has a Main Street) and biding our time.

We spent our first night in the Montana wilderness up above the town in the Bitterroot Mountains.  The camping was free, yet the scenery has been some of the most spectacular of our journey.  The steep cliffs on either side of us were comparable to those of Yosemite, but upon which herds of Mountain Goats hid from view.  Down among the trees we camped and discussed the day’s ride.

And a ride it had been.  We took shelter in a drive-thru church from a thunder storm south of Missoula. We changed our brake pads, our oil, and our front fork seals, all with the generous help we received from the local mechanics. They not only let us use their tools and yards, but also connected us to a string a local welders and shop owners who could help us out.

Throughout the trip, we’ve met a lot of people. The spectacle of three rag-tag guys on near vintage bikes, loaded up with gear, generally draws quite a bit of attention from everyone, especially other bikers. All of these people have been incredibly kind and thoughtful. In the last few days, especially, we’ve met some riders and mechanics in particular who have gone far out of their way to make sure we have a safe and enjoyable journey. Our gratitude goes out to them, as they have helped us get through these particularly troubling times a bit easier.  The generosity and sense of community we’ve seen thus far throughout the country has inspired us to no end.

Anyways, we just put together this handy map below for you to track our travels so far. If all goes according to plan, we will be heading south along the 93 into Idaho again, where we’ll cut East, pass through Yellowstone, and stop in Cody, WY to stay on a ranch for a few days and volunteer through WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms).

-On Maxim, On Magna, and soon to be back on Seca.

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