Ah, the classic tale of plans gone awry, leading to unexpected adventures. “What should we do today?” Mo’s question hung in the air like a frisbee waiting to be caught. And me? I was simmering in a pot of frustration, stewing over our scrapped camping plans and the looming evening obligations—a friend’s birthday group call. Given my choice, I’d choose to escape the confines of home for bike ride in the woods.
I was feeling the Grrrrr. My response to Mo was a masterclass in trying not to sound like a grumpy cat. “I don’t know,” I said, each word dripping with a thinly veiled irritation that I hoped sounded more like indifference. However, as my anger began to deflate like a poorly sealed camping mattress, fate steered us to Milltown, MT, just a skip away from Missoula.
With our gravel bikes in tow—mine affectionately dubbed Orca, and Mo’s known as El—we set off on the path to Milltown Park Confluence Area. The state park, with its gravel bars ripe for exploration and a pedestrian bridge arching over the Blackfoot River, was the perfect antidote to my earlier mood. The ride toward Turah, Montana, was therapy on two wheels, a balm for the soul that only biking can provide.
Yet, as the day stretched on, a nostalgic whim struck me. How splendid it would be to pedal all the way home, reminiscent of days when spontaneity was our only compass. Ignoring this instinct, we veered off course to revisit the haunts of our past rides—the legendary TNR Woody mountain route. But as we arrived at the crossroads of Time and Space, everything had changed. The once welcoming access road was now barred by a stern “No Trespassing” sign, and the familiar escape routes from Woody had transformed into a tableau straight out of a dystopian novel—a Republican stronghold, complete with evidence of tank-piercing ammunition and the macabre sight of boiling deer heads.
Caught between nostalgia and the reality of change, I realized that even the familiar streets of Milltown had evolved. The day took an unexpected turn, morphing into a strangely captivating journey. Despite the occasional moment of bike-pouting, my Milltown ride became a celebration of past friendships, the therapeutic power of cycling, and the beauty of the ever-shifting landscape of time and space.
On This Day
On this day in history, let’s take a nostalgic ride through the blog posts from February 27th over the years:
- 2023: Laws – As I look at the desolate scene before me, I can’t help but think about broken laws. Of course, the laws of nature. The branches in the dune stand stark and lifeless, violating the rule of life. The ocean scrub trees, bent and gnarled, are a testament to the force of the wind, powerful elements…
- 2018: Has the World Moved On? –
- 2016: Glide – Last night I was battling the 40 hour work week with a trail run. Well … when I trail run it is more like a crippled old man stumble. Walking up and stumbling down with ouch-knee. A shadow moved across the ground in front of me causing me to look up. I hit the deck…
- 2015: Canyon – Going back to Canyon this summer … it looks like.
- 2014: Training For JBFP – JayP’s Backyard Fat Pursuit, a 200k fat bike race from Island Park to West Yellowstone. I am questioning why I signed up for this one. Yes, it is what I always wanted. And yes I always tell everyone that my “comfy zone” is all alone on a 100 mile stretch in a raging blizzard. But that is what I say…
- 2010: Montana – This is part 5 in a series of blog posts that I am dedication to my favorite photos of 2009. Today’s inductee and now a resident in my “Mountains” photo album is “Montana“. I took this photo April 12th, 2009 at 6:28 AM just 28 minutes from yesterday’s photo. I was headed to Butte to…
- 2008:
- Riding Goes South – To the South Hills that is! Tonight I went on the Lower Miller Creek Road and then Back on the Miller Creek Road. Before entering town I hit Garrett Street and road around in the South Hills. The weather went south as it started to drizzle half way through the outing.
- Resting at 33 – Well, well, well, folks! Bill here, and I’ve got a little health update to share. No, I’m not claiming to be 33 years old, but guess what? My resting heart rate this morning decided to take a trip down memory lane and clocked in at a spry 33 beats per minute! Now, that’s a number…
- 2007: Blackfoot River Road Ride – Howdy, folks! Bill here, gearing up for a two-hour recovery spin up Route 200. I’ve got my sights set on making it to the lodge by 8 PM my time for tonight’s chat. So, see you then! … Two Hours Pass … 7:50 PM: I just rolled back from the Blackfoot ride, and I made…
- 2004:
- Shock jocks shocked – Chicago Tribune: Radio shock jock Howard Stern hosts a crude program that has been yanked off the air in six of the markets where it has aired. That prompted many of his fans in San Diego, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Rochester, NY, to spend…
- Biker lauds IOC transgender plan – B.C. competitor feels `vindicated“ Born a man, but cycles as woman by GEOFF BAKER SPORTS REPORTER for Toronto Star Champion mountain biker Michelle Dumaresq knows all about the struggles of being born a man and competing as a woman. Few believed that the female hormone treatments she took after a sex change operation in 1996…
Dive into each year’s tales and see how the journey unfolds!
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