July 5, 2025 to July 6, 2025
Swan Lake - Columbia Falls - Whitefish
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Rain did arrive in Swan Lake as forecast, but the covered patio area at the store provided the perfect shelter for packing up without getting soaked.
Fireworks had been active for several hours on July 4th, even in daylight and rain. I was surprised that it ran so long as I thought it was a very small town, but perhaps it was the holiday visitors setting them off.
I left the camp at 7 in full rain gear with 2 rear lights flashing hoping the holiday traffic would start later than me, and would see me in the rain. Most traffic was going the other way, and by the time I reached Bigfork the rain was over.
After my big fork breakfast I was back into the traffic to rejoin the route. It wasn't a lot of fun on hwy 83, so I was very pleased to take my first left turn of this section. The route zigzagged through mostly flat farm land, with not much to take photos of - 2 for the day.
I noticed there were at least 4 fields of hay, partially cut and very wet now, and I speculated about the surprise weather that had caught the farmers out.
Montana Coffee Traders in Columbia Falls had lunch and great coffee for me, then I checked into a motel to wash and dry my gear and the tent.
Next morning the 30k to Whitefish was pleasant, but again no great photo ops.
Karo and I had a plan to meet up again in Whitefish. Since we got separated after Seeley Lake, the network and comms had been very patchy. Karo had not been able to get a campsite in Seeley, so had wild camped on Richmond Pass. On 4th she took a B&B, then a warmshowers room on 5th, and planned to take a rest day in Whitefish.
We hatched a plan to meet up again in Canmore for a celebratory dinner on 14th, before her flight from Calgarry, and my ride on the Icefields Parkway to Jasper for the train on 19th.
Today's ride: 129 km (80 miles)
Total: 4,106 km (2,550 miles)
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| Comment on this entry | Comment | 2 |
We are just back from out 3 month tour and are happy to host you and Karo on the 14th if you haven't already made plans. I've changed our WarmShowers status to available so you can find us there ... or just get back to us through this or email us ( ltmcleod at gmail dot com (Lyle) or mckaar4 at hotmail dot com (Kirsten)) or phone text or whatsApp +1 403 604 2488 (L) +1 403 467 9634 (K)
Looks like you will have good weather for the last section. Most GD riders that we've hosted (a lot) have said that the section from Whitefish to Canmore is the most scenic.
3 weeks ago
3 weeks ago