Life On A B-I7

# 4

“We are all alone together.” —Mt. Joy

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# 3

The goal is to learn something new every day… better still if you manage to remember it…

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# 2

The wax and the wick work together to produce the flame. They have patience. We should all have patience. Few of us do. The few of us that do have patience seem to have it for only fleeting moments. Extending those moments is our challenge.

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# 1

Try hard and wonder. Keep moving. Keep learning.

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Demagogue

This is a personal website which tries its best to present material that originates directly from my personal experience. In other words, I listen to the voice in my head and try not to be too influenced by the speech floating around me. I’m more interested in what I think than I am in what other people tell me I should be thinking.

An added distinction is in order before we get to the topic of this post. People that have taken the time to write down their thoughts and the reasoning for those, do hold sway with me. Our founding fathers are example of those sorts of people. Using those thoughts as background for the formation of our own opinions is a valid approach to opinion forming.

Although I have a degree in Political Science and I enjoy the study of history even at this later stage in life, that does not give me the right to tell you what to think… However, I think it allows me to share with you what I have learned, you can form your own opinion about what this means, as have I.

Taking a look back at the writings of our founding fathers, George Washington and Alexander Hamilton in particular, there are lessons to be gleaned that are applicable today. George Washington’s greatest fear was that a cult of personality would be used to subvert democracy. He expressed this view in letters he wrote during the summer of 1787 when he was attending the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. He even stated that his primary reason for attending was to prevent such an occurrence in a still very young and forming country.

In Washington’s day, the word demagogue was not commonly used as an insult or in a derogatory way. When it was used, it was not as easily dismissed as it is today. This is largely I believe because today so few people really understand what it means. The meaning of the word has been known since Greek and Roman times. It was as clear to Washington in his day as it is to historical scholars today, the meaning is precise. A demagogue is someone who uses distrust, fear, threats, emotional appeals to prejudice, and yes, even lies to obtain power. Almost always the power sought is personal power. I’m not aware of any incident in history when demagoguery was used to obtain power so that altruistic goals could then be pursued.

In the Federalist Papers No. 1, Alexander Hamilton writes:

“History will teach us that… of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people; commencing demagogues, and ending tyrants.”

It is clear what Washington and Hamilton thought about demagogues and what the result of the words and actions of demagogues will lead to. The take-away is to avoid allowing our emotions to lead our decision making. Relying on the wisdom and the experience of others, and what history teaches us, is a much more reliable guide.

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I Write

I write every day.
Often I don’t have much to say… and I rarely rhyme.

The point is to step outside of myself
for a brief period of time.

Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the Archive link above.

The Future

The sun is shining through the window, casting a shadow on the page as I write. I see the movement of the pen across the page. When I set the tip of the pen to paper, the shadow joins the ink, the two work together to lay down words onto the page. I have only a vague idea what the words about to come out may be… Like life itself, we cannot look into the future and say “this or that will happen.” It’s best to look into the future and simply say, what comes to me tomorrow will be the fruit of the seeds that I plant today.

Writing as Meditation

I try to write every day. I find that writing can be a form of meditation when there is no preconceived idea of what should be placed on the paper. (My writing usually goes into a hand-written journal before it appears here, if it appears here…) This morning the following words appeared on the page and seemed worthwhile.

I think my cat has helped me. We need an animal spirit to teach us how to live — or at a minimum, to point out to us where we need to focus. My cat is the picture of contentment, gratefulness, and play. As I should be. Sometimes when I most want him close to me he declines to share the moment. That’s not bad. I have to respect that his needs don’t always align with mine. When that happens, it is a message to be patient and wait for the proper moment to reach out. It takes two. One alone is not how it works. The only time one alone need not worry about someone else is when there is no someone else. As long as someone else chooses to be a part of our life, to join with us on this journey, however they choose to do that, respect and patience must rule our thoughts, emotions and most importantly, our behavior.

Seeds

”Many think that seeds improve with age. I have no doubt that time discriminates between the good and the bad; and when at last I shall plant, I shall be less likely to be disappointed.”

Henry David Thoreau

I guess it’s obvious now that I’m reading “Walden”. I run into a passage now and then that strikes me. I’m not sure you can read Walden and not be struck dumb at times… He may be talking about seeds and planting in this passage, but I prefer to think the idea runs deeper. He seems to be telling me that I shouldn’t be quick to form judgements or even make decisions, but rather the opposite. The best decisions are those that are considered carefully. I can think of many examples in my life when I have not followed Thoreau’s advice. Perhaps I should have read “Walden” with a critical eye much earlier in life, but then again, I have to admit that it is better to stumble late to this advice than never.

Rich

”…for a man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.”

Henry David Thoreau

It pains me to think that I can elaborate on this thought. At the risk of trying to place myself in the same company as Thoreau, a vain thought, not one that I would entertain for a second, let me say that what we live without is more defining than what we live with. This knowledge comes from age and experience, but it doesn’t hurt to have someone as wise and eloquent as Thoreau to occasionally remind us.

Proper Punctuation

I’ve been reading “The Elements Of Style” by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White. It is a fascinating book that attempts to teach people how to be better writers. This may be a cause lost on me but I find it worth the effort regardless. I discovered this morning that all of the titles to my journal entries have been improperly punctuated. Complete dates, like the one used in the title of this post, contain parenthetical clauses (as does this sentence). The separate parts of the date should be delineated with commas, like so:

Saturday, September 9, 2023 not Saturday September 9 2023, as I have been doing my entire life.

I find it utterly useless to acquire this knowledge this late in life, but also utterly charming.

You have probably noted that I created a sentence above that contains two parenthetical clauses, one separated by commas and the other delineated using parenthesis. I have no clue what William Strunk would have to say about that, but I suspect he would find it appalling.

My Cat

I saw a fellow walking along the road, not far back a truck was parked. The truck was set-up for overlanding. I figured what the heck. I stopped to see if the fellow needed a ride, he did. I asked if that was his truck I had just passed and he confirmed that it was. I told him to hop-in and I’d give him a ride wherever he was going. I also said, “as long as you don’t mind riding with a cat.” He laughed and said “that’s a little weird, usually it’s a dog, but that’s cool.”

I can’t find it in myself to trade-in my cat for a dog, so the cat is just going to have to live with me. I’m pretty sure I like him, and I’m pretty sure he likes me… Although with cats it can be hard to tell…

Moral Code

I chose the title “Moral Code” for want of anything better, that seems to be what this list is all about. These have become known as Hutchins’ Laws, first widely published in 1947. Hutchins was Chancellor of the University of Chicago from 1929 to 1951. Trained in Philosophy, this appears to be something of a manifesto of his moral code.

• The Good American tries to stay in good health
• The Good American controls his/her emotions
• The Good American Is self-reliant
• The Good American is reliable
• The Good American plays fair
• The Good American does his/her duty
• The Good American tries to do the right thing
• The Good American tries to do the right thing in the right way
• The Good American works with friendly cooperation
• The Good American is kind
• The Good American is loyal

These look to me a lot like slogans. Like the infamous “Make America Great Again.” That phrase was first used by Ronald Reagan, then appropriated by Donald Trump. Regardless of that little bit of history, these slogans have power that can be weirdly for both positive and negative purposes. Beware of the person that insists some moral code has been lost and must be reestablished. When that happens you are probably listening to someone that is attempting to control you.

You cannot go back to the past, whatever that is. What you can do is learn from it, hopefully not repeat events that were detrimental while finding a way to create events that are beneficial. This is not always a clear process.

The first thing I did when examining this list was to take the word “American” out of these phrases and substitute the word “person.” That removes at least one bias. It also seems to me you have a man that is taking his inspiration from the Bible. Be that as it may (I have no idea if that is the case here) these are all good ideals to strive for, in any time, and any country. Don’t be blinded. These words can be used for good purposes as well as not good purposes, it depends on the person wielding them.

Personally, I like this list, I even try and do most of these things. But if I were to tell you that you should live by these rules I would be stepping into a place where I am assuming too much authority over you.

A Watershed Moment

We are living in a watershed moment in American History. We face a Constitutional crisis no less crucial or important than the events leading up to the Civil War in 1860.

George Washington in his farewell address in 1796 laid out the grounds of citizenship clearly and unequivocally:

”The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their Constitutions of Government. But the Constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all. The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish Government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established Government.”

“All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency …”

“However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government; destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”

Simply put, we as citizens are obligated by our adoption of the Constitution to recognize and check any person or persons involved in acts that are designed to circumvent or betray the Constitution. Failure to do so is failure to support the principle which we consider to be fundamental to our lives and livelihood, Democracy.

Speech

Never trust a man who speaks ill of another, it’s likely ulterior motives are in play. If someone’s speech makes you angry, rest assured that is the intent, for by this path the one that seeks to anger you also seeks to control you.

Modesty

It is a rhetorical rule of thumb that every good speech or piece of writing should begin with an expression of modesty.

That is my new defense. I’ve been told that I make a habit of following that rule a bit too enthusiastically. Let me just say:

I’m not an expert in these things,

but I disagree…

…I think modesty is a virtue, what I have failed to mention is that this rule was the norm in the mid-ninteenth century. I’m not 169 years old, I just sound like it.

Supplemental

Redmond OR, 0 miles

Smoke

I had intended to drive to Redmond Oregon and catch a flight back to Missoula, as I neared town I encountered the worst wildfire smoke I have ever experienced. Visibility was less than 1/4 mile. While that may sound overly dramatic, it’s really an understatement.

I’m putting the rest of the tour on hold. I don’t know when the fires will abate, but I don’t expect that will be before September. I’m saddened by this turn of events, but the situation does not warrant the potential health risks that would be encountered if I were to return to the road right now.

Sadly, I won’t be returning to Missoula soon…

Supplemental

Seattle WA, 0 miles

Returning

I’ve been enjoying this view for the last couple of weeks but the thought of returning to the road has never been far from my mind.

I’ve been sharing family events and summer activities with loved ones. I’ve been able to recoup some strength and put a couple of pounds back on. I’ve had the rare treat of consuming (a large portion of) four coconut cream pies in two weeks. Getting out of shape is not hard to do. Now that I’m packing to resume my journey, I could not be more excited.

I’ll be returning to Missoula in two days…

Supplemental

Seattle WA, 0 miles

Gear

When I was camping in Yellowstone at Grant Village, I shared a campsite with a friendly Brit. He was riding a mountain bike from Anchorage Alaska to somewhere, he wasn’t all that clear on when or where he would be ending. He was eleven months into his tour and had no plans to stop any time soon. He will probably end up in Patagonia before he’s all done. It turned out we each asked the other a question that made for an interesting conversation.

I asked him why he chose to bicycle across the interior of North America. He was avoiding roads as much as possible and following the Continental Divide. He told me he was watching a YouTube video one day and saw a fellow that was making the same trip and he simply decided he wanted to do it too. I think it was clear by my expression that I was looking for a bit more detail, so he went on. He said he had nothing better to do so he sold everything he owned, bought a bicycle and some gear, and set out. That made a bit more sense to me. He was planning to make his own YouTube video when he finished. I think that is his true inspiration. He showed me some of the video he had captured and it blew me away. Even though I couldn’t completely relate to his explanation, I noticed he rode a Brooks saddle so that spoke well for him…

When it was his turn to ask me a question, he wanted to know what my favorite piece of gear was. I could have easily said “my Brooks saddle,” but I paused and thought about it for a couple of seconds and then replied, “my light-weight down jacket.” The jacket has saved me on a couple of occasions and it has been just damn comfortable on lots of other occasions. Naturally I asked him what his favorite piece of gear was, he said it was his sleeping bag liner. I got it immediately. I have frequently noticed how nice it would be to have an extra layer inside the bag, not just on cool evenings, but also on hot ones. I was kicking myself for not having come up with that before I started my trip. My emphasis on carry-weight made me blind to that gear choice.

I’ll be returning to Missoula soon, with a sleeping bag liner…

Supplemental

Seattle WA, 0 miles

What is a Bicycle Tour?

It’s a bit more than getting on a bicycle and going for a ride. You’re stepping out of your normal existence and you are entering into an entirely new world. It’s a lifestyle apart from what constitutes “normal life.” Every day requires focus, but on a limited number of tasks. The result of this narrowing of awareness is increased observation of your surroundings, your own feelings, of everything you are experiencing. It makes other people’s opinions and attitudes less relevant. Not less important or less valuable, but less impactful on you. That allows you to appreciate other people without obsessing on the “rightness” or “wrongness” of what they may be projecting.

Your day begins with a simple meal and a cup of coffee you make with your own hands. It’s enjoyable because you created it. Packing your gear for the day’s ride is done deliberately and with intention. So it is with a myriad of details throughout the day. The simple process of stopping and securing your bicycle becomes a ritual that is satisfying and affirming. Setting up camp, preparing to sleep, sleeping, waking, these are things that take on a significance that has no counterpart in “normal” life. They are immensely satisfying.

You see things in a whole new way. You are forced to slow down your perception of time, and also your observational perception. At the same time you are slowing down, your mind is embracing thoughts and ideas that wouldn’t normally be observed. “Mind expanding” may be a bit of an overstatement, but it’s a good description of the mental experience that comes with the physical exertion of riding for ten hours and covering 50 to 100 miles in the time it would take an airplane to fly half way across the world.

While all of this is part of the experience, the real thrill is completing your adventure and looking back on the experience. You can’t help but grow from the accomplishment. A tour is an accomplishment to be proud of. If you’re like me, after you complete your tour, you’ll be asking yourself, “what discoveries will I make on my next tour.”

I’ll be returning to Missoula soon…

Day 76

Missoula MT, 65 miles

Today I chose another pre-dawn start. There are no cafes open in Darby until 7:30 AM so I’m going to ride to Hamilton for breakfast, about 20 miles down the road. That will also give me a good head start on the day. After breakfast I’ll ride to the ACA Headquarters in Missoula to hang out for a short while. It’s been one of the many goals for this trip. I’m excited to get my photo on the wall. It’s a small thing, but small things can be big things.

I took the Bitterroot Trail into Missoula. Its a paved path, about 45 miles long, from Hamilton all the way into Missoula. That makes three major bike trails I’ve checked off my bucket list on this trip. It was also nice getting off the highway. The last stretch of highway into Missoula is very busy, it was much more relaxing to be on a path rather than having traffic buzzing by at insane speed (compared to me).

About nine miles outside Missoula I got a flat. I looked at the tire carefully and noticed a worn spot on the casing. These tires only have about 1,500 miles on them. I was very disappointed in their performance. I got a new tube in the tire and remounted the wheel and the tube wouldn’t hold air. I had to start all over again. I was using a patched tube. All four of my spare tubes are now patched, apparently I hadn’t gotten this one patched in all the right places. I was working on another attempt at repair when a very nice local cyclist pulled up to see if he could help. He gave me a new tube and we talked about all his cycling adventures. When all was said and done and I was on the road again, I arrived in Missoula about two hours later than I had planned. Thanks to my pre-dawn start, that wasn’t really an issue.

This is the end of my TransAmerica bicycle journey… for now…

I originally planned to complete the trip by July 31 or August 1. Getting sick in Colorado for a week threw a wrench into that plan. There is a lot going on at home in August that I don’t want to miss. My plan is to return to Missoula late August or early September to finish the ride. Besides, I miss my cat and some of the humans back home… Actually, I miss all of the humans back home and even the ones that don’t live in Seattle.

I wanted to complete the journey in one-go, but life has a way of intervening. There is no rule that says you can’t take a “break.” I’ll be back to finish and when I do, I’ll be posting here the final two weeks of the ride. Pop in occasionally to see what I’m up to. I appreciate all of you that I have met along the way. Happy trails, and may your journey’s end be as wonderful as mine is… and will be.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Arrived in Missoula. Took the tour of the ACA Headquarters, got my picture on the wall, and hung out in the cyclist’s lounge.

Day 75

Darby MT, 57 miles

It turns out that today’s climb was another tough one. My optimism last night about the difficulty of today’s climb is evidence that staying in the town of Wisdom had no beneficial effect on me…

My pre-dawn start got me to Darby in plenty of time to relax and settle in to a good early linner. Today was another superb scenic adventure. The day began with a stunning sunrise in Big Hole Valley followed by a beautiful climb to Chief Joseph Pass. After topping-out, it was a steep seven mile descent, braking all the way, followed by a glide through the Bitterroot Valley with stunning views of the Bitterroot Range to the west. I would make this trip again in a heartbeat. There are no mountain ranges to conquer tomorrow, it should be a relaxed day.

Without question, the highlight of today’s miles was a stop at the Big Hole Battlefield National Historic Site. Perhaps it was the early morning light, or simply the stunning uniqueness of the terrain in front of me, or the tragedy that occurred here, but I was blown away with emotion. I realize it’s not advisable to apply today’s moral standards to the events of history, but it’s difficult not to feel both sorrow and anger for the event that occurred on this beautiful site. A sizable group of Nez Pierce led by Chief Joseph were peacefully migrating to Canada where they could live a life free of the confines of a reservation. They were pursued by a contingent of U.S. Cavalry. In a surprise pre-dawn raid almost 100 Nez Pierce women and children were slaughtered by the U.S. force. Today this site is hallowed ground to the Nez Pierce people and is an example of our not always glorious continental expansion.

There are several opportunities in this area to get “off road” and explore the route taken by the Lewis and Clark Corp of Discovery. I want to come back with my off grid setup and follow along and camp using the National Forest trails and roads that follow this historical route.

Big Hole sunrise just a few miles from Big Hole Battlefield National Historic Site.

Day 74

Wisdom MT, 67 miles

_ I’m in Wisdom Montana. I hope some of whatever gave this town its name rubs off on me…_

I made it over both passes and pulled into the town of Jackson at 1 PM. There is a great cyclist hostel here. I spent a half-hour hanging out and chatting with the owner, nice guy, full of information. Even though it would have been a great place to stay, it was early, so I decided to push on to the town of Wisdom. That was a good decision, an easy 18 mile add-on.

Tomorrow looks like an easier day (maybe) than today. I’m at a pretty good elevation here so the climb up to Chief Joseph Pass and Lost Trail Pass might not be too bad. Famous last words. I’ll be into Idaho for a short distance tomorrow before weaving back into Montana. I’ll be passing near the Lost Trail Ski Area. I want to ski some of these out-of-the-way areas.

The Big Hole Valley where I am now is on the East side of the Continental Divide. Honestly, this is a bit counterintuitive. The Big Hole Valley might be one of my favorite places in terms of scenic vistas. A place worth returning to. Tomorrow I’ll pass over the divide again and be on the West side. Between Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, I’m not sure how many times I’ve crossed the divide.

When I go into a local restaurant for a meal, I’ve taken to sitting at the bar. I don’t like waiting for a table, or taking up an entire table for just myself. Besides, sitting at the bar is much more entertaining. It’s haying season and listening to the local ranchers talk about their haying progress is interesting. There are also fun things to watch. My bartender chews tobacco and trims his fingernails with an automatic knife while tending bar. He also uses his fingers to put the vegetables into the Bloody Marys. (Not my Bloody Mary, I usually have water with my food, I can’t get enough water at the end of the day.) Tonight I had some coconut cream pie. It was excellent. Small towns are full of surprises.

Near the top of Badger Pass. The shoulder you see is not that bad. I don’t mind a day of riding on 18 inches.

Day 73

Dillon MT, 0 miles

Rest day.

Looking at the map elevation guide, it appears that tomorrow might be my biggest day of climbing yet. Certainly the biggest day of climbing in Montana. I’m going to get an early pre-dawn start to give myself as much daylight as possible to make it over Badger Pass (6,760 feet) and Big Hole Pass (7,360 feet). The starting elevation here in Dillon is a bit over 5,000 feet. The net climb is 3,760 feet over 49 miles.

I’m feeling better today. Yesterday’s traumatic experience on Highway 41 is behind me. That in no way changes my assessment of the hazard I encountered yesterday, but time is a marvelous thing when it comes to one’s perception of past experiences. Even 24 hours can make a huge difference. Am I going to give up travel by bicycle? No, not at all.

I’m getting lots of rest today. I realized I’ve been cycling every day for twelve days without a rest day. During that time I’ve covered 723 miles, not bad for an old man. That’s an average of 60 miles per day. When I was planning this trip I was hoping to be able to hit that mark. It’s rewarding to know that over the last 12 days of challenging terrain I have been able to do that.

I mostly agree with that quote, however, I would say “as important.”

Day 72

Dillon MT, 72 miles

I’m going to share this post with the ACA. I think I have a responsibility to do that. I understand I am just one voice but I believe every voice should be heard

The climb out of Ennis was a big one, about 8 miles of significant grade. Once I made the pass I dropped straight into Virginia City (see below). I had an easy ride from Virginia City to Sheridan. From Sheridan to Twin Bridges was the fastest eight miles I have done on the tour. Downhill with a shoulder that lets you really put the hammer down. From Twin Bridges to Dillon was another story…

Twin Bridgets to Dillon follows State Highway 41. It’s a 28 mile stretch of road, but the first 20 miles has no shoulder. Literally zero shoulder in many places with a significant amount of broken white line in other places. To put it quite simply, it was a nightmare. The speed limit is 70 MPH and that is what most cars and trucks are doing. Bicycles don’t belong on a road like that. I got the distinct impression from the behavior of a lot of the vehicles that passed me that they are basing their driving behavior on a similar belief.

When I went through Yellowstone, I saw a fellow wearing a bright pink jersey, the back of it read: “Please Don’t Hit Me.” At the time this struck me as a somewhat obvious notion. A concept that I assumed at the time that everyone agrees on. Now that I reflect on that a bit, along with today’s experience, I’m having a different reaction.

When the TransAmerica bicycle route was established in 1976, we lived in a different era. Of course what I am about to say can be easily dismissed as subjective, but sometimes even subjective observations can hold a truth. In 1976 I suspect behavior on the road was different than it is today. People likely drove more slowly, cars simply weren’t as well built or as powerful. People might not have been in as big a hurry. Bicycles were a curiosity, now they are an annoyance to a lot of people. In other words, people were likely more courteous back then. I could go on about the attitudes of drivers and respect for each other as fellow humans, but I think you get the idea where I’m going with this…

I think the TransAmerica Bicycle Route is an important part of our country’s history and culture, and an endeavor worth undertaking. I wish that local, state, and even federal resources could be dedicated to making stretches like today’s Highway 41 safer for bicyclists and drivers. Giving the times we live in, I’m not holding out much hope for that. I admired what Nelson D. Rockefeller Jr. did to establish Grand Teton National Park. Perhaps our best bet is that some day someone like him will help provide the means to make the TransAmerica Bicycle Route the world’s premier (safe) bicycle experience.

My day did end on a very positive note. As I was leaving the Best Western here in Dillon to grab some dinner, a couple of fellows were tailgating in the hotel parking lot. I stopped to tell them their grill smelled really good. On my way back from dinner I stopped to chat a bit more. They asked me where I was cycling from and to. I told them a little bit about my trip. As I was walking away I heard one of the men say to his buddy, “Wouldn’t it be cool to have that kind of freedom.” Well there you go, that says a lot about this journey, and why I have undertaken it.

Virginia City is worth a visit. The history of placer mining here is a fascinating one. Some colorful characters made their home here during the Montana gold rush, not all of them were looking for gold in the river. A handful of lawless men made a profession of getting their gold any way they could until vigilantes stepped in and put an end to that practice, and to those men…