Sunday, July 15th: Ennis, MT or … YES, WE CAN!

It must have rained again in the night – some new puddles around. But we slept sound and deep and heard nothing! We are getting into this breakfast in bed thing … Just wish it wasn’t always me who has to fetch the goodies! The first part of the ride we head up the foothills of the Ruby mountain range. My woman kept looking for a clue where the big climb would be. I instead listened to the dogs along the road. It’s like the Tour de France or De Ronde van VLaanderen: instead of having people along the road, each dog in the house next door barks at us: “Go, you can do it!”. Alas, my woman does not understand dog talk: she kind of grabs for the water bottle and is ready to shout “STOP” if one of my friends should tag along to encourage is. Maybe we dogs should do the same when a cycling race passes by? The sprinklers are already on and make a nice view against the mountains. The churches along the way are full: a lot of cars are parked around them. My boss wonders why she is so slow… this slight uphill is mentally hard for her. Between Sheridan and Alder a bird tries to commit suicide getting stuck in our front wheel: it just flew in front of us as we crossed the tiny bridge over California Creek. Alder is a very small town, but we do stop for a drink in the gas station/post office. The woman is so excited to see us and she says she admires all cyclists for doing this! But watch for impatient people in cars! The stretch between Adler and Nevada City sucks: uphillish – swamplike – and stinging horse flies. I do not like this and zip my head into the bag: don’t want to be here! A group of motorcyclists passes us – their following car almost collides head on with traffic from the other side as he passes us very fast. In Nevada City we meet them again.

 Gold mining and robberies are here the main stories on the history boards along the road – do we feel safe? My woman keeps swapping flies and has to keep her mouth shut or she’ll eat some! At last Virginia City: until now we climbed gradually. Now we are in for some steep stuff! But first a bite in this cool Wild West town, filled with tourists (and the bikers again). 

The girl in the bar tells us about her ancestors in Poland, Germany and Wales and her wish to go to France since it is so romantic up there! We do not take a long break, keeping the (possible) late afternoon thunderstorms in mind. Now this is what I call climbing: my woman tells me she feels like a very slow mountain goat! Hey … that’s a deer in this person’s garden! On the way up (4 steep miles) the bikers pass us again. Also another mountain goat cycles by – going just a little bit faster than we do (but this Bozeman guy has no luggage). And then, at last… YES, WE’ve done it! 

It’s quite beautiful on top (the climb itself had some nice scenery also): so many shades of green from grasses and small trees, some black cows watching us being happy and yell around, dark grey and white clouds spot the blue sky. Life is good! The last 10 miles into Ennis are a blast: all downhill with a tailwind! We notice three loaded cyclists still climbing the last mile and encourage them:”Almost there – good job!” 

Now this deserves a coke float. The DQ is gone and is now an ice cream shack, but the taste is the same. Ennis.. how wonderful to be back again! My human just accomplished her unknown travel part and she is proud and happy! With reason!