Safe Return Doubtful

60 miles (97 km) – Total so far: 824 miles (1,326 km)

The biker camp area has a large tarp that helps on nights like last night. It rained for most of the evening. I had a a couple of beers and cooked then chatted to the other people sharing the area. Damien from Belgium had obviously seen the Into The Wild film also. He has been hitch hiking around North America for several months, and walking, as far north as the Yukon and headed now to San Francisco. He spoke good English but was quiet, and smelly. Asleep by 9, and I didn’t see him eat, and still asleep when I left this morning. Marcie from France arrived late as some Germans had reversed over her bike in the morning when they spotted some bison. To get it repaired they needed to take it and her to Bozeman, two and a half hours away, and back. Will was another American relocating by bike, from Florida to Portland, Oregon to go to University there. Perhaps it’s easier to get a place if you say you will cycle there. He was using a hammock also, and interesting to chat with as he had come along the route I am headed.

The Rangers say rain all week, and certainly today they were correct. I managed to get a wet tent down in the dry, but it rained then throughout the day, stopping briefly in early afternoon, then just as I was drying, starting again in torrential mode. My route continued up the Madison river to the Old Faithful geyser complex. Actually it’s more of a town. After a brief stop, then the route climbs to go over 3 Divide Crossings, although the ones marked on the roadside (only two) did not correspond to the ones on the map. After Grant Village, where I considered stopping I was so wet, it is pretty much downhill, losing all the height gained in the morning.

The Flagg Ranch site is quite flooded, so much rain came down. Also, worse news, there are mosquitos, not quite sure why or how, seeing most of the other places have had very few. It has no hiker biker area, but a reduction to $18, and hot showers. It does have a bar and restaurant across the road, so will report back on that in due course.

Distance 60 miles, Ride time 4 hrs, 55 minutes, Average Speed 12.1 mph, Max speed 35.8 mph, Departed 9:40 am, arrived 3:35 pm

The road climbs up through the National Park, passing many hot springs and geysers

This bus nearly knocked me off. The traffic is very busy, but only a few vehicles caused any problem. I noted the name on the bus, and at the next stop off for geysers sure enough he was there, stood with some passengers. I gave him a hard time, and felt considerably better.

The visitor’s centre at the Old Faithful geyser

…and the geyser itself. There is a predicted time it will ‘go off’ each day. When it does at this time of year it’s like a football stadium.

Three rainy continental divides. This was the highest spot of the day…

… no marker here, so my GPS to record the altitude

Divide crossing number 3, I think…

….and number 4. One of them was called Craig’s Pass, not sure which

A twenty minute break in the rain at campground at Flagg Ranch. No use at all drying any clothes, the humidity is so high.