Day 21 (June 20): Whitefish to Sprague Campground, Glacier NP – 30 miles

After a late night chatting, I tried to sleep in this morning with minimal success. I bid farewell to Grete and Zach and started pedaling through town to the back road they’d recommended when BAM! Less than a block from Zach’s bike shop my rear tube exploded very loudly and dramatically (over-pressured + pinch flat from last night’s tire replacement). The tube managed to wrap itself around my cassette several times and wedged itself between the gears and spoke protector so thoroughly I couldn’t pull it out. I regret not taking a picture because it really was impressive. I walked my bike back to the shop where they had to remove the cluster to dig out all the rubber. I was grateful I was still in town- that tube could have waited for a pothole five miles down the road before popping.

The back roads to Glacier were quiet and much prettier than riding on the highway. I met two other cyclists (one touring, one not) who rode with me for a couple miles each. When I arrived in West Glacier, the one and only Jacob Cloud (a former coworker who happens to be here on a road trip) met me at the visitor center and, after eating lunch at a park cafe, drove me and my bike up to the campground we’re sharing tonight.

 We set up camp and then went for a short walk at Avalanche Creek to a small gorge, and stopped at the Lake McDonald Lodge.

  Back at camp, Jacob cooked an awesome pasta dinner and we relaxed around the camp fire all evening.  Tonight’s the maiden sleep of the new tent!