Bozeman to Columbus - First Full Day

Our first full PAC day was unlike any other that I've been on.  We had a buffet breakfast in the hotel, not in the hotel parking lot with the delicacies of PAC.  We finished at 2:00pm - I've never finished that early before!  Now, that could be that we had mostly downhill and a tailwind after mile 20.  Today was 103.4 miles and 2,317 ft of climbing.  We passed over the Yellowstone River and Boulder River, so it was definitely some pretty views!  We followed the Yellowstone River along Frontage Rd, getting to see a nesting osprey along the way. We wound up riding with some new friends, Lisa from Florida and Chip from Colorado.  Lisa is an extremely strong rider, as she chatted easily the entire time, while I just tried to keep up!!

Craig up ahead of me with the sun and views!

 Yellowstone River

 The Bridge over Boulder River

 Tooling along, me, Lisa and Chip.  Craig is taking the picture

 At the Visitor Center in Big Timber, MT at Mile 61.4
This is me and Charles Marion Russel - Cowboy Artist

 Headed back out on the road, me, Lisa, Chip and Craig is behind Chip, although you can't see him ;-(

 Lunch at mile 77.5 - OH MY!  My favorite!!!  Hot Diggity Dogs!!  John is serving one yummy one up for me now!!

 Although, a bit morbid, the story of the Thomas Party that left Illinois to come to Gallatin Valley, MT

 Coming through a very small town, Reed Point, "No, Craig - we don't have time to rinse the dust out of our throats, at the WaterHole, darn it!"

 This made me think of Sandy and Bob and their little lambs!!

 Local art sculptures, imagine them without the fence there.

 Do it tonight, tomorrow is a long climbing day and there is no laundry service at the hotel tomorrow - you have to walk there!  EEEKKK!

 Cute pooch at the local tavern

 Boulder River - me, Craig and Chip, our new friend!  ;-)