Day 24: Basin to Butte

Ride time: 3:08
Average: 9.8 mph
Distance: 30.54 mi

I love bounce box days...  We had a package waiting for us at the post office here in Butte, and even though this is the 3rd time we've picked up a bounce box, I still get nervous standing in line hoping they they didn't return the box to Milwaukee.

Let's see, we awoke super early again (I'm loving getting up early), and our ride started out chilly!  We rode along Interstate-15 for most of the day, but followed "Unmaintained Cattle Access Trails" most of the way.  It's actually an old railroad bed, which made for a nice steady grade uphill.  The coolest part of the ride was going through Tunnel #9, a tunnel built in 1911.  It was super spooky:

Great Divide Route - Basin to Butte - Scary Tunnel #9 from Nathan Currier-Groh on Vimeo.

We got a room at the Days Inn in Butte, a bit of advice from some other GDR riders that we passed the other day headed south to north.  The Outdoorsman is a bike shop located next to the Days Inn, which all belong to the family members of Levi Leipheimer, currently on the Tour de France.  Anyway, Rob, the owner of the Outdoorsman, gives GDR riders a free drive train cleaning.  He's incredibly hospitable and generous.  Plus, you get a goodie bag when you stop in and visit (I won't spoil the surprise and reveal the contents...)

Happy 7th Birthday, Adrienne!!