• Day 1: We met an Italian Couple who were Through-Riding the GDMBR (north to south), Luca and Paola. They were from Northern Italy. It turned out that our paths would cross several times over the next 4-5 days (nearly to Butte).
• At our Noon Break we caught up with Luca and Paola and shared lunch time with them.
• A Solo cyclist named Seth, I think from Oregon, joined us for Lunch too. Seth was running a GPS Trail-Map Ap [Application] from his Smart Phone (with no cell connection, just using the phone's GPS capabilties). It seemed to be a more user friendly navigation system than the commercial Garmin systems that we have seen/used.
• Nothing unexpected happened - We had a Great Biking Day
• We crested GDMBR's Continental Divide Crossing #1.

Day 1 - Lincoln, Montana, to a Roadside Camp
Near Marsh Creek in Helena National Forest

Above Left: We started with a Nylon Strap and Plastic Cam-Lock System, one lock broke and the other kept slipping. So at the Ovando Store (Previous Adventure) we saw and bought 2 HD Nylon Straps, each with a HD Metal Cam-Lock. This was our first attempt at using the Blue Straps and we can report that they worked marvelously!

Above Right: The Crack of Dawn, well a little after.

Above: We were heading south out of Lincoln on Stemple Pass Road.

Above Left: We were heading south out of Lincoln on Stemple Pass Road.

Above Right: Humbug Creek.

Above Left: Stemple Pass Road becomes NF-4134.

Above Right: South on NF-4134.

Above: Some residential properties exist on South on NF-4134.

Above Left: NF-4134 and us go left, Fields Gulch Rd goes right.

Above Right: Chipmunk.

Above: We barely saw Black Bear Acres.

Above: South on NF-4134.

Above Left: Ta da.

Above Right: South on NF-4134.

Above Left: South on NF-4134.

Above Right: Rochester Gulch.

Above: A beautiful morning view.

Above Left: Likely this is Poorman Creek.

Above Right: The turnoff for Stemple Pass.

Above Left: Crossing Poorman Creek again.

Above Right - Funny Story: Dennis was making a call to nature when this couple of cyclists stopped to talk to Terry (with the Tandem). Well, Dennis could not do anything until the paperwork was completed. Eventually Dennis joined the others while holding a shovel in one hand and a roll of toilet-paper in the other hand and he joined right in on the conversation.

Luca and Paola were from Northern Italy and they were cycling the Divide from Roosville to Antelope Wells (Canada to Mexico). As life would have it, we crossed paths several times for the next 4-5 days (to a location just short of Butte, Montana). Also, each couple would just happen to be at the right place at the right time in order to help the other out of a tricky navigation issue.

Above: TMI (To Much Information).

Above Left: This sign was beyond our turn-off; from our direction the sign was missing. This is a key turn. In any case, all of the clues had us looking for this turn.

Above Right: We had about 100 yards/meters of good road ...

Above Left: ... then the road condition and climb angle went to heck.

Above Right: A recovering burn area.

Above Left: We caught up to the Italians.

Above Right: We took pictures of each other on each other's cameras.

Above Left: Getting Steep with Loose Gravel, we had to push a few times.

Above Right: Our Italian friends.

Above: Dennis & Terry Struck, cycling up NF-4134 on the GDMBR, Montana, Photo by Luca.

Above Left: Our new HD Medal Strap System is working well.

About the HELMET:
1. Life Hack: I got tired of the Sunlight Shining through the Space between the Helmet and Visor,
    so I put black Electrical Tape across the Gap and that has worked very well!
2. The Helmet used to be a Bright YELLOW Color; it is now Sun Bleached. It suggests something about Sunscreen.
3. I hand cut the name and letters out of Reflector Tape.
4. I have no idea what is keep the Helmet from falling to the ground?

Above Right: We are following the tracks of our Italian Friends.

Above: We see Butterflies every five minutes. They are friendly (or have no fear) and they often hitch rides with us when our direction concurs.

Above: Climbing on loose scrabble.

Above Left: The unnamed pass, way ahead, is Continental Divide Crossing #1 (going from North to South).

Above Right: Climbing on loose scrabble.

Above Left: Pushing on loose scrabble.

Above Right: Climbing on loose scrabble.

Above: Oh, our aching legs!

Above: We are high enough that we can make good pedal progress.

Above: We're not to the pass yet, but we can sense it.

Above Left: We had to push again.

Above Right: This is NOT the Pass BUT we have intersected with the forest road that comes from Stemple Pass. The road becomes Stemple Pass Road (coming from Stemple Pass) as we turn right to continue heading up to the un-named pass. Ride with GPS shows the elevation here as 6834' (2083m).

Above Left: Clearly we are still riding uphill (which conflicts with topo maps).

Above Right: An old Mining Shack from the latter 1800s.

Above: We're still climbing.

Above: We're still climbing and the view across the mountains is starting to open (like what happens at all mountain passes).

Continental Divide Pass #1 at 6547'/1995m
(According to Ride with GPS)

Above Left: Still Climbing in altitude.

Above Right: We made it to the unnamed pass. It is clearly the high point of the road which has become Marsh Creek Road.

Luca and Paola were waiting for us (no pictures). We had a pleasant conversation while eating Lunch. Near the conclusion of our lunch, a solo rider named Seth showed up. I believe he was from Oregon, but don't quote me. Seth is on his first long bike tour and he is following the diary of a printed book about someone else's journey across the GDMBR.

Above Left: Seth is carrying HAM Radio Equipment and he's showing his battery/capacitor which has and must have at least a 1 Amp delivery (in order to operate his system) - That is the Red device on the front of the bike rack (wrapped in black ballistic nylon).

Seth also has a GPS application that operates from his smart phone. His Smart Phone GPS application has much appeal to us, because our GPS (purchased just before this trip is going into the trash can when we get home - Garmin Edge, we called Garmin 3 times, what a waste of time).

Above Right: A view down Marsh Creek Road.

Above: Riding east, down Marsh Creek Road.

Above Left: We stopped here for a late afternoon snack.

Above Right: The ground was too soft for the kickstand.

Above: Wild Huckleberries that the Bears missed. They were very tart, maybe the Bears left them on purpose.

Above Left: We're heading down Marsh Creek Road.

Above Right: There were many informal campsites along Marsh Creek Road paralleling Marsh Creek. We had decided to make it as far as Helena National Forest for today's goal; it is about 15 more miles (near Mullen Pass, Montana).

Above Left: Marsh Creek Road.

Above Right: Behind Dennis is the Cattle Guard and Gate for Leaving Helena National Forest. We will ride through private properties, State land, and BLM land for about 15 more miles (ant then return to Helena National Forest again).

Above Left: Peddling SE down Marsh Creek road.

Above Right: These are the signs for a walk-in Hunting Site (No vehicles or snowmobiles allowed). Like most outdoor signs in Montana, there are a few bullet holes.

Above: At first I thought that there was a Bear in the lower meadow, then I saw the other Cattle. The road is steep but we are riding downhill!

Above Left: Riding down Marsh Creek Road.

Above Right: It is an Old Ranch or Farm Dwelling.

Above: Marsh Creek Road is now in Ranch Country and the trees are sparser.

Above Left: An old dwelling is sinking into a new pond.

Above Right: Marsh Creek (from where we came, northwest of here) merges with Upper Little Prickly Pear Creek (where we are heading upstream to our right, southwest) and it forms a new creek called Prickly Pear Creek (in the direction that we are facing, east).

Above Left: We're turning right (onto Lost Horse Road).

Above Right: Lost Horse Road.

Above Left: Lost Horse Road.

Above Right: CCC Ranch entrance.

Above Left: Aspen Grove above Lost Horse Road.

Above Right: Lost Horse Road.

Above Left: Lost Horse Creek.

Above Right: The Turn-Off for Lost Creek Road which actually heads straight or left while NF-4002 heads turns right (difficult to tell until closer).

Above: The closer picture, Lost Creek Road goes straight or left and NF-4002 turns right.

Above Left: Lost Horse Creek follows that green-line in mid field.

Above Right: Open fields, homes, and ranches as we work our way up Lost Horse Creek Rd.

Above Left: Old Mining shacks.

Above Right: Not so old, dilapidated ranch shacks.

Above Left: Cycling up Horse Creek Road.

Above Right: Classic Montana Ranch entrance.

Re-Entering Helena Nationa Forest
(Find Water and Set-Up Camp)

Above Left: We're going straight, that may be FR-4036 going to the right.

Above Right: Re-Entering Helena Nationa Forest.
- First Goal: Get Water, Fill All Containers plus the Water Bladder.
- Second Goal: Set-up Camp.

Above: Looking for Water. There are Private Property Signs (we always respect post signs).

Above Left: We found some water in Lost Horse Creek which is next to the National Forest Road. The shoulders are too soft for the kickstand. We have laid the bike down and dug out our Filter, Treatment, Bottles, and our Big Camp Bladder.

There is a Bike and Tent already placed in the only Camping Spot, it turned out to be Seth. He came out to talk with us. While we tanked up, four more riders pulled up (going south to north), they filled up on water and shared limited trail information (they started in Helena which is our destination for tomorrow evening).

Above Right: We were loaded with All Water Bottles Full and an Extra 2.5 Gallon Water Bladder. We were just looking for a camp site.

Above Left: We found a suitable campsite up the road on a closed logging road ramp. We are on the south side of National Forest Road (which we only know as Lost Horse Creek Road) and the north side of the road has Private Property Signs.

We hear voices but we do not know whether they are cyclists? It will turn out to be Luca and Paola, our Italian friends were camping just 100 yards/meters further up road.

Above Right: Terry is making dinner. Dennis is setting up the tent.

Above Left: Dinner is Ready. Hot water is available for cleanup (dishes and personal).

Above Right: Our last picture of the day. All Food and Smellables have been placed into the Bear Safe (the clear blue container) and wash cloths are hung on the bike.

We are only 3-4 miles from Continental Divide Crossing #2.