Fly Fishing on Two Wheels

The 15th was a travel day for the Hells Anglers.

We fished an hour out of the Bitterroot on our fourth day, thanked, tipped, and bid farewell to our guides. We picked up the bikes, and hit the road for Dillon.

Missoula To Dillon By Way Of The Big Hole

We rode over chief Joseph Pass into the Big Hole valley, and stopped at the Big Hole National Battlefield. The BHNB is a memorial to the Nez Percé tribe, who under Chief Joseph, successfully fought a battle against the 7th Infantry Regiment on August 9 and 10, 1877 as they attempted to flee to Canada. We watched a short, poignant, video at the visitor center before continuing on our way. The memorial is worth a stop if you’re in the area.

Big Hole National Battlefield

We followed the Big Hole River out of its enormous valley and continued on to Dillon through the beautiful Pioneer Mountains. Approaching Dillon, the winds kicked up gusts of 20 MPH. It was the first serious wind I’ve experienced on the bike since the crazy Christchurch to Queenstown ride in New Zealand. Like there, we resorted to watching the grass by the side of the road to help us predict and brace against the gusts. It was a hot day and adjusting for the gusts was made a bit more tricky by the tar seams on the road that had been used to repair cracks in the pavement. The tar softened in the heat and made for uncomfortable tire slips as we crossed them. The first one I hit made me sure I was going to dump my bike.

In Dillon, we met up at Safeway, did some food shopping, then rode out to a friend’s house on the Beaverhead River.

Our Friend's Bunkhouse

Share on Facebook