West. Day 6.

Star Lake to Lake of the Falls, Wisconsin

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The ride leaving Boulder Junction was a glorious fifteen-mile paved run on the Heart of the Vilas County Bike Trail. Short hills, numerous curves, plenty of shade, and several parks with restrooms.

Touring heaven.

A great start to a "recovery ride" day. My chores stop in Boulder Junction (thirteen miles out from Star Lake) scored a laundromat, and the Northern Highlands Sports store had seam sealer. Hopefully, no more wet nights in my tent. A bonus? I picked up a Lifestraw water bottle.

Before leaving home I debated about carrying water filtration. In 1976, our group experienced severe diarrhea that recurred, less intensely, several weeks later. We weren't the only ones getting sick. Lots of east-bound Bikecentennial '76 groups straggled into Missoula, Montana (the B'76 headquarters) with the mysterious illness. Somewhere in Wyoming, health department officials stopped our group alongside the road to collect stool samples.

I didn't want a repeat.

From my B'76 journal:

6/14/76 [Missoula, MT]

What a rest day! Got up feeling like shit (but that’s my own fault). Didn’t do much of anything until noon – then I ran my ass off – did laundry, mailed stuff home, got my wheel rebuilt. We stayed at the college last night – the bed felt great! Brad, Big Dave, and Glen are all feeling bad – the health department is trying to figure out what’s going wrong – a lot of people are getting sick. Jeez. I feel OK

Called home last night – felt good talking to mom.

The sun has finally come out. Hope it warms up a little. Actually, we haven’t had that bad of weather – it’s been cloudy and cold since White Bird, but when it rains it doesn’t last long.

The ride was OK today but we got a very late start. We stopped in Stevensville and met this old lady whose son was Ray Glenfell – he has a record out – “Montana Mt. Man” – he yodels and plays guitar and sings. Would like to get it to send to Gma.

Everyone is kinda down. I think we all have a touch of whatever’s going around. I feel OK except for some gas bubbles. Oh well –

Glen, Jan, and Steve stayed behind in Missoula. Who knows when they’ll catch up. We met a boy giving lemonade away.

6/15/76

Stayed over here in Hamilton. Mike and Bob and Dave are sick. I took advantage of the situation and just bombed around town all day. Neat.

6/16/76

Did a short ride today because everyone is feeling bad. I feel a little weird but have been able to fight it off thus far. Hopefully I can keep on feeling ok. They’ve located the source in White Bird, Idaho. I guess some locals have gotten sick, too. Strange –

It rained off and on today. After we got to camp we went down to the Medicine Hot Springs. Just fantastic. All fresh water from a hot spring – up to 110 degrees! Felt so relaxing.

6/19/76

Haven’t written because I got really wiped-out, the 17th. Have been feeling bad ever since. Don’t know how I rode over Chief Joseph Pass – thought I was gonna die. They’ve ruled out White Bird as the source – seem to think there’s bad water in Oregon. What a drag. I feel so exhausted and it’s such a pain to keep riding.