Darby to Missoula: 72 miles??
Around Missoula: 19 miles
Things we like about Missoula:
- It's very bike and pedestrian friendly (bike lanes, bike/ped specific bridges, well signed bike paths, conscientious drivers)
- Three very well-attended markets on Saturday mornings (two food, one craft)
- Surrounded by the foothills (with lots of hiking and apparently excellent mountain biking trails)
- Good selection of grocery stores, coffee shops, etc. (And no food tax!)
- Lovely parks, including one with a beautiful, volunteer-built carousel
- A river that people play (tube, SUP, float, surf, etc in)
- The Adventure Cycling Association is headquartered here (we visited right after we got into town for the requisite photo/visit to the cyclist's lounge)
We were on our own for dinner Friday after visiting the ACA headquarters, so we went downtown and shared an appetizer. Then we dinnered picnic style after treating ourselves to groceries at the local nice/natural food store. Olives, nuts, and nice peppery cheese to celebrate our last day on the road together!
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| Herbed and battered onion rings. |
The next morning, we visited the three(!) bustling farmers markets downtown, explored the bike paths in the city, and hung out in some of the parks. Definitely a city designed for living!
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| Its a thing to sell veggies by the bowl |
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| Quite the bustling market! |
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| Oh, happy carrot! |
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| Huckleberries: the most heavily advertised product in Montana |
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| Free stickers might've been the best part of the visit to the ACA headquarters |
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| "A carousel for Missoula" |
We enjoyed a great dinner Saturday night with our host in her backyard. She is an inspiring and energetic woman who has lots of touring under her belt! A pleasure to get to know her, and to sample the fresh berries and produce from her garden.
We were sad to part this morning (Day 50) when Sonja met her airport taxi, yet also exited for our coming individual adventures and, of course, future bike tours together. (Also, Sonja did get a glimpse of the Oregon mountains out the airplane window this morning... Alix and Alice definitely have some excellent scenery in their future!)
Alix hung out in Missoula a bit more today while waiting for her new riding companion to arrive. Please keep following my and Alice's adventures on this blog :)
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