Tuchuck Campground - Polebridge
Time Traveled: 2 hrs 49 mins
Distance: 24.78 miles
Food Eaten: Super Oatmeal to the 5th power (instant oatmeal, granola, flax seeds, coconut, dried fruit, bee pollen), coffee w/sugar, Lunabar, dates, mini Cliff bar, macadamias, Moose Drool beer, veggie quesadilla, grilled trout, salad, rice, chard, huckleberry bear claw
Serendipity lent me her hand today and I felt at one with my bicycle. From the campground we raced down hills at 15 mph. Upon approaching descent, I squeezed my saddle between my thighs, relaxed my arms, and took flight.
Holding my center of gravity close to the rear of my bike helps to keep everything steady and I'm free to relish in the lush green landscape. Tall towers of pine line the road like a long dark corridor fit for a Glacier king.
Then all at once, it goes from green paradise to burned, naked hills. The contrast from life to death is stark here. This land would seem forsaken if it wasn't for the green growth at the feet of these tall, dead giants. Here is when we see our first glimpse of Glacier National Park peaking out from the charred forest.
We meet a woman on a bridge with a cute little dog who enjoys our brief company. She tells us we are not far from our destination. After our encounter, it is back in the live forest again and before too long, we arrive in the most welcomed sight of Polebridge.
Here we stay in a cozy little cabin at North Fork Hostel and we get a bite to eat both at Polebridge Mercantile (delicious, fresh, homebaked goods) and the Northern Lights Saloon. The latter offers the purest tasting fish I've ever had and wonderful beer.
Back to the hostel we return for over an hour of guitar playing while Oliver's (the owner) brother and his small son listen in. Oliver is German and his whole family was there to visit. As I played, I could hear the sweat man softly speaking in German to his son.
We sleep nice and warm next to the wood stove in our cabin. The shower we enjoyed was pure pleasure.
Oliver at the North Fork Hostel posted a picture of us on his blog right here.
