How I Managed a Blow-Out, Crashed a Wedding, Avoided a Landslide, & Escaped a Fire

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Route Map showing Day 14 of the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, Kooskia Idaho to Missoula Montana

Following a series of setbacks (including a tire blowout like I've never seen on a bicycle before, forest fires, and a landslide) I end up crashing a wedding, making new friends, and accepting a gift of safe transport to Missoula. Enjoy the video story!

Photo, Day 14 of the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, Mandy with new friends sitting on the tailgate of a pickup truck loaded with Mandy's bicycle and trailer in front of the Reflections Inn.

I made new friends at the Reflections Inn--Pete, Margaret, Paula, and Tom. Paula and Tom drove me to Missoula to escape the fires, the risks of my improvised tire, and the hazards on Hwy 12. We're all here with my bicycle and trailer loaded in the pickup at the end of Labor Day weekend.

Making memories
  • I stayed at the Reflections Inn. The hosts, the guests, the flowers, the hot tub, 
  • On our trip to Missoula, we stopped at the Lochsa Lodge for lunch and then at the Lolo Peak Brewery for some refreshments with Tom and Paula's son and daughter-in-law.
  • I'm using this top in Missoula to exchange my teal pet trailer for a cargo trailer intended for touring. In fact I have this very trailer at home, but left it behind hoping to tour with panniers this time. I guess I'm meant to tour with a Burley Nomad!
  • I was struck by a comment of a wedding guest with whom I enjoyed a conversation about my bicycle journey. She said "This sounds like a good opportunity for you to focus less on serving others and also learn how to graciously accept hospitality extended by others."
  • We traversed Lolo Pass (5,233 feet / 1,595 m) in the Bitterroot Range of the northern Rocky Mountains as we crossed from Idaho into Montana.
  • More fires have started so I'll probably need to stay in Missoula a few days until I can breathe well enough to continue the journey.
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Mandy Birch is a global executive engineer and military veteran who builds teams, leaders, & multinational organizations that unlock the potential of disruptive ideas. She enjoys accelerating emerging technologies & strategic partnerships to drive multi-generational thriving for people & communities around the world.

Mandy's interests include: #innovation #leadership #technology #partnerships #quantumcomputing #career #growth #womenintech #veterans #entrepreneurship #creativity #future #foreignpolicy #democracy #geopolitics


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