As the leaves have started to change and dance to the ground, I am reminded on why I love Autumn so much. The mountains and valleys turn a burned orange, bright yellow and a deep red. It signifies change. Change is scary and it is the most amazing thing at the same time. I love the cooler weather (even though we totally got cheated on our Montana summer), warm drinks and the smell of the fire place. What I don't like-dark o'thirty in the morning when I head to the gym (because of murder-duh) and dark earlier. My intake of vitamin D is a daily cocktail that my phone reminds me to take.
Alas, I am now just getting to my bucket list for September. September seemed to go fast and then I was on a plane to Hawaii beginning of October (that will be an epic post, don't miss it!).
Before we go further, here the song that is my jam right now.
I kicked off my bucket list with something I have wanted to do for a few years. I biked the
Hiawatha Trail. It was everything I thought it would be. The views were spectacular and it's basically a history tour on a bike. Going through tunnels and over old train trussels while taking in bits of the trails and surrounding towns story. I went with some friends from my local bike group. We rode down and shuttled back up (you can ride back up and it would be pretty easy). We rented bikes and helmets at the lodge. Then gathered for lunch at the lodge after.
The Gang
Inside the tunnels!
Crazy views
Breakfast place
The Start
Wallace coffee shop extra!
Breakfast place bathtub art
Proper refueling
Amazing
Deer watching us, watch him
During this trip over Labor Day weekend we stayed two nights in Wallace, Idaho at the Stardust Motel, which is iconic and centrally located in Wallace (well, everything is centrally located-ha!) I am so thankful for this bicycle group-1. they love biking. 2. they love exploring. After our trip to the Hiawatha Trail, we headed back into town to explore. I stood in the middle of the street and at the center of the universe. Wallace is the town that when passing it on the 90 I think it should be in a snow globe and being in it, it's so unique and I believe that time does not exist there. While there, we went to a brewery, a cute breakfast shop around the corner from the motel and a bbq
place. Being there reminded me of simpler time where you could leave your door unlocked and walk the streets at night safely, without murder. This town reminded me of where Goonies
could have been filmed! Also, a sweet fun fact. Over Labor Day is this huge flee market under the main overpass. Quite a collection of things and individuals. I took a picture of a baby Jesus in a Christmas Nativity scene and text my dad "I found your baby Jesus!" He said no way, where was he? I said "Under a bridge!" haha
. This is a reference to JesusGate2012 when baby Jesus was stolen from dad's front yard and he looked hi and low for him and couldn't believe someone would do that-it just isn't right he'd say. Then he got another one and trip wired his yard.
Beers in Wallace
I wanted to climb these stairs. Next time!
Baby Jesus under the bridge
The next morning we headed out on the
Trail of the Coeur d' Alenes . I have always seen my biking friends do this trail and I always heard it was beautiful. We drove out of Wallace and headed west to Cataldo and got on the trail there. It was so beautiful and it was so nice to pedal and enjoy the day with my friend Kelly. It was need to see wildlife, water and leaves fall reminding us that we should enjoy this nice weather whenever we can, Winter could be looming (that dirty b...). We rode to the end of the
Chatcolet Bridge, which was really cool because its wavy pavement up and down it! Then we headed back to Harrison for lunch and to recharge. Then we biked back. A total of 70 miles of pure bliss and lots of conversation. That night we stayed in Kellogg at the
Trail Motel. It was $52 dollars and in downtown, right across from a grocery store. Perfect for our last night. We grabbed some supplies at the store and called it a night with a picnic in our room and unsolved mysteries with John Walsh.
Beers in Kellogg
The next day we got up and headed the other direction from Kellogg to the end of the trail in Mullen. From Wallace to Mullen was a steady climb of false flat trail. We had been really happy to escape the smoke of the Montana fires for the weekend. Then we broke through the trees to Mullen and it hit us. The wall of smoke was bad and the sky was orange. So we took some quick pictures and then headed back to Wallace to the Brooks Hotel for some breakfast. See, our them is bike and food-ha! Then we headed back to Kellogg. Once back there was ash falling there now. So we hurried and changed in the parking lot and headed back to Montana. This was such a great trip and I honestly can say I will do this again!
The next bucket list item was the Butte Triathlon. This was scheduled in August but canceled because of the smoke and moved to September. While on a trip to Jackson Hole, the race director called me and said due to the cold weather they would be doing a reverse triathlon. Would I still be interested? So, anyone who knows me, knows I love swimming and it's my strongest of the three. Actually, triathlon goes in the perfect order for me-swimming is my favorite, biking is my next love and running, well, sometimes we fight. So, my initial thought was "if swim isn't first...um no." But, that is old Anna and now new Anna was like "sure, I will show up it could be fun!." I was thinking bike, run then pool swim. I got there and found out we would be running first. I felt my stomach knot up. What? My weakest (working on getting to be strong) is first? I have been really working with my run pace and comfortableness (read previous post) so I just thought ok, this is a fun, cold day. Let's do it. It was trail first, a little muddy and sketchy in parts and I just kept thinking "Get me to the pavement part so I can really go and then get me to my bloody bike!" I got to transition and I was only a head of some participants. But, I knew I was strong at biking and I had on my Betty Skin Suit and it was time to fly and catch some of these "runners." I immediately got going. Catching people and passing them and always saying good job. It was cold and I run hot always so it was perfect-only my breathing was labored sometimes. It was fun going up rollers and seeing snow capped mountains. I passed horses and said hello! Hit the turn around and I knew I wanted to catch this young buck on his bike. Because, it's fun. Then out of the corner of my eye I spot something jumping a fence and coming towards me. A black and white border collie. So, anyone athlete will tell you that when they see a dog there is an instant panic. I was just trying to breathe and see what he wanted. He wanted to run next me-thankfully. He was just like "what are we doing? Ok, I will join!" Then he crossed my back tire and came on my crank side for a little bit. Then I saw him look at my foot and instantly I was like "Go Home!" He looked over at me and was confused and then a gal was biking in and so he went over to her to see what she was up to. It was about at this time I passed the horse again and he was just looking at us and I could tell he was thinking "crazy dog." Then I hunkered down and caught that guy and flew by him. Got into T2 frozen and waddled to the pool. Luckily it was heated. It took about 100-200 yards for me to feel all my body. Not my fastest swim but it was fun ending the bike knowing that my favorite leg was waiting for me.
At end of swim some participants were still there and they complimented me on my biking and saying they knew once I got on it I meant business. Means a lot because I have been just riding my bike because I love it and I worked my butt off in 2016 to get better. Then I stayed in the hot shower forever and came out for awards. First in my Age Group. I will take it! I local triathlons because the people are so nice. And I love going and meeting new people. I came home and went to feed my horse carrots and show him my medal. He was impressed.
Oh and one other cool thing, was this hat prototype. More to come on that!
Kelly and I did one more bike ride at the end of September to enjoy the lasting weather and then went to have breakfast. See, biking and breakfast! It's a thing.
Oh and I turned 39 this month. I will relish this age for a few months until January when USAT tells me I am 40 and I get thrown back in with the super fast ladies again. So, that will be fun.
Also, if you love my music choices (and why wouldn't you?) I started my own music list on Spotify under me titled #YoudoYou and always adding to it. Think long rides, hills and long runs and getting into your vibe. #TruckerHatCycling
Until next time September and as always, youdoyou. And a special thanks to Red Bull for giving me the energy to explore!
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