Saturday August 30, 2008: GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

Started a little further away From Glacier than I thought You are not allowed on the road with a bike between 11-4 so Did I make it???? U bet got to the base of the 16 mile climb at exactly 11 a m LOL do I care hell no I am going to climb that mountain come hell or high water and I am not setting around until 4pm places to go people to see 1 mile into the climb I see the first ranger he looked me in the eyes AND SAID I DON’T SEE YOU and you didn’t see me be careful watch for cars it's a busy time.

So I get 1 mile from the top and I get the siren YOP yop Sir no bikes on the road between 11-4 u must get a ride to the top someone with a truck will take you to the top OK 1 mile to the top what's a guy to do. So I waited 10 minutes and head to the top I see the ranger at the top and he said did you get a ride and I said yes sir. he looked at me and said, Yeah I bet my ass you did I do have binoculars and laughed and said enjoy the ride down the other side!!!

Now as for Glacier I have never ever seen anything like it in my life and you know I have seen a lot hell I just got out of Washington And Idaho LOL This was like you were in the mountains and they were wrapped around you. You are part of it the others were like you were just going over a mountain!!! This is a must I repeat a must for you to experience in your life time It can't be explained and the pictures although beautiful times them by 50 and it's that breath taking!!!

6600 foot you must do it in a car or better be in great shape it kicked my butt for a while but I overcame and kicked its butt at the end of the day !! 16 miles up a 6% grade not as bad as the Cascades but still a lot of climbing !! I made it over Logan's pass Continental Divide and down the other side to Saint Mary take a right heading toward Browning for a good night's rest Oh yeah thanks for the warning 8 miles up a hill back up to 6500 foot and it's the steepest climb I have ever been on at least a 10% grade my legs were fired by the time I reached Browning Montana at 11pm 14 hours on the bike and by far hands down the most enjoyable day on a bike in my life!!

Peace
Drex

Friday August 29, 2008...... Funny (yet not)

I DID SLEEP WITH MY CLIP IN THE 45 FOR THE 1ST TIME LAST NIGHT AND I AM NOT AFRAID OF NOTHING EVERY TIME I WOULD WAKE UP I WOULD YELL HEY BEAR HEY BEAR
THEy ARE AS SCARED OF YOU AS YOU R OF THEM AND THE WILL USUALLY RUN I HUNG MY FOOD IN A TREEE I AM IN BEAR AND MOUNTAIN LION COUNTRY AND LOVING IT!!!

Everywhere I look 360 degrees I am in the bowl and the mountains are getting larger and more beautiful as I get closer to Glacier National Park!!! Fear not for me as many people are As I figured out last night I am not on this journey alone nor is it accident that I am on this trip!!!

OH BOY Yeah warm weather no rain little cross wind but not in the face

Long live the memory of
JOHNNY SUPERTRAMP

PEACE

drex

Thursday August 28, 2008 -- Camping on a Cliff.........

i rode about 60 miles today , 40 miles short of my goal, only bc i found the dream camp site.
im 500 ft over a bank lookin over lake koocanusa.

i rode all day with lake on my side the whole way went between 1800 and 3000 ft above sea level.
air is so pure you can taste it

before eureka is alittle town called rexford. i am 5 miles from there.
15 miles from eureka.

i can see on top of this cliff like i can see forever. i am going to camp here i will zip up one side because i could walk out and .........not good

i met a family from isreal that just came here to rock climb montana is famous for this

pictures coming

Wednesday August 27, 2008: "Had a Little Church This A.M."

Wed , Aug.27th
God always has a master plan this morning he wanted to have a little one man revival and man was it great. I started this morning off in the rain at the local gas station a lady said ,man I wish it was going to be sunny for you today the ride to Libby Montana is so so beautiful!!! well 10 minutes later I am off the bike taking my 1st of 75 pics today it was so beautiful I started to cry. Our God made this millions of years ago knowing at the exact time that A guy named Drexel Swanson would be standing right here looking at this beautiful scenery On weds Aug 27th 2008 over a million years later!!!! Our God is an awesome God!!!!
Some people are loving every second of every day in this beautiful world others are just watching it go by. I choose to live every second and make a small difference along the way. If everyone just makes a little change for the good in this world what a great place and time we live in Remember it is Millions of years old we are just a blink of an eye in it.
I have lost two friends in the last year one a child hood friend and the other a friend that I made in the last few years They chose to check out way to early and only if they could have seen the scenery I have seen in the last week it would have changed there minds!! Lots of people are hurting right now reach out and hug the people around you everyone needs hugs and to feel they are needed!!! Aright I Will come down off the pulpit now.
I had an unbelievable ride today some in the rain some in heavier rain. I went 70 miles from Clark Fork, Idaho to Libby , Montana I am sharing a few of the pics I took over 75 pics today I could have ridden over 100 miles but the picture opportunities were so great.. I took a 2 mile hike to see one of the most beautiful sites of my life The water was rushing so fast you couldn’t hear anyone around you I set and had a pro bar and some water for 30 minutes I set there and took in the view and sounds the greatest whitewater falls I have ever seen!!! Went across a swinging bridge .
As for the other pics meet a guy named Tim pitcher going east to west he has been on the road for 3 months and is getting close to the end Real Nice guy!!!!Hey daddy are we there yet hey honey keep ridding we will be there soon and pick you up a few more tires LOL couldn’t resist the photo opp..
Leaving Libby MT in the AM toward White Fish MT and Glacier National Park….