Day 15
Bozeman, MT to Columbus, MT
Miles: 110 mi
Elevation Gain: 2,718 ft
Today’s Ride
Today was a big one — 110 miles with 2,718 feet of climbing. We started the morning with a hearty breakfast at The Feed, a diner in Bozeman, before rolling out for a long day on the road.
For the first 25 miles we had the company of Pat, a P2P 2022 veteran, which was such a fun way to kick things off. The sights leaving Bozeman were beautiful, and after the day’s climb, we enjoyed some great downhill stretches.
Then came the challenge: 20+ mph headwinds straight on. They slowed us down and made the ride to lunch feel endless. Thankfully, after lunch the winds shifted to our side, which made the last part of the ride more manageable — but it was still a grind.
Highlights
🍳 Breakfast at The Feed in Bozeman
🚴 Riding the first stretch with Pat and hearing his stories from P2P 2022
🌄 Beautiful scenery on the way out of Bozeman
🌬 Battling headwinds that turned a long day into an even longer one
🏨 Finally rolling into Columbus, MT — where the Super 8 felt like pure luxury after 110 miles!
At this point in the trip, the miles are really starting to add up. The fatigue is real — and it’s showing in funny ways. At lunch, one of my fellow riders couldn’t find his helmet anywhere… only to realize it was still on his head. We could all relate to that kind of tired brain moment! I’m definitely exhausted tonight — the combination of distance and wind took it out of me. But rolling into Columbus after a day like this reminded me once again how strong this group is and how much we can endure together. Tomorrow’s another day, and for now, I couldn’t be happier to be off the bike and in a cozy bed. 😘
