Ennis, MT to Twin Bridges, MT
Miles: 46
Total so far: 3,559
The Madison Range is in the background as we climb up out of the Madison River valley.
We wanted to make it into Dillon, Montana today for a ride of about 73 miles, but the winds kicked up and pinned us down in Twin Bridges. Gusts were up beyond 46 miles per hour, and we were doing well as long as we were north bound, but at Twin Bridges we need to turn south-west, right into the teeth of that wind. The bikes, loaded with the panniers on the front and rear, have the aerodynamics of refrigerator boxes, so we chose to camp at Twin Bridges rather than fight the wind into Dillon.
Twin Bridges, Montana's offer to Trans-Am cyclists
The town of Twin Bridges set up a “Bike Camp” at a rest area, complete with showers, bathroom, a shelter, and sinks, all for the purpose of helping cyclists on the Trans-Am. We pitched our tents and made ourselves at home (we are becoming experts at getting tents up in raging winds).
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Today we went by a roadside marker where someone was killed in a crash. This one was constructed of colorful material and patterns made into a cross. These markers adorn our roads all over the country.
These are important places to us, something that remains difficult to explain to those who have not experienced a sudden traumatic loss. The places where loved ones die are visited for a number of reasons, not the least of which, people are trying to explain the unexplainable. We try to understand that which is impossible to understand, and we look for our answers anywhere we can, including there on the roadside.
Just as we could never pass by the places where our lives changed so dramatically without thinking of the significance of the events, we are also moved to mark these places with personal objects. All over the country, state agencies become concerned with these, and many have standardized the placement of authorized markers. The state agency authorized markers are being created with the best of intentions, but like the marker I saw today, do they represent the true markers of the heart?
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Tomorrow’s ride is dedicated to Andrea Vaughn Rieger
Andrea Vaughn Rieger
Coming home from skiing and enjoying time with friends, Andrea was killed in a collision with a drunk driver. Andrea, from Big Sky, Montana was 28 years old.
In Memory of Warmer Summers 
This is my daughter…………my Andrea…………..thank you soooooo much for honoring her in this way. She would love what you are doing. How/where did you get her name and info and why did you choose her?
It has been 11+ years since she was taken from us by a drunk driver. It still horrifies me to say this. Our lives have changed in ways others cannot begin to imagine. And after all this time, and doing many different things over the years, I still cannot find a way that feels right to try to change this insanity on our nations roadways. I am so supportive of what you are doing. Please let me know what I can do to help you.
Thank you again for remembering all our loved ones taken and the hope of stopping this insanity for others loved ones. Andrea’s broken hearted mom forever, Diane