RT 14: Bozeman

Yup, it's still a thing.  Fortunately we were able to secure four so the trip happened.  Montana has been calling everyone's name, and we picked the right town in Bozeman for some outdoor adventures.  I knew almost nothing about mtn biking and fishing going in, and I'm leaving MT a better-educated guy.

Mtn biking - holy shit, hard.  Trying to go up switchbacks without falling requires more leg strength and technique than most of us had.  Our 23 year old guide Elliot was helpful, but not helpful enough to deter Dan from reliving his Dyno days and attempting to go off a small jump, resulting in a body plant.  Nor did he deter us from our final run of the day, where Chrome lost control, went over the handlebars and did a face plant complemented in a trip to urgent care and 7 stitches.  Our first ER on RT!

But we powered through and fishing was safer, though weather was cold and rainy, but we were mostly geared up and turned out to be a great day.  Red was feeding villages with the amount of fish he caught, and the rest of us got into a groove after a chili lunch break.  I was blown away - FISHING IS FUN.  Interesting that fly fishing culture is to toss them back immediately.  Our 15 year veteran guide said he has never tasted a single fish he has ever caught fly - insane!

In Bozeman we found a swank speakeasy, got a bottle of sake bought for us from an Iowa City girl and made some new friends including Curtis and his belly shirt harem late Saturday.  Bozeman is the type of place where people talk to each other in the bathroom line - very refreshing.  Overall, another good one, I left feeling thankful to be able to pull off a trip like this, but more importantly thankful to have homies to do it with.