Day 6 - We started today in Libby, Montana, over 500 miles from the coast. There was a bit of ice - ICE! - on our tents and bikes, our coldest morning yet. We took mostly 2-lane state roads through the rest on Montana, cutting across the panhandle of Idaho and gaining an hour as we rode into Pacific time, and through the forests and mountains of Washington state, ending up catching the 7:30 ferry from Coupeville to Port Townsend. After a long and amazing ride, our final reward was Thai and our first hotel stay of the trip.

And when I say amazing ride - the roads and views of Washington took my breath away, in particular the last stretch of route 20 through the North Cascades. This text and the few pictures I'll eventually post won't do it any justice. By far it was the highlight of the trip so far for me, pushing the meager limits of my riding ability with the most majestic mountains I've seen as a backdrop.

There has never been a time in my life where it was so obvious - live for the moment, and take the chances that make those moments possible. I try to teach my kids that true achievement only comes with taking risks, putting forth significant effort to make your dreams come true, and allowing yourself to be changed by what you learn about yourself in the process, but it has taken this trip for me to truly understand what those words mean. I have been humbled to see the vastness and variety that our country has to offer to those who get off the couch and simply go. There were a hundred reasons not to take on this challenge, but six days in I have already seen a thousand times more reasons why it was the right thing to do. And I have already been changed by doing it.

Tomorrow - the Pacific Coast Highway, and a change of direction - south!