Mike Dion

Hello, there this is Mike Dion. Its July lst about noon. Still out here on the route. I’m in Pie Town actually. I’m with Hunter Weeks. Hunter is the director on the film. We are still working on the film out here. We have been leapfrogging Matthew pretty much since Del Norte. Filming some incredible landscape, really roughed terrain and colorful locals. Matthew interacting with some of the local people, places and things along the way has been priceless. Speaking of Hunter, if you want to check out something he has worked on that is similar, check out www.10mph.com. We are kickin it here in Pie Town. Having some pie. Having a milkshake. Its getting pretty hot outside. We are going to continue leapfrogging and following Matthew to the finish line, which he told us would probably be tomorrow night some time. We’ll see how that goes. After that we’ll start working our way back North, and checking with some of people. Its been great still being out of the route even though I bailed back in Montana. Still getting to see the beauty and the terrain and everything else. So having a good old time. I’ll check in later with everybody.

Good morning, this is Mike Dion. It’s Tuesday the 24th a little after 10 o’clock. I’m calling from outside Flagg Ranch. This is a call that nobody wants to make but I’m gonna go ahead and call it on the ride, on the race I guess I should say. The ride is absolutely amazing and as a ride I’d love to keep going, just not at a race pace. So I’m going to call it on the race, but its just absolutely amazing out here. The body has actually kind of pushed through. I think most of my issue is, the mornings have been going great, 25-35 miles, I’m cruisin’ strong, but then as the day goes on my legs start getting heavy and it feels like I’m biking through molasses with 5 pounds of pressure in the tires and then just to kind of keep going later in the afternoon just getting slower and slower and slower so to actually put any miles on the bike is getting more and more difficult as the days go on. I don’t want to be out here for 35-40 days but I sure could. But I just want to say – Tina, your support throughout this whole thing has been incredible and I appreciate that so much, you wouldn’t know. Being out here is just the most incredible experience anyone could ask for. The beauty and the scenery is just intense, its amazing. So its definitely a once in a lifetime experience. So anyway, I’m going to hook up with the film crew and continue with the project and the other racers and the route. So that feels good that I’m going to still kind of get to be out in it. But again support to everybody that has been with me – Tina, Dylan, Mikaila, you guys have been awesome and incredible and I can’t wait to see you again. All the friends and family that have been throwing support my way, thank you so very much. I’ve been feeling it, it’s been awesome. As far as the other riders go, you guys keep pluggin’ away and kickin’ butt. Mary, you’ve got to keep going.

Hey there. This is Mike Dion. Its 20 after 6 on the 23rd. Made it into Flagg Ranch here just a little bit ago. I am finally going to get something to eat. Been..Yeah.. I wasn't quite aware that that was the snow everyone was talking about coming into Flagg Ranch. For some reason, I thought it was going to be after here. I wasn't expecting that big muddy, snowy trudge fest. I'm here. I'm going to crash here tonight at a tent spot at Flagg Ranch. Bye. (recorder time: 2008-06-23 19:19:05 EST.)

Hey there Mike Dion. Its a little after 12 on Monday the 23rd. Got an early start. Got about 40 miles in and was hoping to find some food at this little ranch here, whatever its called. Its called Squirrel Creek Elk ranch. But there is nobody around. Its empty. Its deserted. (muffled sentence) There is a little spigot out back so I can get some water. I don’t' think there is any other food for another 40-50 miles. I didn't grab breakfast when I left this morning because I was going to eat here. I guess I’m not going to eat here. Anyways, that railroad, the 30 miles of railroad trail was kinda sandy and definitely suck your tires. I sure you heard from the other riders that tunnel was blocked where the roof collapsed. That was fun and interesting getting around that. Yes another bear encounter. My third bear sighting. About a mile past the tunnel cruising down the road. This one was off in the distance a ways probably about 100 yards. Little (well I don't know how little it was) Cinnamon colored Bear kinda cross the trail in front of me. I started hootin and hollerin again. Pretty steep bank on the left side, down to the river. So I gave it a few minutes and slowing kinda crept by. I didn't see it. I didn't see it down there. I'm done with bears. Three times, no more. So I'm going to get rolling again and hopefully get some food. Cool. (recorder time: 2008-06-23 13:13:09 EST.) Note - This is the tunnel Mike is talking about. Getting around this must have been tricky because it is on a cliffside.

Good morning this is Mike Dion. Its Monday 23rd about 6:20 in the morning. Stayed in Sawtel/Island Park area last night. Got a tent spot next to a hotel that had a hot tub and what not. Crashed here last night. Got a little soak in. Woke up early this morning. Its nice and brisk. Sun is shining. Pretty good morning. Legs are feeling good. Rode a few miles until I got to some sunshine. Try to warm up a little bit. Plan is to get to Moran Junction at the end of the day today. Seems to be very doable. Pretty neat area in here right in there. Lot of vacation homes, log homes, and things like that. Kinda right on the south side of Glacier Park and Teton Park area. Hope all is well, Tina, Mikaila and Dylan love ya. I'll be talking to you hopefully at the end of today in Moran Junction. Bye. (recorder time: 2008-06-23 07:23:31 EST.)

Hey, good morning, its Mike Dion. Its Sunday the 22nd, 7 in the morning. Had a good night's sleep in Lima last night. Got some good rest. Ended up having a couple of Moose Drouls at the bar. A fine amber ale brewed in Missoula, MT. Feeling good this morning. I was hoping to roll out a little bit earlier try to beat some of the heat today, but that's alright. Gonna get on the bike here in a few minutes. Body is feeling OK. Speaking of the bike. Bike is doing great. The Moots 29er is just been sucking up the trail and fallen trees and eatin it all up. The soft tale has just been amazing. Read more »

Hello this is Mike Dion. Is Friday the 20th at 1:35. I'm calling from Wise River. I camped out up above the Continental Divide Crossing # 5 last night. 20 miles up from Butte. I got there right at twilight. I rocked out the last 20 miles to get up there before sunset. I made it. It was pretty chilly up there but smart wool layers kept me all comfy and toasty. So that was a good thing. Got a little bit of a late start. It was pretty chilly so didn't want to get out of the sleeping bag. But got up, cruised on down, experienced Fleecer Ridge. That was quite the experience. That was quite the downhill. Had to walk a section of it. Aggravated my knees back up a little bit. But seems to be doing pretty good. I'm here at the Mercantile in Wise River. I just devoured a Oreo Ice Cream and couple Ice Cream Bars. I've been craving ice cream, Pepsi, I going to cafe here and get some dinner. Push on. Food in my belly. Alright bye.

(Had to guess at a few words, but got most of it. Low volume )

Hey there its Mike Dion. It Thursday 6/19 just before 7 o'clock. I'm in Butte. Just stopped by the bike shop picked up a few items that I lost on the trail. Just having a Pork Chop John sandwich which was amazing. A miracle happened today. My right knee started kinda working itself out and started feeling good. So appreciate all the prayers. Tina, thank you very much for the thoughts and prayers. Definitely, the knees are working out so something is going good. Thanks for the good vibes and the good thoughts. Mikaila and Dylan, thanks for the all of the hugs and kisses coming my way. Read more »

Hello this is Mike Dion. Its Wednesday, 6/18 9:30. Calling from Helena. Rolled in early this afternoon. I'm crashing here in Helena tonight. Taking it easy. Going to rehab my knee as much as possible and make it a shorter mileage day and not push the knee issue too hard. Its feeling pretty good at the moment so I figure it was a good idea. I love Helena and I used to live here, met my wife here, go its good to hang out here. Good night. I'm going to push on past Butte tomorrow. Not sure how far. We'll let you know then. Bye.

Hello, good evening this Mike Dion. Its Tuesday, 6/11 11:43. I'm in Lincoln. Actually rolled in here about 10:15. Just found a pizza. I'm inhaling that. Interesting day not a ton of mileage but pretty darn epic. I'm sure you heard the snow up above Seeley Lake. I called earlier as I beginning that having no idea that it was going to be trudge fest that it actually ended up being so that was a pretty big chunk of this morning trying to get across that. Then I made it in Ovando and stopped at the Ovando store and loaded up on liquids and checked the map out. Read more »