As the team prepared to depart from Philipsburg this morning, we received some unexpected news. The Sweet Palace, an iconic local candy shop which unfortunately had been closed the previous day, was opening its doors early to accommodate us! Grateful for the gesture and excited to check out the store’s selection of over 900 kinds of candy (many made on-site), we cycled over in a hurry. Once there we were treated to delicious complimentary samples of candy and fudge – the perfect way to brighten a rainy morning. As we moved on sugar high in the direction of Butte (pronounced “beaut,” not you-know) we faced a mountain pass climb early in the ride. Luckily for us, the climb also provided some of the most captivating scenery we have seen thus far (which is definitely saying something). At one crew stop, many of us took part in what seemed like a full-fledged photo shoot beside a mountain stream. Things got pretty fierce.
After completed our 60-mile ride to Butte, the team settled into our lodging accommodations at the Yyyyyyy-MCA. Immediately, most people shifted their attention to a truly awesome indoor pool – complete with a slide that would give m
any water park attractions a run for their money. We capped off the day with a friendship visit at the local BWS center, a place that provides work opportunities for people with disabilities. We toured the facilities and learned about how employees manufacture items such as boot liners for the military and park benches for their local community. It was inspiring to hear the individuals there talk about how they look forward to the JOH team coming through each year and I was particularly moved by a woman named Marlene. When it came time for us to leave, she pulled a number of us into a huddle to tell us how proud she was of what we are doing and how we are her “favorite team in the world.” An awesome feeling to say the least. 
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