Friday we headed to Riggins, ID and the ride was beautiful with a two thousand foot climb to start the day. That wakes you up fast. Now the downhill was twenty six hundred feet and it was one of the fastest and longest downhills yet with many switchbacks. The nice thing was that you could look over the side of the mountain and see if there were any cars coming the other way ( not one car came during the descent) and then take the switchbacks as fast as you want. It was a blast because it went on for over six miles. The rest of the ride was along the Salmon River into Riggins and this town is a rafting hub on the Salmon.
We camped on the banks of the Salmon and this is a picture of our camp. There was a group camped next to us and some of them did not arrive until about 11:30PM and then of course they all had to gather in a tent nearest our tents and smoke a lot of dope and make some amount of noise. So Bobo being Bobo got up and went over and asked them nicely~!@#$ to quiet down. It helped but not much. Well, paybacks can be fun, and we got up at 5:30AM and made some of our own noise, a lot of noise actually, and we did manage to wake our neighbors up. Darn!
After another wonderful camp breakfast we headed for Cambridge, ID on an 82 mile ride with a slow twenty four hundred foot climb. We are into some hot weather and it has been bothering some of our group, especially those who still do not like to hydrate while riding. Sjef, David and myself pulled poor old Jason into Cambridge. No wifi or cell service here. Idaho is really lacking for cell service, of course having people live around here would help. Towns with 100 people living in them do not get cell service.
Sunday the 24th is a day we will all remember, a nice 67 mile ride into Halfway, Oregon, yes we are in our last state.
Since I had cooking duties on this day, I rode fairly hard and got to Halfway early to discover that our camp site was literally a barn yard! After kicking the horse poop out of the way, I did get my tent set up and then Sjef and I went shopping so we made it simple, Ever have Dinty Moore Stew? We doctored it up with various spices and it actually turned out pretty good, at least not bad. Oh the temperature today was right around 100F and the barn yard actually did not smell nor were there bugs around. Once the sun set, it cooled off nicely and we sat around talking for a long time.
The barn yard, fenced in and all!
Out of the barn yard on Monday morning and we headed back to civilization in Baker City, OR about 55 miles away. This was not an easy ride with two good climbs of fourteen hundred and twelve hundred feet. After seven days and four hundred miles of riding Sjef and I decided to get a motel room in Baker City and it was good to sleep in a bed last night. We have a rest day today (Tuesday) and we will relax, do laundry, clean the bike and then of course hit the Baker City Brew Pub.
Eight more days of riding to the coast and the great wheel dip!
Life is Good!
Bobo
Remind me to never cook tacos for you! Not that I cook for you but if I ever do... A jog to your memory...you had Dinty Moore Beef Stew when you were camping as a boy (Boy Scout?). I remember because our mother thought we should all try it...ugh. Anyway, you've got but a few days to go but what's the great wheel dip? Keep up the good work and ask the Baker City Brew Pub if they are opening a franchise in or near Bloomfield.
ReplyDeleteReally WELL done, Bob.I just learned a couple of posts back that if one clicks on your Pictures they will enlarge.Ya learn something new every day.Not to rush you but looking forward to your re-entry into the RBC-Day Ride thing.Wayne S. is stepping up and leading a ride every now and then for the day peeps as he leaves the herd (read that as not working) behind.
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