Cousin Pat's Place

After two 100 mile days and a lot of dessert wind and lonely country, I have today arrived at my cousin Pat's house.

Pat isn't home just now (I arrived very early due to the bike), but his wife has been very welcoming. 

This ends the first leg of my journey.  I haven't tallied it up in full, but I estimate an even thousand miles.

Pat has scheduled off a few weeks work so that when I leave here it'll be by horseback at his side.  I am thoroughly excited. 

My early arrival has thrown things off, though, so my stay may be a week or two (or three) longer than originally planned.  I'm not sure how much longer just yet.  I'll have to talk to Pat before I know.

Furthermore, due to the extended nature of my stay, I will be temporarily suspending the rules.  It seems like I've been bending the rules left and right, but what can I say.  I am perhaps just not so hardcore as some.

The truth is that Brandi and Pat have three young children and have been kind enough to take me in.  I can be more help and less trouble on them, I think, if I put the rules on hold.  Young parents have enough on their plates without a long term houseguest who stubbornly refuses to ever get into a car. 

I will however keep to the rules today (the day of my arrival) and the last day (the day of my departure).  This feels like a good compromise and is good enough for me.  I hope it doesn't break the spirit of things for those who have so avidly followed me.

Many Miles

Boise (and the trip afterwards) has been very eventful.  I've made 193 miles in the last two days despite taking time to sight see and soak in a hot spring.  I'll be reaching my cousin's place today. 

I'll be taking a break there for a week or two as we plan our horseback trip, and I gear up for colder weather.  It'll be nice to visit his family.  I'm looking forward to the company.

Once there, I shall do a Boise to Idaho Falls recap.  I've been taking notes as I go.  For now, though, I ride.

Dessert Rain

Have much to say about the incredible hospitality encountered in Boise (so good I stayed an extra day!), but am very tired.  Will tell the tale tomorrow.

Have made some miles today but was caught by massive rain storm (It has been raining an awful lot in this dessert).  Have taken shelter in an old barn.  Very warm. Very dry.  :)  Barn does not appear to be in use.  1/2 way repaired and empty. 

Am not quite to mountain home area but rain coming in buckets.  No more traveling tonight.

Highway 55 (sept. 22nd)

(Midday)
Flat for a few miles out of New Medows, uphill for about 4.5 and then downhill all the way to McCall.  Slightly downhill to Donnelly after that, then flat open spaces and more headwind.  After 8 or 10 miles of such, have started uphill climb again. 

Not quite the downhill run to Boise I was hoping for, but easier than canyon country.  Here it's either uphill or headwind, not both.

Traffic very heavy with people leaving resort towns for Boise.

(After Dark)
After about a dozen miles of fighting the wind on the flats past Cascade, I hit a downhill canyon run following the Payate River all the way to the Town of HorseShoe Bend  (miles and miles). The wind was still against me, sometimes light and sometimes hard, but it didn't matter.  It's like having wings.  The canyons are just as Beautiful on the way down.  Good rafting country.

Just past HorseShoe Bend was another 6 mile climb and then down hill to Boise.  I've stopped shy of the city.  102 miles total today.  And goodnight.

Uphill and More Wind (21 Sept.)

Midday
Took care of the punctures in my tire this morning.  Still air was a blessing. 

Its been uphill ever since White Bird.  Not a very steep grade, but mile after mile of it with a stiff headwind left my legs a touch sore this morning.  First time this has happened.

Been crawling along up the Salmon and Little Salmon Rivers.  Made some 20 additional uphill miles this morning but now wind is picking up again.  Need a topograph. Wondering how much longer this grade can keep going.

Evening
Wind didn't get too bad.  Not like yesterday.  Estimate 53 miles uphill from White Bird to meadow valley about 11 miles shy of New Meadows (where I am now) getting progressively steeper the whole time.  The uphill plus the headwind really did me in.  It seems I am no true cyclist.  (Did a total of about 80 miles the last two days).

Rumor is  there is about 5 miles of flat followed by 5 miles of climbing followed by a downhill run all the way to Boise.  It sounds nice.

Despite the wind and the grade the land was stunning the whole way.  It started as wide, fertile canyon bottom and rose into a place of pines, stone, and small waterfalls.  When it finally leveled out, the land became high meadow and beef pasture.

Moods (Sept 20, at nightfall)

My mood each day is solid through morning, midday, and such.  I have noticed that setbacks affect me most if they happen in the evening.  Dusk gets lonely.

Often, if I haven't found a good campsite by evening time, I start to feel a twinge of sky sickness.  Its a feeling of being too exposed; too far from cover.  This abates if I find a good spot, somewhere hidden and protected from any chill breeze that might come in off of the prairie. 

Its been prairie country now for a few days.  Since I entered Idaho, nearly.  I enjoyed the sage deserts with their pine trees, but I'm happy to leave the treeless "scab lands" behind.  I didn't realize how much I missed the pines until I could smell them again near Winchester.

I found a good place tonight.  I think I'll sleep well.

Puncture Vines

Was making decent progress today (50 miles) despite the headwind.  Wind has died down now, and temperature is perfect but have hit another puncture vine.  Multiple holes in both tubes now.

Below are pics of an example of the vine along with a closeup.