Friday, June, 15 2012 (Day 9)
Three Rivers Campground, Kooskia, ID
Miles: 57 MPH: 11.7 Max: 30 Total: 510
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| Getting started on another beautiful day |
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| Clearwater River Canyon |
Another beautiful day! Rejuvenated from our night in luxury, we said good-bye to new friends (last night two more cyclists arrived at the hotel!!) and again went East on Route 12. All day we traversed the winding Clearwater River Canyon. Our route followed in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark. It was in 1803 that President Jefferson commissioned Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to find the Northwest Passage, the link between the Missouri River and the Columbia River through the unexplored Rocky Mountains. I actually brought along an audio book about Lewis and Clark but too much adrenaline in the evenings to relax with a book!! I've been reading the signs along the road though!!
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| Logging Truck |
Just like yesterday, we pedaled through a postcard. Saw a deer run along the highway, lots of fishermen, logging trucks, and dozens of waterfalls. Rt 12 is just a spectacular road. Across the river, there were a few homes -- no roads but homes. Folks that live there have a personal cable car from the highway to their home that zips them across the whitecaps on the Clearwater River. We even road through an Indian Reservation!! Not really a big deal since we didn't even know we were until we saw the sign, "Now Leaving the Nez Perce Indiana Reservation!!" Easily we rode the short 57 miles and arrived at Three Rivers Motel and Campground. We're camping -- our 7th night now camping (and my friends said I couldn't do it!!) The campground is a bit run down, but we like it....besides its the only spot for miles (like 66 miles!!) The town's sign read, "Lowell, population 34 and the 34 was crossed out and 33 written in!! haha! All 33 residents hang out at the Three Rivers Motel! The Motel's bar scene is hopping!
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| My bike is sooooooo happy! |
Today's jewel -- The bakery in Kamiah, a small town we passed through. We bought a loft of honey whole wheat bread, a loft of olive and basil bread, and homemade granola -- our reserves for crossing the Rockies!
We cut out about 250 miles when we rerouted through Washington toward Lewiston and Clarkston. We have loved every inch of this route and feel it was meant to be. We are behind in where we thought we would be total miles, but ahead of schedule by 2 days for reaching the Three Rivers Motel! We'll shorten our days as we pedal the mountains getting to Yellowstone and take more time to enjoy the awesome scenery. We should be right on our original target when we reach Yellowstone!!!
Tomorrow we climb 66 miles uphill! But that's not the worse part! We'll still have another 13 miles to the summit and they save the steepest grade for last! We're ready! :-)
Missing Home!! Crazy Idaho and Washington don't have ATT cell service so we haven't been able to talk to home much!! xo
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| Three Rivers Pool |
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