June 29
Friday, June 29
Blackfoot, ID to Idaho Falls, Idaho 111.6 miles 1,900 feet of climb 7:50:39 saddle time
It was a great
day! What a ride, After a delicious breakfast at the Best
Western. Nancy and I showed up at 5:30
AM and it was all ready to be served so we ate early. It wasn’t scheduled until 6 AM. I was on the road by 6 AM. Bob from Sacramento, CA, came up and we rode
together the entire day, What a boost
that was for me. He made me really push
myself and we stopped at all three SAG stops for less that 10 minutes each
time. Filled the water , ate some
watermelon, fig newtons, bananas and we we’re outa there.
This was the easiest 111 miles I’ve ever
done. The first 30 miles had some
rolling terrain down along the Snake River.
But there was one area for another 30 miles that had NOTHING. For as far as you could see it was open
range. Didn’t see a sing of life or a house or building anywhere. I thought if you had a heart attack out
there you would never be found, never would you get to any place for help. And with only two cell phone tower out here
in Idaho – your phone doesn’t even work.
Mine hasn’t gotten a connection since we got beyond Boise. But finally things came to life and for the
first time in many days we saw REAL trees!
We have seen only sagebrush for over a week I think. Today was Idaho potato field day. Acres and acres for mile on end –
potatoes. This town we are in,
Blackfoot, has a factory that make French fries and instant potato flakes. The temperature was predicted to be 98
degrees today but I didn’t feel the heat hardly at all this afternoon. Then again, I got in before 3:00 today and
the heat seems to be the hottest about 3:30 to 6:00. I was thrilled to get in so early on such a high mileage day.
Jumped right into the swimming pool to do
my stretching out of the muscles.
Wonderful, refreshing pool. Then
into the whirlpool and let the jets finish off reviving me. Everyone drinks lots and lots of water from
the time they get in and all through the evening. One rider, John, didn’t eat
or drink enough on the ride today and he “bonked” close to the end. He was suffering. It is crucial to eat and drink at all the stops and between stops
too. He is sitting here in the lounge
totally wiped out. Oh yes, mustn’t
forget today’s road kill count. 1
porcupine, 1 cow, a rabbit and ONLY 2 snakes.
At dinner last
night, we got the full report on Harold. A very bad accident happened yesterday morning at the edge of
town leaving Twin Falls. A guy driving
a Ford Explorer, with 2 little kids with him, hit Harold. Word is the guy was driving into the sun
with his visor down. Harold is in the
hospital with a broken jaw and two broken back vertebrae. We are all sad that has happened to one of
our group. Each of us will take one day and write to him for all the remaining
days of the trip.
Tonight the dinner
is going to be catered by the Shilling House.
I see them setting things up, grill and all. Front desk says they have great food. I sure can’t complain about the meals we have had so far. I give
it an “A” on the report card. Also the
motels have been good too. Several have
been outstanding, most very comfortable, and only one was pretty cramped with 3
of us in the room. We are at each place
for such a short time it really doesn’t matter a whole lot what we are in. A bed and showers beats camping out side
every night! God is good.
PS. Paul: The day off journal, I left it at the Boise
hotel to fax and I forgot to pick up the originals. I don’t know why you didn’t get it.