Bike riding

You can view all the pictures on my Picasa Web albums or watch the slide show here.

My first ride out since returning from my tour. Did the Woodrat loop.The road bike sure felt light and responsive. However I'm not any faster. Sure, I can ride all day. Distance and hills are irrelevant, just as long as I can gear down and go slow. I think it will be a shock the next time I get in a fast group ride. Endurance is great though. Usually I start dragging by the time I hit Talent Ave. on the way home, no matter how long or short the ride. Not today. Maybe it was that great tailwind but I had lots of energy all the way home. Not bad on a 72 mile ride.

Day 21: 38 miles. Total: 1,015 miles

Last night Paul R. called me and we decided Glacier was not in the cards for this year. Maybe next year and preferable with more people. Although I'm hooked on self supported touring and want to do a lot more, I can see that a supported trip like we did in Idaho in 2005, with 7 people, would be a lot of fun.

Day 20: 45 miles. Total: 977 miles

It was about 14 miles to Lolo Pass. For about half of this we were still following the Lochsa. We spent three days on this river.

Day 19: 59 miles: total 932 miles

All along the wild and scenic Lochsa River. Awesome rapids the whole way and saw exactly one kyack in the water, though a bunch on cars.

A quiet section on the Lochsa River.

Day 18: 58 miles. Total: 873 miles

Another day, another river. Actually three rivers. But first, as we left Grangeville, we crossed Camas Prairie.

Day 17: 25 miles: Total 815 miles

The day began with a 10 mile climb out of White Bird canyon, past the site of the famous 1877 battle where the Nez Perce defeated the US army. The route followed the old highway so there was no traffic and lots of switchbacks of about 5% to 6%. You could see new highway which was a straight and relentless 7%. The view back the canyon was great.

Day 16: 66 miles. Total: 790 miles

Today was all about the Salmon River, which I rode beside most of the day. The Salmon made up for my disapointment in the Snake. Unlike the Smale, the Salmon is wild and free.

But the day started on the Little Salmon River. This is what it looked like where I camped last night

Day 15: 35 miles. Total: 724 miles

Day 14: 50 miles. Total: 689 miles

It was windy and rained overnight but I was able to get going fairly early. I got warm pretty quick riding uphill. I knew I had a long hard climb getting up from the Snake River. It was a pleasant climb along Brownlee Creek. At first the hills were all bare with just some green along the creek. Soon it became quite lush along the creek with cottonwood and a bunch of smaller trees. At about 3,000 feet there were some firs and soon the ridges had fir and pine. I was pleased to have entered yet another national forest.