Day 16. Rest day in Missoula Montana
I'm taking a much needed rest day today in Missoula. Had a leisurely morning with breakfast then we went to the Adventure Cycling Association headquarters in downtown. Very nice space and purchased more safety gear. Then went to a bike shop for a quick check over to make sure everything is working ok. Then we drove to the Ronan cemetery to visit Mom, grandparents, and cousins that are buried there. It was so good to visit and see the mission mountains. Went to lunch in the Ronan cafe then returned to Missoula to do laundry, bike maintenance and rest.
Here are some stats to date:
Miles from Edmonds to Missoula: 1188 miles (plus this was the name of a great brewery in John Day Oregon)
Elevation gained: 34, 469 feet
Starting elevation in Astoria: 16 feet
Missoula elevation: 3215 feet
Max altitude: 5288 feet at McKenzie pass, second highest 5235 feet at Lolo pass, 3 pass day included passes that were 5277, 5124, 5084 feet
Max speed: 38.8 mph, ave speed 16.7 mph
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Monday, July 4, 2016
July 4 Day 15
Day 15 Lolo Hot Springs to Missoula 40 miles
Yea! Finally a day to sleep in and not rush off. Beautiful and cool morning in the mountains and we enjoyed sleeping in. Soon we made our way into Missoula downhill and with a strong tail wind. Got coffee at Lolo then found the bike trail into Missoula. Sleeping tonight at a Super 8 to give us a break in the routine. Great way to end a holiday weekend.
Yea! Finally a day to sleep in and not rush off. Beautiful and cool morning in the mountains and we enjoyed sleeping in. Soon we made our way into Missoula downhill and with a strong tail wind. Got coffee at Lolo then found the bike trail into Missoula. Sleeping tonight at a Super 8 to give us a break in the routine. Great way to end a holiday weekend.
July 3 Day 14
Day 14 Apgar camp to Lolo Hot Springs 78 miles
Another early start to get ahead of the heat and winds. It was 70 miles to Lolo pass and we new it would take time. We rolled along the Lochsa River and stopped at several viewpoints to chat, eat and hydrate. Traffic was easy on this highway San we were glad to be traveling on a holiday weekend. Soon we started the final steep grade to Lolo pass. At the pass was an awesome ranger station where we spent time learning about the area, Lewis and Clark, and the Nez Perce Indians. Finally we very quickly descended the 7 miles to the hot springs. Weird place that had hippies, biker dudes, locals trying to make a living. We had a great evening partying and playing poker.
Another early start to get ahead of the heat and winds. It was 70 miles to Lolo pass and we new it would take time. We rolled along the Lochsa River and stopped at several viewpoints to chat, eat and hydrate. Traffic was easy on this highway San we were glad to be traveling on a holiday weekend. Soon we started the final steep grade to Lolo pass. At the pass was an awesome ranger station where we spent time learning about the area, Lewis and Clark, and the Nez Perce Indians. Finally we very quickly descended the 7 miles to the hot springs. Weird place that had hippies, biker dudes, locals trying to make a living. We had a great evening partying and playing poker.
July 2 Day 13
Day 13. White Bird to Apgar campground. 83 miles
Another very early start and we road through the tiny town of white bird Idaho the started the awesome climb on old highway 95 to the top of old white bird hill. Amazing views of the valley and salmon River we just left. Near top of pass we got behind a cattle drive that had many many cows and Cowboys and his dogs. We were delayed for an hour or so because of the drive but that is part of the fun. After the cows got off the road we descended into grageville Idaho. Cute town that was having 4th of July celebrations in downtown. We left town traveling on stites road that had rolling hills and awesome fields of potatoes and wheat. We descended lamb grade road that was very steep for about 5 miles. Again I was glad to be traveling west to east. We quickly arrive in Kooskia on the Nez Perce reservation where we stopped for lunch. At Kooskia we turned onto highway 12 and made our way to the Apgar USFS campground on the Lochsa River. Nice camp where we meet folks traveling the TransAm on a tandem.
Another very early start and we road through the tiny town of white bird Idaho the started the awesome climb on old highway 95 to the top of old white bird hill. Amazing views of the valley and salmon River we just left. Near top of pass we got behind a cattle drive that had many many cows and Cowboys and his dogs. We were delayed for an hour or so because of the drive but that is part of the fun. After the cows got off the road we descended into grageville Idaho. Cute town that was having 4th of July celebrations in downtown. We left town traveling on stites road that had rolling hills and awesome fields of potatoes and wheat. We descended lamb grade road that was very steep for about 5 miles. Again I was glad to be traveling west to east. We quickly arrive in Kooskia on the Nez Perce reservation where we stopped for lunch. At Kooskia we turned onto highway 12 and made our way to the Apgar USFS campground on the Lochsa River. Nice camp where we meet folks traveling the TransAm on a tandem.
July 1 Day 12
Day 12. Evergreen campground to White Bird. 80 miles
Another early start to beat the heat and get up big hill to New Meadows before the traffic is too much. It was so nice to be rolling in the cool air. Soon we arrived to New Meadows and we had coffe at the cute shop. We met a Frenchman as we were leaving who was doing the Transamerica Trail race to Astoria. He talked about the winds he had to battle. Again I am thanful that I'm traveling west to east. We were back on the awful highway 95 and grumbled as we road along the little salmon River. Soon there was a turnoff near Pollack and even though there was a huge washout we had to carry the bikes over, at least we were off of highway 95 for a spell anyway. Eventually the little salmon River dumped into the salmon River near Riggins. We stopped for another water break then pushed on in the heat and yucky road to the lovely swift water RV park. Nice place that was clean, had an awesome gazebo and was right on the river. We had another restful afternoon with ice cream and yummy dinner that my sister prepared. finally we fell asleep at sunset.
Another early start to beat the heat and get up big hill to New Meadows before the traffic is too much. It was so nice to be rolling in the cool air. Soon we arrived to New Meadows and we had coffe at the cute shop. We met a Frenchman as we were leaving who was doing the Transamerica Trail race to Astoria. He talked about the winds he had to battle. Again I am thanful that I'm traveling west to east. We were back on the awful highway 95 and grumbled as we road along the little salmon River. Soon there was a turnoff near Pollack and even though there was a huge washout we had to carry the bikes over, at least we were off of highway 95 for a spell anyway. Eventually the little salmon River dumped into the salmon River near Riggins. We stopped for another water break then pushed on in the heat and yucky road to the lovely swift water RV park. Nice place that was clean, had an awesome gazebo and was right on the river. We had another restful afternoon with ice cream and yummy dinner that my sister prepared. finally we fell asleep at sunset.
June 30 Day 11
Day 11 Oxbow to Evergreen campground along Weiser River Idaho: 75 miles
Woke at 3:15 am so we could be rolling with headlamps at 4 am. Needed to get out of Hells Canyon and get out of the hotter than hell heat. Quickly we made our way to Brownlee dam where we finally made our way into Idaho. After feeling like spending many days in Oregon it was nice to finally get into state number 3. After Brownlee dam worked our way around Brownlee reservoir then stared up the 4131 foot pass. Road was quite and it was nice to be able to talk and ride at the same time. At the summit we snacked then headed down the pass trying to avoid running over snakes in the road. Soon we were in the rustic town of Cambridge where we had a good cup of coffee. From Cambridge we had to get on highway 95 heading north and we were really disgusted with the traffic. After a long stop in Council where we gulped orange juice and took advantage of the Internet access. finally we finished the miles of the day to the USFS campground called Evergreen. We essentially had the place to ourselves and more improtant it was nice and cool and great to be back in the mountains.
Woke at 3:15 am so we could be rolling with headlamps at 4 am. Needed to get out of Hells Canyon and get out of the hotter than hell heat. Quickly we made our way to Brownlee dam where we finally made our way into Idaho. After feeling like spending many days in Oregon it was nice to finally get into state number 3. After Brownlee dam worked our way around Brownlee reservoir then stared up the 4131 foot pass. Road was quite and it was nice to be able to talk and ride at the same time. At the summit we snacked then headed down the pass trying to avoid running over snakes in the road. Soon we were in the rustic town of Cambridge where we had a good cup of coffee. From Cambridge we had to get on highway 95 heading north and we were really disgusted with the traffic. After a long stop in Council where we gulped orange juice and took advantage of the Internet access. finally we finished the miles of the day to the USFS campground called Evergreen. We essentially had the place to ourselves and more improtant it was nice and cool and great to be back in the mountains.
June 29 Day 10
Day 10 Baker City Oregon to Oxbow Oregon : 70.5 miles
Left baker city at first light and rolled past sales lot of old wagon train and old farm equipment. Cool stuff and wished I had time to stop and check it all out. We make our way up a nice warm up hill called Flagstaff Hill to views of the Baker Valley that was quit beautiful. Then we started our descent into the Hell's Canyon and along the Powder River. Stunning and quit varied terrain. Soon we were in the town of Richland where we filled up on food and water. Locals were giving us warning of the heat in Hells Canyon. We said thanks for the info and rode on. With some work and some steep terrain we topped out at another pass and rapidly dropped into the valley and the road to the town of Halfway. Beautiful views of peaks to the north and green all around. Again we wished we had time to go into Halfway but the it was really starting to heat up and we needed to at least get to Oxbow. The final miles of the day were in about 100 degrees and we came across a store in time. Pulled over and rushed to the shade of the store and gulped orange juice as fast as we could. Soon T and L arrived and cooled us off some more with cold water. We wanted to go farther that day but it simply was too hot. So we camped at the Copperfield campground that was awesome. Ran through the sprinklers, went to the river and sat in the shade to pass the day. Colleen woke in the middle of the night to sprinklers filling the tent with water. What a surprise for her but with the water came a welcomed coolness to the air.
Left baker city at first light and rolled past sales lot of old wagon train and old farm equipment. Cool stuff and wished I had time to stop and check it all out. We make our way up a nice warm up hill called Flagstaff Hill to views of the Baker Valley that was quit beautiful. Then we started our descent into the Hell's Canyon and along the Powder River. Stunning and quit varied terrain. Soon we were in the town of Richland where we filled up on food and water. Locals were giving us warning of the heat in Hells Canyon. We said thanks for the info and rode on. With some work and some steep terrain we topped out at another pass and rapidly dropped into the valley and the road to the town of Halfway. Beautiful views of peaks to the north and green all around. Again we wished we had time to go into Halfway but the it was really starting to heat up and we needed to at least get to Oxbow. The final miles of the day were in about 100 degrees and we came across a store in time. Pulled over and rushed to the shade of the store and gulped orange juice as fast as we could. Soon T and L arrived and cooled us off some more with cold water. We wanted to go farther that day but it simply was too hot. So we camped at the Copperfield campground that was awesome. Ran through the sprinklers, went to the river and sat in the shade to pass the day. Colleen woke in the middle of the night to sprinklers filling the tent with water. What a surprise for her but with the water came a welcomed coolness to the air.
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