Monday September 17

Well............ not my favourite day today.  The weather was glorious and the scenery very nice, but we were on US95 all day.  Way too many big trucks (including the dreaded logging trucks), RVs hauling SUVs and pickups pulling huge honking trailers.  Add to that little to no shoulder for much of the day and bad chip seal for the last 5 miles or so.  Thank goodness it wasn't a terribly long day, but the traffic is mentally draining.  Having said all this, though, there really isn't anywhere else I would have rather spent the day.

About 7 miles into the ride I spotted a "goat head" thorn in my front tire and pulled it out, hoping I got to it before it penetrated through to the tube.  About a half mile later I pulled over and indeed my tire was pretty soft.  Darn!  My second flat of the trip.  Aussie Ann and Marsha pulled over with me and we all had a go at trying to get tire levers between the tire and rim.  No luck!  We summoned the van and Cy came to my rescue.  We all agreed, though, that it was one of the toughest tires ever to get off the wheel.  It was almost like it was glued on.  It was probably another 45 minute tire change, putting me at the tail-end.  But - the tire held for the rest of the day, and hopefully for many more to come......

It wasn't a particularly tough day, although there were a few long-ish climbs thrown in.  Thankfully the grades were not steep, though.  I didn't stop for many pictures for various reasons.  Here's a "historical marker" at the top of the first little climb and then a look at the road going down the other side.

We had a bit of a headwind in the morning, but it lessened throughout the day and may have actually turned into a bit of a tailwind at times.  We climbed twice as much as we descended, but on a busy road I think I prefer going uphill.  It's easier to hug the side the of road.  Here are a few shots taken throughout the afternoon.

Stopped to have my picture taken with the three bears fishing from the purple canoe.  Thankfully the cafe was closed for the season, so no pie.  There may have been a milkshake consumed once we got to New Meadows, though.  Medicine for my traffic-induced trauma.

After dinner last night, with our new-found extra hour of daylight due to the time zone change, most us went out for a walk around town.  Pat and I found a "rails to trails" pathway that runs along the Weiser River from Cambridge to within about 3 miles of New Meadows.  It was paved through Cambridge, but is still pretty rough the rest of the way.  Too bad it's not paved all the way through; it would be a great alternative to riding on the highway.

Stats for the day:
75 km / 47 miles from Cambridge ID to New Meadows ID
2895 feet up, 1487 feet down
Temps:  10C to 25C