2013 Bike Trip Part 1

Traveling with a view from a bicycle:                     

Back on the road again in search of a new adventure, viewed from a bicycle. 

Not knowing how many more chances there are in this life, I took the opportunity once more, to explore new parts of this vast countryside, at a slightly slower pace. Since I’m self employed, it didn’t take much to convince the boss in getting the time off for doing   another bicycle challenge! Also, I feel very fortunate and privileged to be able to travel this way at 52.

A couple of month ago I decided to go on another bike tour, cycling the US West Coast and parts of Canada. As of course, there is a good reason to include Vancouver in the itinerary.

I didn’t feel like riding the 600 miles from Las Vegas to Idaho through the desert, figuring the time would be better spent on the West Coast, so I started out in Boise, ID instead. Heading north on route 55 was a great start with all the proper ingredients for bicycle travel: nice warm weather, good scenery and a tail wind. Only another ruined rear tire put a small wrench into a perfect day. This was the second time in Idaho I had to replace a tire, so perhaps I’ll avoid this state from now on.

The next day went to another extreme, as I woke up to some rain drops on the tent. As the temperature had dropped down to 46 over night, it was kind of chilly to get going. Riding uphill following the Payette River could have been an incredible ride, only with the elevation gain it started to snow, then heavy snow and the temperature dropped down to 31 degrees. Two hours later, the body refused to continue, and so I booked myself into a motel in Cascade. The only requirement was a working heater and hot water!

On the way to McCall, I met up with my warmshowers.org, (which is an organization, where individuals can sign up to accommodate touring cyclists) host Chris, where I was treated with a nice meal and was able to stay the night. Thanks Chris & Christine.

The riding continued heading north on 95, following the scenic Salmon River. Although rainy and cold, it was downriver with a tailwind and wearing amber sunglasses made everything look bright and green; only my fingers and toes told me different. Then steep canyons gave way to green meadows. Reaching bottom at White Bird of 1600 feet, I met up with Mark who is riding Coast to Coast the Trans America Trail from Astoria OR to Yorktown VA. Together we pedaled the 12-mile long uphill, along the old switchback road over White Bird Summit of 4400 feet and down to the Camas Prairie to the town of Grangeville. There I found out that it is legal to camp in city parks in the state of Idaho, which is where we setup up camp for the night.

As Mark was heading east, my eyes were focused to the west. As I was crossing the prairies over rolling hills, past enormous large fields and through Nez Perce Indian Reservation, the only eye sore was constant dark rain clouds looming overhead. Then came the 3000 feet descent down the Lapwai Canyon, although with a headwind and a couple of sprinkles, still made riding rather pleasant. At the bottom, the road meets up with the Clearwater River and US Route 12, riding into Lewiston and then crossing the bridge over the Snake River into Clarkston WA. 

So far the road conditions have been pretty good, only a few stretches where there was hardly a shoulder to ride on and tin-tops were flirting with my comfort zone. The trip continued west on route 12, also known as Lewis & Clark Highway in honor of those early explorers. Shortly after Clarkston the road moved away from the Snake River and was starting to climb up to the 2785 foot Alpowa Summit. It seemed to go on forever and I was glad this uphill wasn’t in the first few days, as I was still getting my touring legs in shape. Riding a 20-pound road-bike, or a loaded 115-pound touring-cycle, takes awhile getting used to it.

No matter the heart rate, the eyes were still able to enjoy the countryside, scanning rolling hills and wheat fields as far as the horizon. In between those fields planted beautifully is the little town of Waitsburg and I just couldn’t resist and “wait” in the little family brewery Laht Neppur (Drink to Life), while sipping a Nut Brown Ale. This first part ended by rolling into Walla Walla, WA in another motel room to stay dry, away from those nasty black clouds. 

          Until next time from a bit farther down the road

Tony Bike

 

Note: Also the 2 previous bicycle trips are posted with over-blog, see link http://bike-travel-health.over-blog.com, enjoy the read.