What a difference a day makes! The hot weather was taking its toll yesterday. One of the staff rode yesterday and developed early heat stroke, and needed to be transported the last 10 miles by car. Today the temperature stayed in the high 80's the whole day, which was a welcome relief. That, combined with the shorter mileage, made for a pleasant day. I have been this far on a bicycle on previous trips, but from now on, it is all new territory for me.
We got to sleep in a bit, and left Spokane about 8 a.m. We took a circuitous route right through the middle of town, then back to our old friend, Route 2, that we had been on for 300 miles already. We headed north through pretty pine forest, up to the town of Newport. There were multiple long steady 2% uphill grades, which should have been no problem, but there was a 10 mph headwind that made progress difficult. After Newport, we crossed the Pend Oreille river into Idaho. After riding for several miles on a somewhat unpleasantly busy road, we came to the town of Priest River, and turned on to a very nice backroad that borders a huge lake. After a great lunch of grilled hamburgers in a state park, we only had 12 more miles to go into Sandpoint. We crossed Lake Pend Oreille on a 2 mile bridge; it is really a beautiful lake. I arrived about 2 p.m., compared to 5 p.m. last night.
Sandpoint seems to be a rather upscale place, filled with rich-appearing tourists. My first clue was a large Starbuck's just as you enter town. It is a pretty place, right on the lake and just minutes from a major ski area. Idaho drivers don't seem terribly friendly towards cyclists.......one of the women riders almost got run off the road today by one particularly nasty driver. Lots of pickups with gun racks. It looks like there aren't many democrats around here....
I've found a few people to form pacelines with. One is a guy named Kurt from Arkansas, who is using this bike ride to train for triathlons. Because he weighs about 225 lbs., he is in the "clydesdale" division of triathlons. He isn't very fast going uphill, but on the flat it is great to be in the slipstream of a Clydesdale!
I had dinner tonight with a couple of guys from Australia, who are both hilarious. I think it must be a requirement for citizenship in Australia to be a standup comic. One of them had broken his hip 2 years ago in a bike accident, so we had plenty to talk about.
Tomorrow we go around Lake Pend Oreille, then head south on route 200, into Montana, to Thompson Falls. About 86 miles. The forecast is a 30% chance of thundershowers, but probably not until later in the day.
I missed a turn on the cue sheet today so I ended up doing a few extra miles.
89 miles. 2900 vertical feet.
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4 comments:
I hope you got some good starbuck's caffiene after your ride -- there's nothing that will calm your heart rate better than a triple venti latte!
still rooting/stalking you!
steph and andrew:)
John. Thanks for the great descriptions of the rides, the people and the towns. Keep them coming! Sounds like only a Frap has the calories you need...
Sounds like you are doing us proud. Classes have been bigger riding along with you. I have a bruised butt in sympathy!....Starbucks!!!!!!!!!!
Robin
Your ride sounds like a real challenge, but also fascinating. Just back from Istanbul- 7000 miles- 14 hours- 60,000 vertical feet- average 500 mph. GO JOHN!! Mel
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