Even though they had to spend some of their time biking on the interstate, Doug and Donna still managed to find some shade ... they even got their own escort driving through some construction. They also encountered some Western hospitality in the form of banana nut bread, and mini-Horseback riders who had some impressive skills in the saddle.
July 10 - Back at Big City Coffee for breakfast, the biggest monster muffins we have ever seen! Doug had to help Donna finish hers.
This bike path took us about 4 miles south of downtown Boise to the entrance we needed to take to get on I-84. The interstate is the only paved road between Boise and Mountain Home.
One super duper Idaho rest area.
Just in case you were wondering about that sticker on Donna's bike fender.
A convenient shady overpass rest stop. We scared a poor little cottontail out into the sun.
A good safe place to ride but so noisy that we couldn't chat much. We had 40 miles just like this.
Almost done with the Interstate!
Mountain Home had a beautiful, well-equiped library with its own coffee shop. Later at dinner we picked up 2 100% cotton t-shirts at Carlos Mexican Family Restaurant for $6.50 each. See farther on for the significance of this purchase.
July 11 - definitely a one room school house.
Now Donna knows why a town named Mountain Home is so flat. They moved the stage stop out of the hills but didn't change the name!
This is about midway through the 15 miles of up that started in Mountain Home. The good part is that it is getting cooler as we gain elevation.
We had been passed by multitudes of asphalt trucks all morning. At noon about 27 miles into our ride we ran into the construction zone. By Idaho law the pilot car has to give bicyclists a ride through. It took about 45 minutes to make the passage.
The good news was that we ended up at the very top of Cat Creek summit, our last climb of the day. Notice below Donna's bike shorts. Those happen to be the sleeves cut off the XXL t-shirt bought in Mountain Home. A combination of sun, sweat, and sunscreen had really irritated the skin on the top of her thighs and this has been the perfect solution. Don't get too many strange looks!
Another Camas Prairie (for our families - there is one on the Sweet Home Ranger District as well.)
This was a very beautiful and interesting section of road. This is the Big Wood River. On the other side of the road is sagebrush desert.
Our hosts Dan and Mona at the Prairie Inn in Fairfield at the end of a very long day. They let us use their laundary and Mona made delicious banana nut bread to share. They also spent about an hour just chatting with us. They had beautiful pictures of Camas Prairie in full bloom ... it was a carpet of camas.
July 12 - The valley floor is filled with a lot of alfalfa fields and other grains. The volcanic soils are very productive with the addition of water.
We stopped for the day in Carey. The only place to stay turned out to be the Community Park and adjacent Blaine County fairgrounds. We had the park to ourselves during the heat of the afternoon.
Catching up on the journal.
Our abode for the night in the fairgrounds ... actually one of the better places we've pitched our tent so far.
When we got back from dinner the park and rodeo arena had come alive with community members. This horse club is practicing their routine for the intermission at an upcoming rodeo. There was also a pretty intense game of volleyball and people just enjoying the cool of the evening.
The kids ranged in age from 5 to 14.
It was definitely a family affair.
This little guy was really good. Many of these kids had been riding since they could walk.
This horse really wanted to GO!
A smoke enhanced sunset in the middle of Idaho. This is about 9:30. The volleyball game continued almost until the sprinklers came on at 10 (which is why we didn't camp in the park)
Getting ready to call it a day -- a very good day.
Even though they had to spend some of their time biking on the interstate, Doug and Donna still managed to find some shade ... they even got their own escort driving through some construction. They also encountered some Western hospitality in the form of banana nut bread, and mini-Horseback riders who had some impressive skills in the saddle.
July 10 - Back at Big City Coffee for breakfast, the biggest monster muffins we have ever seen! Doug had to help Donna finish hers.
This bike path took us about 4 miles south of downtown Boise to the entrance we needed to take to get on I-84. The interstate is the only paved road between Boise and Mountain Home.
One super duper Idaho rest area.
Just in case you were wondering about that sticker on Donna's bike fender.
A convenient shady overpass rest stop. We scared a poor little cottontail out into the sun.
A good safe place to ride but so noisy that we couldn't chat much. We had 40 miles just like this.
Almost done with the Interstate!
Mountain Home had a beautiful, well-equiped library with its own coffee shop. Later at dinner we picked up 2 100% cotton t-shirts at Carlos Mexican Family Restaurant for $6.50 each. See farther on for the significance of this purchase.
July 11 - definitely a one room school house.
Now Donna knows why a town named Mountain Home is so flat. They moved the stage stop out of the hills but didn't change the name!
This is about midway through the 15 miles of up that started in Mountain Home. The good part is that it is getting cooler as we gain elevation.
We had been passed by multitudes of asphalt trucks all morning. At noon about 27 miles into our ride we ran into the construction zone. By Idaho law the pilot car has to give bicyclists a ride through. It took about 45 minutes to make the passage.
The good news was that we ended up at the very top of Cat Creek summit, our last climb of the day. Notice below Donna's bike shorts. Those happen to be the sleeves cut off the XXL t-shirt bought in Mountain Home. A combination of sun, sweat, and sunscreen had really irritated the skin on the top of her thighs and this has been the perfect solution. Don't get too many strange looks!
Another Camas Prairie (for our families - there is one on the Sweet Home Ranger District as well.)
This was a very beautiful and interesting section of road. This is the Big Wood River. On the other side of the road is sagebrush desert.
Our hosts Dan and Mona at the Prairie Inn in Fairfield at the end of a very long day. They let us use their laundary and Mona made delicious banana nut bread to share. They also spent about an hour just chatting with us. They had beautiful pictures of Camas Prairie in full bloom ... it was a carpet of camas.
July 12 - The valley floor is filled with a lot of alfalfa fields and other grains. The volcanic soils are very productive with the addition of water.
We stopped for the day in Carey. The only place to stay turned out to be the Community Park and adjacent Blaine County fairgrounds. We had the park to ourselves during the heat of the afternoon.
Catching up on the journal.
Our abode for the night in the fairgrounds ... actually one of the better places we've pitched our tent so far.
When we got back from dinner the park and rodeo arena had come alive with community members. This horse club is practicing their routine for the intermission at an upcoming rodeo. There was also a pretty intense game of volleyball and people just enjoying the cool of the evening.
The kids ranged in age from 5 to 14.
It was definitely a family affair.
This little guy was really good. Many of these kids had been riding since they could walk.
This horse really wanted to GO!
A smoke enhanced sunset in the middle of Idaho. This is about 9:30. The volleyball game continued almost until the sprinklers came on at 10 (which is why we didn't camp in the park)
Getting ready to call it a day -- a very good day.
1 comment:
Way to go with the innovative thinking, Mom. I like the extendo pants!
You guys are looking good (despite the odd tan lines) ... keep up the good work!
hugs
meg
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