The Riding has been excellent. Each day brings something new, a piece of the landscape, the forces that have shaped these features for millions of years, and the small and large interactions of people and the earth. I have been reading Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything and it has been an educational experience unlike any other: to read about places like the Yellowstone Caldera as we are within two days ride and to see the Potato fields in eastern Idaho that are basically the remaining ash left over from the most recent eruption(630,000 years ago). Then on top of all of this experiencing the irrigation practices that are ubiquitous through the parts of the west. We are surely riding though desert and at points we are rained upon as the hot winds carry diverted drops to fresh crops. At one point we heard frogs, happy full throated mating calls from a flooded field of hay as sage brush whistles in the distance. It it a puzzling place.
The mountains have been good to us. We rode the Sawtooth Mountains after Boise for numerous reasons: the scenery, a cooler climate, reduced traffic without cattle-trucks, and mountain people. It was a bit sad to say goodbye to Jocelyn and her family who took such great care of us. We left Boise to ride along lucky peak reservoir with Basalt columns that had some nice rock climbing.
The beginning of the gentle climb that lasted a day and a half. The first summit was around 6200 ft and the last was around 8900 ft. Elevation does strange things to your lungs when peddling 300 lbs up a six percent grade.
Idaho city was about to have its Frontier days. Mostly people trying to sell old junk that they were calling antiques.
An emergency situation closed the road for a medical helicopter to land. We have perfected the bike lean for such occasions. It was amazing to see so many people come to help as a majority of the people there were volunteer firefighters with equipment in their cars.
The Sawtooth Mountains were splendid. They reminded me of back country Yosemite. Why they don't call them saw teeth I'm not sure?
We pulled into Sun Valley. It is eerily nice. No crime. Amazing bile paths all around. Unlocked windows down Mercedez SUV's with five thousand dollar Bikes in the back. Needles to say we made our selves at home did some laundry at the skate-park and went mountain biking on world class trails. Some were a bit sketchy with lose shale overlooking a steep drop off to a rushing river below so we did some walking, Derek did some falling, and the wildflowers were breathtaking.
Endless Trails
Waking up down a dirt road in Hailey, ten miles down the road from Sun Valley.
Leaving Hailey towards craters.
We arrived in Crater's of the Moon to catch lunch and a nap. Just as we were about to check out the Lava tubes a feroucous thunderstorm rolled in with gusts reported from the ranger station at 45mph. We couldn't pass up the amazing tailwind and decided to outrun the storm. Made it to atomic city for some free mini golf home to the first city ever powered by nuclear energy.
INL Laboratories was patrolled by Navy MP's. We were told by some bikers that this was a huge government site developing new nuclear technologies. They probably helped develop the reactor that powered Atomic City. Weird place where we were passed by a behemoth truck carrying a metal tube the size of a school bus.
This badger was just as curious as we were. We stopped and hung out for a bit.
Outside of Rexburg Id, towards a developed hot spring that was closed when we arrived but managed to take some warm showers. Hay is the thing to do in these parts.
Osprey nest with lots of bailing string from hay bales.
Biggest tractor to date (I'm sure this will be small in the midwest) I cant figure out how to remove underline feature. Large tractors are not worthy of underlining.
Wyoming here we come. We made our way up the Teton pass with ten percent grades to an 8431 ft elevation.
Top of Teton Pass with awesome helmet hair.
We found this amazing guy Walt who builds mountain bike trails for the Forest Service and let us crash in his house with beds, a washing machine, and two mountain bikes to check out some of his handiwork. We have been resting, watching movies, and checking up on emails to avoid the fourth of July drunkards on the roads. We will check out some fireworks tonight and then head towards Yellowstone. Feeling well fed and happy. On a funny side note I have been gaining weight, don't worry about me wasting away.
