June 20, 2025
Day 11: Ralston to Rosalia
It was a hard and tiring day. There were no east/west road options, so we were on the Palouse to Cascades rail trail. The challenge for this part of the trail is how rough it is and the 4 inch deep loose gravel. Clearly, a gravel bike with 50 mm tires would be better suited for these conditions. Nonetheless, the views of the countryside were spectacular and the geological features interesting. The major detour of the day was the Cow Creek Crossing. This took us through a farmer’s field where we road amongst cattle and avoided cow pies as best we could. Lunch was had on the trail as we pushed through at a much slower pace than normal. The basalt outcroppings of the scablands eventually gave way to the verdant, rolling hills of the Palouse. Our first option for camping was Malden, but decided to continue on to Rosalia for craft brew and pizza. After we both consumed 3 pints and a 14” pizza, at the Rose Garage Brewing & Taps, we enjoyed a long conversation with the owner/brewer, Jay , and Joe the cook. By the time we paid the bill and walked our bikes to City Park it was 9:30. We set up our tents in the town park and went to bed exhausted from the long day.
Today's ride: 62 miles (100 km)
Total: 531 miles (855 km)
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