June 9, 2023
To Sandpoint ID
Water, water everywhere
The forecast calls for heavy rain over the next two days. Ugh. I guess that’s how it is in the Northwest. Better suck it up Buttercup. At least we have a shorter day, just 38 miles to Sandpoint, and downhill overall.
It’s not raining yet so we decide to leave early and ride to Clark Fork for breakfast. Chad recommends the Scotchman Coffee Roastery in town, about 8 miles in on our way.
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The rain is just starting as we venture west from Clark Fork on ID-200, also known as the Pend Oreille Scenic Byway. It’s a bit busy and we’re glad to get off of it after a few miles, onto Denton Road. There we’re up above Idaho 200, practically alone, with as good a view of Lake Pend Orreille as you can get in the rain.
Barry’s isn’t up for my pokey pace and picture stops today so he splits. It’s all good. We have let go of feeling like we have to ride together all the time. It's been fine using one Varia radar detector when we're together since it that transmits to both of our Wahoo Bolts. I’ve ordered a second so we’ll both have one when we're riding alone.
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10 months ago
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I’m bummed when Denton Road ends and spits me back on ID-200 for 5 or 6 miles. It’s a two-lane state highway with not much of a shoulder so I’m in the lane. The rain is not heavy but it's steady. My flashing red Cygolite is nice and bright, I’m wearing a high-viz yellow rain jacket, and I can see in the mirror that most drivers are hanging back until they can change lanes, or at least moving over to a safe distance. A few don’t move over much, just enough to know that they see me. Fortunately I have room for evasive maneuvers. This wins the award for the most uncomfortable experience of the trip.
I’m wondering how Barry is faring ahead of me. He is bright and flashy too, with his blinking Varia light and his yellow jacket and pannier covers. Later he tells me about a guy in a van who pulled up on his left and motioned him over so he could berate him for riding in the road. Barry explained that it was the only place to ride and wished him a nice day. There were other words, I’m sure.
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https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/questionable/two-good-places-to-use-natures-restroom-and-a-bad-place-to-repair-another-flat/
10 months ago
The shoulder widens out as I get closer to Sandpoint and the rain is starting to ease up. Everything is wet including the phone. It's not up for taking more pictures.
We meet up in Sandpoint on the Creekside Trail and make our way downtown. Barry's jacket is bright but not waterproof and he is shivering. At Baxter's Pub the server looks us over and asks if we'd like some hot soup to start. Yes please. Tuscan chicken for Barry, lobster bisque for me.
The rain stops while we're refueling and holds off as we ride on the Sandpoint Community bike trail to meet our WarmShowers hosts, Cyndy and Rupert.
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Cyndy caught on to bike travel early in life from her home in Massachusetts. She went out for a long ride and thought "Gee, if I had stuff with me, I could keep going." Over a salmon dinner she and Rupert share some of their stories from touring all around North America and Europe, mostly wild camping and staying with other WarmShowers. They are enlarging my ideas about where you can camp.
Cyndy encouraged us to stay a second night and we're really ready for a break. Sandpoint is the biggest town we've been to on this trip so far. Looks like a fun layover stop.
Today's ride: 38 miles (61 km)
Total: 368 miles (592 km)
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10 months ago
10 months ago