June 26, 2025
Day 16 The Weiser River Trail
This should not have been so hard
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You would have thought after a hard ride and warm soak in the hot springs sleep would have come quick and hard. Maybe the warm night air and the warm soak joined forces with the Doves who couldn’t stop courting with their cooing all night.
Roel slept hard and could be still sleeping. We said our goodbyes last night, but I wish we could visit more.
After an instant oatmeal and instant coffee breakfast, we hit the trail around 8. We decided to ride the Weiser River Trail today. Staying off pavement and enjoy our ride. The WRTnis mostly rock, gravel, dirt or dust with some mud thrown in for fun. Garmin said we would be in Council for second breakfast by 9:30. Before leaving I reminded her of the bear we saw on this trail some years back. So we readied our bear spray and bells. Sure enough, about 3 miles down the trail a yearling black bear was headed to the river for a morning drink. I told Rhonda to get out her bell and start using some of her words. That spooked the bear back on the trail. He turned to look at us and quickly high tailed it up the trail. We moved slowly onward and eventually the bear scooted up the hill, too quick for me to get my camera out. You’ll just have to trust me.
After 2 hours the oatmeal had worn off and we still had a handful of miles to second breakfast. But the scenery was spectacular and we pedaled on. By 11 we were in town but our normal breakfast stop was closed. So we found a bakery that made us some hefty and tasty sandwiches. While eating them outside we met another couple cycling east. Apparently we have been chasing them for several days. Then a third couple appeared! They were also traveling east. We sat in the town park and shared our similar experiences along the trail. But the temps were rising and it was time to depart. The one couple decided to call it a day. The other was headed to New Meadows on the Highway. We stuck to the WRT. Although longer, there were no steep hills of pesky traffic. We had 30 miles to go.
Lack of sleep and maybe just that salad for dinner was conducive to bonking. I needed some extra breaks and snacks. Rhonda’s encouragement made my pedals go round. And stopping to filter some cold river water was refreshing. Soon we were in the canyon where the gentle RR grade began to pitch up. It shouldn’t have been this hard. The miles ticked down slowly but we eventually topped out and found backroads that led us into New Meadows.
We hadn’t made arrangements for lodging. Our plan was to find camping at Zimms Hotsprings but they weren’t answering their phone or returning any messages. Rhonda remembered her friends Lisa and Tom whom she taught with back in the day, may be staying at their place in New Meadows. They weren’t but they graciously insisted we stay in their condo. So after a bbq platter with potato salad at the bbq joint in town we navigated to their place. It’s peaceful, comforting and well, I’m nearly asleep typing this. While there Lisa called their friends Jim and Lynn who live near by and also taught with Rhonda. So they stopped over for a short, yet very pleasant visit. Nice folks. Of course Jim is another South Dakota son. I could have sworn we shared coffee in his kitchen back on his family ranch. But tomorrow morning I look forward to having a cup with him before we head down the road. And I’m told tomorrow is all down hill. Easy they say. Sure! I’m going to bed. I need some sleep.
52 miles 2129’
Today's ride: 52 miles (84 km)
Total: 739 miles (1,189 km)
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