Darrel fixed us a great breakfast today of potatoes, strawberries, oats, and bananas. Our goal is Kamiah, 60 plus miles upstream. We decide on the river route to avoid hill climbing. For lunch we stop in Orofino and talk to a few people interested in our trip and our Bob trailers.
After Orofino the wind finally dies down and we continue the steady climb up stream. In Kamiah we find that a carnival is going on at the City Park where we are planning on camping, so we continue up stream another mile to another campsite. After dinner back in town we meet Rachel, a young woman riding solo across the country just arriving in Kamiah after her day of riding. Randy and I are both ready for an early evening still recovering from our long day the day before.
We got an early start today after 2 nights off in Walla Walla. I was glad for the second day off since it poured rain.
Even though we’re riding together, today has given us a headwind that not only makes it harder to pedal, it also makes it harder for any conversation. So we both are lost in reverie. I remember being 5 years old and my brother Dean who was 11 taking me downtown, about 3 miles, on his bike. He had a one speed bike and on level ground or going down hill I would hop on his fender. Going up hill I would trot along beside while Dean worked hard to pedal.
When we stop Randy talks about his Dad as a boy riding a one speed from Lewiston to Walla Walla. The roads were mostly gravel then and he would hitchhike when he could but it would still take him 3 days.
Our day today was very long. We are staying with Randy’s cousin Darrel who lives a few miles upstream on the Clearwater from Lewiston and we finally arrive just as it’s getting dark after nearly 110 miles.
It rained on us last night, but we all slept well after our long day. We said goodbye to Chad and Cheryl last night, and today Jerry returned home after breakfast. It has been really great having company the last few days. Randy and I continued on to Walla Walla, and in the afternoon we fought a headwind and got caught in some heavy rain and hail, but otherwise uneventful. We’re both looking forward to taking a couple of days off, we’ve been riding for 7 days straight averaging just less than 60 miles a day. We’re about 10% across the country right now!
Greg
2guysbiketrip 