Day 10 Journal Boise, ID to Mountain Home, ID

I rode 51 miles today. It was great to have a rest day yesterday. We were all talking about what we did on our day off. Some strolled the downtown of Boise. This is one town where downtown is a very big social gathering place. It has lots and lots of unique restaurants with many places to eat outdoors. Some people checked out Boise State University, some went to a Shakespeare Festival play. Most everyone had to do laundry. The Marriot Hotel did a great job providing us with a hose and plenty of rags to clean our bikes. Just two blocks from the hotel was George’s Bike Shop and I think everyone made a trip or two to that place. It is a well-stocked place with several mechanics. One of the riders, Ron had a serious problem that the bike shop handled expertly. Ron was washing his bike and saw a place on the down tube was cracked all the way around. This high-end bike he owns was a new bike and he was pretty shocked to see this had happened. Needless to say he was concerned that his trip was going to be interrupted. He took it over to George’s and the mechanic knew right away that it was a warranty issue. They called the bike manufacture and they sent over night a replacement frame, which arrived this morning. The bike was put back together with his components from the damaged bike. Our ABB van picked up the bike and Ron in no time had a bike once again. He was so fortunate that if this had to happen that it happened while we were in Boise because after that town, there isn’t much in the line of good bike shops until maybe Casper, WY or Sioux Falls, SD.

I spent my day by getting up early having a wonderful breakfast that is prepared at the hotel and then left at 7:30 AM to ride seven miles out on the west side of the city to see a Dr E Crum, D.C. He is certified in doing Active Release Technique treatments. He spent about 45 minutes going over all my muscles and seeing that things were good condition. He was great, and commented that I really did not have any serious soft tissue problems going on. I then rode about 2 miles (stopping first to browse around a big REI store) to get to my massage appointment. For an hour and a half massage. It was so relaxing and I felt so refreshed it was like getting the effect of a full eight hours of sleep. When I biked back towards the hotel I stopped at one of those neat restaurants in old town Boise. Had a delicious portabella mushroom sandwich. It was about 99 degrees out yesterday, and I was glad to get back indoors. Took a nice nap and then cleaned my bike. Al and Deanna picked Christine and I up at 6:30 and we were treated to a fantastic dinner at The Reef in downtown. We dined on the rooftop that had lots of little Tiki huts and great service. Afterwards went for the ice cream treat. Got back to the hotel after 9:30 PM, and had to hustle to get things lined up for this morning’s bike ride, and get some sleep. Sure was nice having a rest day.

Today’s ride was short and I got in about 11:30ish. Going out of town was scenic as we climbed up on a little bluff. Then at about mile 12 we entered the interstate and in total we had 30 mile of I-84 riding. It was too hard to look at the surrounding terrain while riding that super busy highway. The last 7 miles into town was easy and was good to arrive at the hotel nice and early. It was almost like having another rest day. Many were lounging around the pool and cooling off in the water. It was another scorching hot day. I noticed at the exit going off I-84 a marquee that said it was 9:10 AM and it was already 84 degrees!

Tomorrow we have a much longer day with 97 miles going into Twin Falls, ID. We will be loading the luggage at 5:45 AM to get a start before the heat and to get in at a decent hour tomorrow. I’m going over to the Pilot truck stop in a few minutes and get some things to eat for a breakfast in my room. ABB gives us breakfast at AJ’s Restaurant but not until 6:00 AM. By the time I get served and out of there – I will be wasting too much cool-of-the morning time.

Road Kill: LOTS of tire debris. 1 snake.

Bananas: 2 (and I took one with me from the salad bar at the buffet restaurant we ate at tonight – to eat for my breakfast in the morning)