Day 13 Journal Burley, ID to Blackfoot, ID

I rode 110.87 miles today. It was a GREAT day out there on my bicycle today. Breakfast was ready at 5:30 AM. It was so good – the hot oatmeal was prepared just the way I like it and they had thee best pancakes yet. So fluffy and hot, I wanted to eat 10 of them! I was full and ready for the 110 miles that lay ahead. Luggage was loaded a few minutes after 6:00, and Lois and I started were on the route by 6:08 AM. We were on very quiet roads for 109 miles today. In the early morning there were a lot of dogs coming out onto the road and giving chase. One very small black dog ran up ahead of us only a few feet out front for at least a mile! Finally he just collapsed in the ditch, he lay down and watched us go by. Most of the first 30 miles was just ranch land, deserted and couldn’t see a building anywhere. The road just laid out ahead of us line a very long ribbon. Then after the SAG stop at mile 32 it got a little more interesting with some rolling hills. We had one 7-mile section on the Interstate. This time the interstate berm was smooth and clean, so the ride went fast. I was making real good time and was thinking I would be in by 2:00 PM. But I stopped at mile 87 at this local café at the edge of a small town, Springfield. It was a Harley biker’s bar type of place. The bikers in the café were asking me all sorts of questions about my trip. The posters on the walls were pretty risqué and when I went into the women’s restroom and closed the door the back of the door had posters of nude guys! But the cheeseburger I had there was just what I needed to give me a big boost of energy to finish the last 20 miles. After I left the café the third SAG/snack stop was only a mile down the road. I checked in and had my dessert to top off my lunch – delicious, cold watermelon. We all love that treat on these hot days. The weather was not as hot as I was expecting. It was about 86 degrees, I think. Plenty warm, but not blistering. Big clouds were forming along the mountain range up ahead and I was hoping I would get in before an afternoon thunderstorm. Rain never came, and we all stayed dry. I was tired though when I finally reached the motel, and I really enjoyed my shower to cool off. I walked over to a big grocery next door; Albertson’s and got some sports drinks and an apple turnover – that held me until our 6:00 PM catered dinner. We had a picnic style dinner tonight eating outdoors. The caterer brought a whole lot of good food – all homemade and you can imagine how hungry we were after such a long ride today. We are at 4,500’ altitude here. In a couple of days we will be going UP, UP, UP over two mountain passes. So our legs are getting stronger and stronger in preparation for the big days ahead.

I thank God for this day and for our safe journey!

Road kill: 4 rattlesnakes (yuk), 1 bungee, 2 falcon birds

Bananas: 4