CYCLING THE NORTHERN TIER - DAY SIX - CLARK FORK to SANDPOINT, IDAHO, USA

AUGUST 3, 21012
TODAY'S EPISODE- IT'S FRIDAY. THE PLANT CALLED. IF YOU DON'T COME IN TODAY, DON'T BOTHER COMING IN ON MONDAY. WOO HOO!!  FOUR DAY WEEKEND.

START- CLARK FORK, IDAHO
FINISH- SANDPOINT, IDAHO
TODAY- 54kms
TTD- 509kms


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I planned to take it easy today. Even slept in a bit. I pick between EST, MST, PST when it's best to get going. The last three stages have been filled with long and hard rides. Early departures. The uneasiness of what lies ahead. I knew all along that I wanted to spend a night in Sandpoint, and that was only fifty K's away.

As with Kate, there seems to be brief periods where you keep seeing the same people. I meet  and chatted with this guy, checking in, at the store, leaving in the am and waiting in line for construction.

Funny guy. I kept calling him "Dennis". He kept correcting me.

As my room did not have WIFI, I was sitting(they had the cushiest lazy boy that I ever..) in the little lobby last night when a gentlemen walked in and ask me if I had any rooms available. I recognized him right away.

I do have to mention that I found Clark Fork to be a good place to spend the night, but not much more. A little sad place.

Anyway, with laptop in hand, I went to work. He checked in. Name and information please. In a minute I had the whole Wikipedia on Jay Ingram, the recently retired host of Discovery Channel's Daily Planet. I always knew of, but never could get into it. We exchanged stories and my compliments on how much I liked the show. Just in case one day.... His wife looked notable as well.

It's Huckleberry time folks.

Rolling out of CF.

 I was in no rush today. Got the lowdown, lowdown from
stop/go girl. Have you ever seen "My Own Private Idaho" ?

"I'm a connoisseur of roads. I've been tasting roads my whole life. This road will never end. It probably goes all around the world.

I've been tasting roads my whole life."

River Phoenix

Lakeland, playland.

 There is Hope people.

                                                                                   Any house that's got a slide on its roof, ......

Sad, sad sight. Any ski resort without snow.

I haven't got into my usual mass eating grove when I'm the road. On my own, I've been happy to find a little take-out for the room or a table by some gas or convenience store. Here though I picked it up a Paul Bunyan axe notch.
Burger average, onion rings outstanding. Home cut. Plus the must have COKE. No Pepsi!!!
When I was pulling out, a very well dressed lady came running after me. What the hell did I forget?
She explained she's a dentist, left her patient in the chair to let me know she is a member of "Warmshowers.org" Basically touring cyclists, helping touring cyclists through a home stay or a piece of lawn for the night. Thanks anyhow.

This is country that David Thompson passed through. There were people who discovered "Canada". To me, Thompson, created Canada. Through his association with the Hudson Bay Company, this guy did some very serious travelling, charting and mapping of what is now my country. 

 I thought best to inspect the beach. Everything seemed fine.

There is a big music festival in town. Could go see the Barenaked Ladies and Allison Krauss.












COMING SOON: LIKE COWBELLS,  MORE                                            SANDPOINT.

CYCLING THE NORTHERN TIER DAY FIVE- LIBBY MONTANA to CLARK FORK, IDAHO

AUGUST 2, 2012

START- LIBBY, MT
FINISH- CLARK FORK, IDAHO
TODAY - 113kms
TTD - 455KMS
SADDLE TIME - 6hrs 10mins


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 This includes my travels tomorrow to Sandpoint, Idaho

“Going were many have boldly gone before”

I am staring to ride into some fitness.  Here I do not plan my days by distance. I have been using three or four blogs from people who had travelled the route I have chosen.  Its saddle time that get’s my attention. With the dramatic elevation changes, my distances covered by back home standards are thrown out. I can, with a group, bang of 100kms in 4hrs. Here, with my loaded bike (I’m still looking for some open truck weigh scale. Probably good thing I don’t know) and all, I’m averaging 17, 18 or possibly 19kms/hr. Here I have been covering 100kms in 6+ hrs (actual saddle time). With a lot more guts, and some glory. 

Headed out under the full moon around 06:00hrs.

I have to admit that I have been enjoying my motel rooms. When I rode into Libby yesterday the heat was just cranking. Peaked around 95F. I don’t have too much of a problem riding in it, but it’s when I stop. I radiate, and it’s not like the Chernobyl or expectant mother glow. When the daily highs are usually around 5 or 6pm, and relief isn’t noticeable till 8 or 9pm, I find a room and hunker down. Being off the main tourist grid, they are surprisingly inexpensive. In between getting some eats, supplies and a little touristing, have been watching the Olympics. NBC, but that’s OK till that sports know-it-all Ryan Seacrest comes on to analyze who knows what, I flick.

I love any river, stream, creek, ... thats flowing in
the same direction I'm going.

Umm. Forest Rd. Wonder where it goes?

                                                                                         Ground Beef

I have seen deer by the dozens. Mostly alive. Quite often it comes down to a stare off. Like some hoodlum from the back alleys, there smart to the point that when I go to reach in my pocket, to take a shot, they are gone. 

I today had an encounter with another animal. Since my mother is my #1 blog reader, some things are best not written till I am safely buckled in and heading back to YYZ.  

I have been since I've started looking for Joe. At least I've found Little Joe.

Breakfast. Blah,blah,blah, STARBUCKS DOUBLE ESPRESSO SHOT!

I have seen a few of these. They are in the middle of nowhere. Theres no place to turn left or enter

Lovin the clouds

Can't believe I'm leaving Montana today. Left it to the last minute, but found where the Unabomber lived. Wait. The sign says Bob Amernou. Did not find a Montana's Cookhouse. Had a coupon.

For such a short notice, my bike is fine. But oh boy do I miss my Campy-on–the-brake shifters. If there ever was a place to utilize this component, it’s here. I’m on those Shimano shifters like Smoky and the Bandit. Grinding through the gears like those old Glacier Park buses.

I’ve been fortunate that it seems like my travel plans will go uninterrupted. Just in Idaho alone, there are over twenty-five wildfires out of control. The nation wide drought and heat wave has even hit this area. In this part of the country, detours are measured in days. To me as a cyclist, very serious cab fare.

It was last summer that on a Niagara Freewheeler’s ride that I chatted with John S. about my interest in doing a self-supported tour. He spoke of the Adventure Cycling Association. A not for profit organization that’s primary mandate is to support and promote travelling by bicycle. That night I joined. The ACA has numerous proven and mapped routes across the USA and Canada. It is the western portion of the Northern Tier (across USA) route that I am following. Thanks John.

Oh ya, I’m getting big legs, but my butt. I read that one of the latest cosmetic surgeries is to have some relocation to the booty. I could use some extra lovin down there. With my Gone bike, I was introduced to the Brooks saddle. A company from England that has been making hand crafted seat for 100yrs(I think). The B-17 is the touring person’s way to go. When mine went gone, I just said to the H with it and took my Selle Italia from my GURU. Good idea then. Today????

They spray painted the state line on the road. I for a while jumped back and forth going,

it's 12 o'clock, it's 1 o'clock, it's 12 o'clock, it's 1 o'clock.........

Will not be in Idaho for long. Have to make sure I hit a Wendy's and get a baked potatoe. 

Downtown CF


If I leave here tomorrow
Would you still remember me?
For I must be traveling on, now
'Cause there's too many places
I've got to see