Hello, Ramona.
I am sitting in the home of a kind couple: Jim and Jane Runge. After a very long (95 mile) day, we reached an Idaho State Park that was unexpectedly closed! Jim rode up and said that it was OK for us bikers to stay there. He then invited Bob and I to his home for some drinks and a water fill up. His brand new home is located on the beautiful Clearwater River, about 15 miles upstream from Lewiston, ID. We have had a nice chat in an air-conditioned house, a great cool-down period from our long bike ride today.
We started out on the road at 6:30 am this morning, after spending a relaxing evening next to the pretty Touchet River in the heart of the Palouse Country. Most of the day was spent traveling up or down two very long grades, which took us through wheat country. The second grade got us up nearly as high as Snoqualmie Pass: 2,800 feet. We got a magnificent view out across the rolling wheat country; fields as far as the eye could see. Then it was a fabulous, 6-mile downhill race, hitting speeds over 35 mph. What a blast!
We linked up with the Snake River and finally crossed over into Idaho about 1:00 pm. We have now crossed the first of about 15 states and provenances on our trans-continental tour. The weather was warm, but not hot, and we generally made good time. The Runge's tell us that the scenery in the Bitterroot Mountains and Lolo Pass is wonderful. We will be traveling over this pass in the next couple of days, on our way to Missoula, MT. I can't wait to see it.
We'll pitch our tent in the closed-down State Park and trust that nobody will bother us tonight. Then it on into the Rocky Mountains.
I'm doing well and hope that you and the Family are too. I miss you.
Love,
Pete.
