Day 9 : July 17, 2011

Payette NFCampground, ID to Pollock, ID

93 Miles

* 

I woke up alive and extremely well rested.

And the earliest on record for this trip so far.

7:15AM

*

Two tracked my way back to the road

and made the summit

2.5 miles later.

Then 17 miles of downhill into Cambridge.

Here, I was greeted by a crazy, young guy cheering and waving along the side of the road...dressed in bike gear, smoking a cig.

Caught off guard - A wave didn't seem sufficient, and I felt

obligated

to stop.

Plus, I was just as excited inside to come across another biker!

He was just packing up his camp and asked which way I was headed.

East to the coast.

So was he.

Do you want to ride together.

pause.

Sure.

*

We had a 41 mile, mostly steady climb to Tamarack.

and

A 33 mile gradual decent.

*

It was either find a campsite in the next few miles or I would hit well over 100 miles in the day if we continued on to the next town.

Because of the nice down hill or perhaps the company of another, I felt I could go on...but I wasn't sure how the next day would fare.

He, Greg, was around 20 miles less than me for the day..so he left the decision up to me.

We found a campsite along the Little Salmon River.

Laundry and Bath night!!!!

*

The night time routine is definately different...and in most respect...more enjoyable

when accompanied by someone else.