Day 11: July 19, 2011

White Bird, Idaho to Grangeville, Idaho

21 Miles

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It was an early rise this morning so we could beat the heat while we made
the climb up White Bird Hill
out of Hells Canyon.
It was around 6:30AM that we began to stir.
Around 7:30AM, we had camp taken down.
While eating breakfast,
we counted the number of people entering and leaving Silver Dollar.
11.
We hit the road and began our 12 mile climb out.
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This colt was so cute and very interested in us.

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Near the beginning of the climb.

The road we took up is call Old HWY 95.

If you look at the middle of the hill, you can make out a road...if you squint really hard.

Look for 2 white dots.

1 is a bridge - the other is what I believe to be a semi.

This is the 'new' HWY 95.

It is a steeper grade and is one straight shot rimming the side of the hill.

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Old HWY 95

One switchback after the other.

What looks like the 'top' in the center of this photo...is definately not the top.

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The views were gorgeous.

I had to be careful though as I was pulling what our family calls "The PaPa".

Definition: Driving while looking around and

 being in awe of the beauty...and finding yourself going off road.

I had a few "Whoa that was close."

I learned to STOP.  Then look.

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Wahoo.

The ride went a lot faster and easier than we thought it would.

Thinking it would be over 3 hours.

We were at the top in 2.

We figured it was the low mileage day yesterday and the carbo load of beers.

...and that we had ice cream on the brain.

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Since we had our hopes high for ice cream when we hit White Bird... and then it didn't deliver...

our main goal today was to get ice cream.

As much as our little hearts wanted.

There was about 10  miles until the next town... Grangeville.

We planned to do some re-stocking there

and get our fix of ice cream.

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I had to deliver another package of gear home at the post office.

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Greg needed fuel cannisters.

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Then we went to the grocery store for food

which included

a 1/2 gallon of Caramel Moose Cup Ice Cream.

Vanilla ice cream.

Caramel Swirls.

Caramel Filled Moose Cups.

Holy smokes it was good.

GONE.

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Then a storm similiar to the one I was caught in a few days ago rolled through.

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We sat on the porch of this sporting goods store.

Waiting it out.

We sat there for 6 hours.

It would let up...we would think we could get on our bikes...then a second wind would roll through.

and a third wind.

and a fourth.

and a fifth.

....

We made a couple more trips into the grocery store for munchies

because it wasn't like we had

at a a half gallon of ice cream.

While I made a run into the store, Greg went to look around for a local park with a pavillion to set up camp.

As I was in the store, the clerk at the counter asked if we had a place to stay.

I said that we were looking for a pavillion to sleep under.

She then offered to house us for the night

because if we were her children, she would hope someone would do the same.

I waited on the porch until Greg came back, and I told him

about the offer.

It was an easy decision.

I went back to the store and let her know we would really appreciate the stay.

When her husband came to get her from work at 5:30PM,

she introduced us.

and He was okay with it.

Bruce and Pat.

He has been a farmer all his life.

Home bodies..haven't travelled much.

They loved hearing what we were doing.

:)

Taco salad.  It tasted so good.

After dinner, a couple of their friends came over.

We all sat in the living room and talked.

Their friends were from Michigan.

and they had a grand daughter who would be attending

Michigan State this Fall.

GO GREEN!

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It was a wonderful stay.

Great, generous people.

So fun listening to their stories

and having them so interested in learning about us too.