Day 12: July 20, 2011

Grangeville, Idaho to Weir Hot Springs(in Idaho)

97.5 Miles

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We woke to the smell of bacon.

Favorite classic breakfast.

Bacon.

Eggs.

Pancakes.

and

Coffee.

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I ate my way to discomfort.

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We hit the road at 9AM and fortunately it was a nice long decent...

Steep at some points.

Gradual at others.

EIther way, it gave time to break down breakfast.

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There was about 15 plus miles of construction through out this ride.

Periods of long waits ...

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I can't find some of the pictures I took along this stretch.

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When we hit Lowell, and took a lunch and ice cream break.

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Here we came across an Adventure Cycling Tour group.

First, the tour guide and leader arrived.

Sally.

They were coming from Yorktown Virginia

along the TransAm route

to Florence Oregon.

It was fun to talk with her.

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We headed next door to the cafe and

I ordered a hot fudge sundae

and Greg ordered a huckleberry shake.

Yum.

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By the time we had finished a number of the members of the tour group were taking a break.

We chatted with them.

It is always fun to run into other cyclists on the road and hear their stories.

The age range was 21 to 73.

People from Europe, Canada, and the States.

All fitness levels.

All different backgrounds.

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We wanted to end our night at a hot spring.

One which was 45 miles away.

Uphill. or Mountain.

It was 4:30 and we would be pushing it to make before dark.

We cruised at an average of 12 mph.

Every hour we took a short break.

At our last break before the last 10 miles,

we stopped at a historic ranger station.

This silly looking donkey horse was so interested in us.

I think he was wanting to get out for a ride.

He kept trying to get our attention.

Pushing on the gate... thinking why aren't you saddling me up!

You could see it in him...he wanted to be out on the trails.

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We finally made it to the Weir Hot Springs.

Dark was settling in the sky.

Before walking the trail to find a campsite, we figured we should pump water from the river

in case the stream is funky with sulfur because of the hot spring.

We were attacked by mosquitos.

Tired. Hungry. And annoyed.

Our body language changed quickly.

It made me laugh because it was so obvious.

Quick to react and snap.

Admitting to it, lightened the mood.

We found a campsite along the stream.

Set up camp in dark.

Made dinner.

And then headed to the hot springs.

We were told there is a high trail and a low trail.

Both lead to the pool.

It is hard to miss because you will walk right through hot water.

The trail "Y".

We took the high trail.

Shortly after turning on it..the terrain quickly changed.

It didnt seem right.

We were climbing over trees.

Ducking through shrubs.

Scaling the side of a mountain..higher and higher.

I couldn't think about what it would look like if there were day light..I think I would have been in more of a panic.

It went on and on.  And so did we.

We were determined to find the hot pool.

After multiple questionings of whether this was right

and after breaking into a sweat..

we decided to back track back down

to the main trail.

When we hit it, we continued on to see if there was a different section that "Y".

Of course...shortly after....there it was ..

a very clear upper and lower trail.

We decided to stick to the lower portion.

And vwa-la.

There we were.

I laughed so hard when Greg found it. He stuck his hand in this little trickle of a waterfall

and turns around with this big sheepish grin "THIS IS IT THIS IS IT!"

and jumps up and down.

We climb up to the pool.

So incredible.

Mountain side.

Full sky of stars.

Outline of pine trees line the horizon.

Sight by moon light.
Red wine.