Month: July 2022

I left the Wilderness Campground thinking what a special place my sleeping spot was. I slept in the woods that humans have slept in for over 7,000 documented years. How fortunate this man of seventy from New England is to have joined this group of humans.

I ate a leisurely breakfast while the dew dried off my tent, packed up and continued riding the miles to tonight’s sleeping site, City Park in Kooskia, ID.

This is a lovely park in a small quiet town right on the bank of South Fork Clearwater River. The sound of the water flowing is peaceful.

This morning at 8 AM I ride off through the Nez Perce National Forest, a 90 mile section without any services except a few National Parks. I am breaking this section into two days. My next campsite will be in Kooskia, Idaho. There is food, and a city park campsite. This is also where I will once again have cell service.

Twenty miles out I pull over to change the map page and I notice a very loaded rider heading toward me. He stops and we begin a very nice conversation, he has very similar beliefs on life so we spend a long time visiting. He, Dave, is a Canadian and is finishing his tour. He will go into Missoula and head north to his home count. Last November he began his tour at the lowest point in Argentinia to ride back to Canada.

I pull into the Widerness Gateway Campground to find a site. One whole section was reserved for a wedding and this park does not have a camp host. Turn turn back to ask a man walking his dog some information about this campground. It turn out this very nice man explained that he has reserved all the campsites in the only one with potable water. He also invited me back to his RV to meet his wife and children, one of his daughters is getting married tomorrow at the pavilion. Family and friend were coming to stay at the campground but said that I am welcome to in a site and stay the night. His wife was preparing lunch and invited me to eat with them.

After lunch and tales of my journey I found my spot to setup my campsite. Today had many pleasant happenings.

I’m heading to Powell Campground where Nancy set up camp. This is a short day with one pass and 21 miles. Last night was cold and there is ice and frost on the tent and ground. I decided to let the tent stand to dry when the sun comes over the mountain to melt the frost. The air is cold so I went across the road  to the restaurant to sit in the sun and have some breakfast.

With a full belly I walk back to the campsite and pack up all my gear the breakdown the tent. With everything on the bike I head off to climb the pass and once again cross the border into Idaho. Just before the climb I take off my windbreaker, heavy jersey, and long pant. The temperature have now soared to 90°.

Reaching the top I now have a steep drop that tapers to a gentle roll down the the campground. Just as I turn onto Powell Park Road so does another cyclist, Craig, touring east. We visit and ride to the camp store and then two more come in, Jill and Santiago. The three are heading east and I am at my sleep site.