Monday, July 14; Mountain Home, Idaho
Today our trip was 90km in total and it was a very enjoyable trek. Got up this morning at five and packed up the tent and went through the usual routine. We were able to leave Boise shortly before seven. Good thing to because the temperature was in the mid nineties (F degrees) by noon. We made really good time today. There was a slight crosswind and so we tried drafting with each other in a diagonal (like half of a geese formation). I was given the privilege of being the lead to cut the air for the others. Once we got going there were times that we were able to travel at 45km. per hour which is amazing.
The scenery was typical desert the whole way with low lying sage brush everywhere. There was not any irrigation or cropland anywhere during today’s trek and very few houses to speak of. That would be a little bit too isolated an area to live in, even for me. We did manage to see a coyote run across the road ahead of us as well as a badger that was in the ditch right beside us. The poor thing was startled by our presence and did not know where to go. There were also a number of snakes on the road and at least two of them were alive. I didn’t stop to check if they were rattlesnakes or not. Rattlesnakes have been quite prevalent ever since we crossed the first mountain range early on in the trip. The local people tell us never to wander too far off the beaten path especially with sandals or low shoes for fear of the rattlers. Fortunately no one has had any encounters with any yet thought a few days ago a number of the younger, more energetic cyclists of our group decided that they had not expended enough energy during the cycling for the day and decided to climb one of the mountains nearby. The local people shook their heads when told they had gone in their running shoes. At least the rattlers do give a little bit of warning before they strike. But personally, I think I will stay close to the beaten path. There’s enough excitement each day without having a rattlesnake chase after me, thank you very much.
Below I have posted quite a few of the pictures that I have taken since July 4 when we left Yakima City. They begin with us entering Yakima Canyon which was simply amazingly beautiful. Many of the pictures are of our cycling group as well as some of the scenery that we have encountered. I love looking at the variation of the scenery as we travelled through God’s beautiful creation and try to give you a small sense of some of what we are seeing, from the lush forests and mountain streams to the dry, desolate desert. One of my favourite pictures is the one with the old trucks and abandoned farm building, taken between Baker City and Huntington. Being a county boy and a farmer at heart I also thoroughly enjoy paying attention to the variety of croplands along the way, from vineyards near Sunnyside, to waving wheat fields near Pendleton, to irrigated vegetable and alfalfa (which incidently sells for 250 dollars a ton) crops west of Boise, as well as some of the cattle operations along the way. Unfortunately we are unable to put them on the blog right now. We will send them as soon as possible.
Today our trip was 90km in total and it was a very enjoyable trek. Got up this morning at five and packed up the tent and went through the usual routine. We were able to leave Boise shortly before seven. Good thing to because the temperature was in the mid nineties (F degrees) by noon. We made really good time today. There was a slight crosswind and so we tried drafting with each other in a diagonal (like half of a geese formation). I was given the privilege of being the lead to cut the air for the others. Once we got going there were times that we were able to travel at 45km. per hour which is amazing.
The scenery was typical desert the whole way with low lying sage brush everywhere. There was not any irrigation or cropland anywhere during today’s trek and very few houses to speak of. That would be a little bit too isolated an area to live in, even for me. We did manage to see a coyote run across the road ahead of us as well as a badger that was in the ditch right beside us. The poor thing was startled by our presence and did not know where to go. There were also a number of snakes on the road and at least two of them were alive. I didn’t stop to check if they were rattlesnakes or not. Rattlesnakes have been quite prevalent ever since we crossed the first mountain range early on in the trip. The local people tell us never to wander too far off the beaten path especially with sandals or low shoes for fear of the rattlers. Fortunately no one has had any encounters with any yet thought a few days ago a number of the younger, more energetic cyclists of our group decided that they had not expended enough energy during the cycling for the day and decided to climb one of the mountains nearby. The local people shook their heads when told they had gone in their running shoes. At least the rattlers do give a little bit of warning before they strike. But personally, I think I will stay close to the beaten path. There’s enough excitement each day without having a rattlesnake chase after me, thank you very much.
Below I have posted quite a few of the pictures that I have taken since July 4 when we left Yakima City. They begin with us entering Yakima Canyon which was simply amazingly beautiful. Many of the pictures are of our cycling group as well as some of the scenery that we have encountered. I love looking at the variation of the scenery as we travelled through God’s beautiful creation and try to give you a small sense of some of what we are seeing, from the lush forests and mountain streams to the dry, desolate desert. One of my favourite pictures is the one with the old trucks and abandoned farm building, taken between Baker City and Huntington. Being a county boy and a farmer at heart I also thoroughly enjoy paying attention to the variety of croplands along the way, from vineyards near Sunnyside, to waving wheat fields near Pendleton, to irrigated vegetable and alfalfa (which incidently sells for 250 dollars a ton) crops west of Boise, as well as some of the cattle operations along the way. Unfortunately we are unable to put them on the blog right now. We will send them as soon as possible.
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