Destination: Across The Nation

A Family-Style Epic on the TransAmerica Bike Trail


6/24/07 - Garden Valley, ID to Stanley, ID - 83.3mi / 5:56 / 14mph [4235 vert] - Total So Far: 651.3mi

At about 3am last night Amy woke me - one of the loudest and most eerie sounds we had ever heard was filling the air. I was absolutely sure the UFO was making its final descent upon us and was flooding us with some sort of advanced brainwashing. Turns out it was a cabin on the other side of the river playing some horrible repeating track of very loud chants and tones. Dunno what the story was with that . . . it was just plain creepy.

Beautiful ride today - starting in parallel with the Payette River and then climbing over Banner Summit into the high mountains. The Sawtooths are a stunning range.

Following the Payette River on the Banks-Lowman Road

Feeling pain on the climb up to Banner Summit

After the monster climb over Banner Summit I was counting on a quick descent into Stanley. The "descent" into Stanley was a pretty minor affair and I wound up crossing some gorgeous alpine meadows with mountains all around.

At one point I looked down and noticed a pretty big bubble on my arm near my wristband. I was sure I was in the early stages of sun poisoning, but it turned out it was just some peeling skin (from a burn a few days ago) that was bubbling up with sweat. Horror turned to curiosity and I spent a few miles poking and probing it before growing bored with that activity.

Our campground was just outside of Stanley right on the Salmon River - a picturesque spot. Amy had done some recon in Stanley and found that while the library was closed (it was Sunday) the stream of electrons from their wireless hub could still be accessed by sitting out by the front door. Did a bit of updating since we hadn't posted anything here since the Prineville fiasco.





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