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I don’t know if we’re up for a thought for the day every day — though here here is a good thought for this day:

We got a jump on the day, packing up before the heavy rain.  We stopped to consume breakfast, the bagels and, as it turns out, not really cream-cheese, that we procured last night.  Only 10 miles down the trail we found The Cycle Haus, where we’ve taken a break from the rain. 

As a younger person I would see postcards and such with Jackalopes, which I assumed to be in a category loosely related to snipes, Sasquatch, the Monthman. Do they exist? Who am I to judge? Well, tonight I had to quickly grab my phone for a quick pic of this odd creature as it hurried across camp. About two feet long and very, very fast.

The White Pelicans are numerous, though camera shy today. Here’s my best shot so far.

58.8 miles, 583 miles overall

Miles overall, includes our leg from La Push to Seattle. 

First and foremost, Steve and Bob want to move to St John; the people are wonderful and the coffee at the gas station is free (there’s a donation box).  Camping in the park was great.  We got lots of info on the town from Owen, one of the local 1st graders.  With respect to bike campers he says, ‘they come back every year, thousands of them’.  He’ll be 8 next week.

We spent most of the day with a strong tailwind riding sinuous ribbons of asphalt over the remaining Palouse…

…into the land of pine trees, smooth trails and, strangely, pelicans (on the lake behind us, really, we’ll try to get a picture tomorrow). 

We passed over or under the Palouse to Cascades Trail many times today, and for the last time just as we entered Tekoa.

We considered and rejected any opportunity to enter the trail, luckily, because we saw many emergency closures and some blockages.  Confirming once more that Bob’s enjoyment is traction limited, we spent a little more time than ideal on some gravel roads.

We thought about returning to the trail to appreciate the view from trestle in Tekoa, but after having lunch at C&D’s, and getting a description of the route to said trestle from the bartender (substantially up hill), we rejected that idea as well. 

After Tekoa we were into Idaho, and soon at the beginning of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. 

We realized as we hurtled down the trail towards the lake…

…that we had no idea where the campsite was. Luckily an Amazon driver at a four-way stop directed us (Bob asked ‘Where’s Heyburn State Park?’. He answered ‘You’re here’ but there was a little more to it than that).  Following directions we quickly found and set up set up camp.  Courtesy of some careless campers and Steve, our Eagle Scout fire tender…

…we had a real fire going in no time.  Bob made a quick trip to the log-shed to procure more firewood…

…and we are now enjoying our new favorite meal of bananas and peanut butter on tortillas.

A follower of our travels, and dear friend who wishes to remain anonymous, composed this poem. Thank you so much, secret person:

There once was a guy named Bob

Who definitely was not a snob;

With friends old and new

While they drink a cold brew

They’ll all sit around and hob-nob.

There once was a guy named Colin

Who from his bike had not fallen

He said, ” I am tough

If I do hit the rough,

I will jump right back on without stallin’ “.

There once was a guy named Steve

Who said “This is what I believe –

I’d rather bike

Than take a hike

And a long ride I’d like to achieve”.

There once was a guy named Dan

Who with the others began,

But then turned around

Heading back to the Sound;

But don’t fret, it was part of the plan.

51.8 miles today.

As you saw from yesterday’s post Mother Nature put on quite the show last evening in Ralston, with lighting to our north, sinister looking clouds overhead, an after sunset rainbow, beautiful sunset, and a well timed moonrise. The clouds were serious enough that Bob and I scouted about to look for possible shelter. Here’s a couple more photos.

On with today’s report. We left late (I say by design) to avoid a band rain that was passing through. The morning skies were high clouds with just a smattering of light rain. The terrain is rolling hills, some covered in young deep green wheat, others pasture and many the native dry sage brush ecosystem. Lots of birds, widely spaced cows, deer, and marmots.

For those of you who have wished us fair breezes, thank you. Your wishes came true today. We were traveling generally NE with a tailwind from the SW, that made for good time. Our speed while moving was 10.7 mph. As the day progressed the sun broke through, flat gray high ceiling turned to puffy white clouds and were started to close in on. St. John.

In contrast to many of the towns we passed through that were nothing more than abandoned grain elevators next to abandoned railroad tracks (now trails), St John’s is a thriving little town with a busy Main Street and a small golf course. It’s the kind of town where each graduating senior from the local high school gets their name and picture on a banner on the light poles lining Main Street. It’s also the kind of town where bike tourists can ask at the grocery store if there’s any place to camp and get an offer to camp at the town park. The grocery store owner was obviously a town leader, making sure that the sprinkler were turned off so as not to rudely awakened us in the middle of the night. He later stopped by at park making sure we felt at home. In St John Washington the mythic small town America lives on.