Day 14 Heat Wave Continues - Idaho Falls

Today was another scorcher.  We tried to beat the heat again by leaving at 6:30 am.  The ride today was short (68 miles) to help us get ready for the ride to Jackson Hole tomorrow.  You can usually count on the JH ride being cool - but it looks like JH will be at least 85 tomorrow.  Quite a difference from the "Below Zero" when Steve B and I skied JH in January.

Before I talk about today's ride -- we hit our first milestone today.  One Thousand miles!!!  Only 2667 left.  Here is the data from my cateye odometer and heart rate monitor.


Distance 1000.16 miles
Hours 81:49:33
Calories 35,776
Average Heat Rate 101
Average Speed 12.3

Here is a map of our progress to day (day 14).

Looks like tomorrow we leave Idaho and enter Wyoming where we spend another 2-3 days.

As I said we left early today.  There were not a lot of photo ops.  We did get our first view of the Tetons.

I have now learned that when I see a mountain in the distance there is a 99% chance we are heading in that direction and by the end of the day we are either at the base or climbing the "hill" we saw in the morning.  Held true today.

Pretty flat riding day.  Fields and fields of crops.  Alan and I got chased three times by dogs.  First time it was a single dog, then two German Shepards and then finally a five dog pack.  My strategy was to ride as fast I could to get by them, Alan's strategy was to stop and "negotiate" with the dogs.  My strategy proved the correct one  I sprinted and left Alan with the dogs.  Hope he still talks to me.

In the last pack of dogs there was one that only had three legs - damn that thing could run.

At about 30 miles we stopped for our only sag stop - it's where we get our water bottles refilled and grab some snacks if needed (most of the time I grab a banana or two).

Or do simple repairs...

Or just chew the fat and complain about the road conditions (rough), the heat (hot) or the speed of the paceline (the fast riders, of course).

And sometimes we just talk about how great the ride is - which is generally the case.  And most importantly what kind of beer we are going to get at the end.

Rolled into Idaho Falls about noon and our hotel is right next to the falls.

Rooms were not ready so we all headed to Applebees for lunch and beer.  Dinner is at five today as I suspect we are going to try to get out early again the beat the heat.  I think the ride is 90 plus miles and lots of 10-11 degree climbing.

I'll check in after the ride - looking forward to conquering the monster!!

Day 13 Hot, Hot, Hot

Hit 100 today (or pretty close to 100)!  It was a 85 mile race to beat the sun.  We started at 6 am and the ride was great - until the sun broke out.

Then we just melted.  For the first 40 miles we rode through a cattle ranch.  There were no fences and the cows were allowed to roam anywhere they pleased.  At least I hoped they were all cows - because there was one that did not appreciate us riding through her/his property.

I didn't get much sleep last night worried about today's ride.  I was thinking about it and started to think "this day is going to suck".  But the more I thought about it I realized I signed up for this gig.  So I said "Take it easy and enjoy yourself - as best you can in 100 degree heat".

To add injury to insult, the wind kicked up and we fought 20 mile headwinds for most of the ride.  Because we left early we were able to avoid most of the heat.  So all in all we survived and most seem to be in good health.  There are probably a couple of people that are going to take a day off and try to recover.

We have been slowly climbing for the last three days.  We are now at about 4500 feet.  In two days we will climb the pass up, and into, Jackson Hole.  This climb should be another 5000 feet with a rapid and long descent into Jackson Hole.

Got our first glimpse of the Foothills of the Rockies..

At about 30 miles we had our first water stop in an abandoned garage.  I thought these shots of our bikes resting against the building and gas pumps were pretty neat.

With the station being closed we had to make the most of what nature could provide us (while avoiding rattlers)...

We saw few cars and even fewer houses.  These are just bad lands with the only green being where the farmers use irrigation.  Lots of abandoned buildings..

Only passed one historical site today.  It was called register rock.  Pioneers signed it when the passed by it on wagon trains heading west.  

We all wanted to sign it but it is surrounded by a chain link fence.  There were lots of other rocks in the park where Register Rock is located - so perhaps next year America By Bicycle can start a new tradition.

As to my injury (hot spot on foot) my effort to double up my shoe insole helped a little - but it came roaring back at about mile 70.  So with the help of Jim, our bike mechanic we adjusted my bike cleats forward a little (they could not be adjusted back any further - so we are going forward).

In addition, I order some new pedals from Amazon and should get them on Tuesday.  Thanks for all the suggestions from my blog readers.

So tomorrow we are off to Idaho Falls.  It's going to be another 100 degree day so we are going to tryo to leave early before the sun comes up.

Hoping to get some more great pictures.

Cheers and good night.

Day 12 Leaving Twin Falls heading to Brurley Idaho

Another hot day.  Right now in Burley Idaho it is 96 degrees.  We had a short ride today (40 miles) as we are getting ready to do some serious climbing in the next three days.  We are heading to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  We have an elevation gain of about 6500 feet in the next three days - with the biggest gain on the third day of 5000 feet.

When we left Twin Falls we were able to actually see the Falls.

There are actually two sets of Falls, but it was a two mile (straight down the hill) ride and a two mile climb back up.  So I only did one Fall.  Besides you see one fall, you've seen them all!

The gorge continues to be impressive.  Massive walls with the Snake River at the bottom.

One last bridge over the gorge that we crossed - with a chance to take a picture from the side.

Once we got passed the last bridge - it was relatively flat (but hot).  Just blasted toward Burley passing field after field of crops.  They are starting to harvest some of the grains and hay and I went passed a caravan of farm machines the farmers were getting ready to use.

Just before town went by a massive stack of hay.

Yesterday I said the body was in great shape.  Spoke too soon.  I am experiencing what is called bicycle hot foot.  The bottom of the foot gets real painful like you are walking on coals.  The problem started at home when I started to lose weight from all the training (lost the weight in my feet not my stomach).  Tried changing my innersoles but the 90 degree heat is probably a contributing factor.  I am going to try doubling my socks tomorrow and if this fails I am going to buy some wider pedals to spread out the pressure.

In the interim I am going to the ice machine and filling the tub with ice and sticking my feet in.  I tried to write my blog at the same time - but I could not balance my computer on the tub side.

Hopefully I can get ahead of this problem in the next couple of days.

Bye for now.

Day 11 - A scorcher - Boise to Twin Falls

We just got done with the 100 miler (actually 97.5) in the 100 degree heat (actually only went up to 90).  Hot, hot hot.  But another day is in the record book.

My roomie (Alan) and I decided to get a head start on the day so we could try to bet the sun.  So we started out at 5:45 am.  (Editor Note - what were you doing at 5:45 am this morning? Bet your were not riding your bike!)

Alan and I are constantly trying to figure out where we put stuff (even though we only have 35 pounds of luggage,  it is still a daunting task every morning to find stuff).  Here is Alan:

Alan was trying to get his arm sun protectors on.  Instead he got one arm and one leg.  Unfortunately our luggage was already on the van and gone.  So he had to make due with one and one.  I called him Symmetrical Al....  He told other riders he was trying to get his tan to match - as one arm and leg were darker than the other.  Some people believed him.

By starting out early we got to see a great sunrise come up over the valley.

The valley is all agriculture.  Looks like wheat and corn and some other stuff I have no idea what it is.  The interesting thing is that we are in the desert and everything is grown with huge watering systems. 

Here is a shot I got just after the sunrise..

In contrast here is the other side of the road in the exact same spot - without water...

Once the sun came up it got hot fast.  I think Alan and I got about 30 miles under our belt before the heat started to become unbearable.  To make matters worst the roads we were travelling on were just "oiled and rocked".  This is process where the put down hot tar and then put gravel onto of the tar.  First is is really slippery with little bike tires and second, it is bone jarring.  I would say that 75% of the road was on rough roads.  

Hope the temporary fix my dentist did to my front teeth (see accident earlier in blog) holds. 

But I did get some great shots of the various canyons and valleys..

Mike (the sag wagon driver/mechanic) took this of me on the way down into one of the valleys.

In one of the little towns we stopped in for water (we did this a lot today). I snapped the following 

Seems we are following the Oregon Trail.  Yesterday we passed a monument that described a massacre of a wagon train by the local Indians.   Lot easier on our bicycles - and safer (except for the trucks).  

The highlight of the trip is when we got to Twin Falls.  In order to get into town you drive over a long suspension bridge over a huge gorge.  

The Snake River is the river where Evil Knievel tried to jump over with his rocket bike.  If I remember he did not make it.  This damn thing is really wide.  I can see why he missed.  

On the bridge I caught up with Yuval (from Israel) and we snapped each other's photo.

And one of me.

Today was a two water bottle day plus a camelbak.  I think I went through 6 or 8 water bottles plus a camelbak on the ride (97 miles).  And 4-5 bananas.  At about 85 miles it was really hot and I had almost run out of water - with no stores for another 10 miles.  Luckily Jeff, the ride director, came by with the van and had fresh water and ice.  It was a life saver - literally.

For the most part my body is holding up pretty well.  Face and arms are a little dry from the sun.  But no real sore spots - except for my ass.  I will never have "body builder" abs - but my butt is going to be rock hard! 

When we got to the hotel, some people continued on the ride for another 3 miles so they could claim a century ride.  

Me, I headed to the hot tub and pool.  Screw the extra 3 miles - I'm claiming a century.  Besides if I walk to the beer store and back it will probably put me over the top.  

Light ride tomorrow for some reason - was really looking to another 100 miler (not really).

Dayy 10 Heading out of Boise

We have a real bad internet connection so I am not sure that I will be able to get this post completed.

But the other day I told you I went by a rattlesnake (dead thanks god).  Well Larry (retired programmer from Denver) encountered the real thing.

That will keep you focused on the road!

After a day of rest in Boise and pigging out at the Whole Foods (three times) we headed for a short ride to Mountain Home, Idaho.  Not much in the way of scenery on the ride (50 miles).  But it was hot and again we had to spend about 15 miles on the interstate. 

Sorry but the internet won't let me upload any pictures without crashing - so I am going to ask you to pretend {visualize} that I was able to upload some shots.....

Suffice to say the ride was short and sweet.  Only challenge was the interstate.  The only thing worst than riding on the interstate where the truck speed limit is 65 (which means they are doing 70+) is riding on the interstate where the truck limit is 75 (which means they are pushing 80-90).    The wind can push you off the road if you are not careful.  And the noise was deafening.  

{visualize my "roomie" Alan poising for a picture next to the interstate}

But once we got off the interstate is was quite back roads - just like I expected.  Straight for as far as you can see.

{visualize picture of straight road that stretches forever into the horizon}

Finally got to Mountain Home around noon.  There is a large Air Force base in town (built in 1949).  You can tell the whole town is heavily influenced by the military - stopped at the McDonald's for  salad and the TV station was tuned to Fox News.

{visualize Megan Kelly on Fox News - guys will know what I am taking about}

Tomorrow we have 100 miles and the forecast calls for 100 degrees.  We are all worried about the ride.  We will have to watch each other carefully.  

{visualize my tires melting from the heat}

These will be serious conditions.

OK I give up!!!!!  Going to give up trying to add to the blog before I throw my computer against the wall - internet just keeps dropping and getting tired of retying this.  Impossible to upload photos

You Can Never Have Enough Pink Flamingos!

Heading to Boise yesterday I went by the greatest lawn....

These are the real thing..  not those cheap knock-offs from Christmas Tree Shop.  Got so excited at this lawn that I missed my rude turn and ended up going a couple miles pass and had to turn around.

Today we head for Boise, leaving the fine State of Oregon (finally).  Oregon Hills - is that all you got?

And we enter Idaho where I think we spend 3 or 4 days.

Today is a quick ride (63 miles) and relatively flat again.

It's threatening to rain - so we are not dawdling today.  Post haste to Boise.  No traffic so we get to ride in a pace line.  

These pace lines can be a lot of fun - but you have to stay alert or the next thing you know you are riding up the back wheel of the person in front of you and knocking everybody over.    Again it's a short ride today - so not a lot of interesting sites to take shots of.  I think we are heading to the following ridge (it seems our rides always set up to find the highest mountain and then climb it).

In short order we arrive in Boise.  As soon as we hit the city line, I pass the first bar - only to see the "fast riders".  They probably got there 1/2 hour before me.  I slog on...  trying to beat the rain. 

Quickly I am in the center of Boise and ride past the Capital building.

Bike lanes everywhere!  Not sure where Boise rates on Bicycle Magazines "best bike friendly towns" but in my book it is number one.  Better yet, the motorists seems to respect you.  We had our "Ride Across America" bike shirts on and got a bunch of waves and horn toots.  

So today we have our first rest day.  Everybody is trying to decide that they are going to do.  Some are going to take a trolley ride around town,  A couple are planning to go to the Boise minor league baseball game.  Others are focused on finding a laundry mat.

Me,  I know where I am going as soon as I pass my hotel.  

I am craving fruits and vegetables!!!  My plan is to go into Whole Foods and just breath.  First I am going to hit the fruit and veggie section...

Then it's on to the yogurt section....

Right now i would trade my bike for a Greek yogurt!  Going to end my tour at the salad bar -where i am going to pig out....

Might just stare at some of the items for a while...

It's 12 noon as I write.  So I am signing off for the day and heading back to the salad bar.  

Tomorrow we begin our ride again.  It's supposed to be a short but tough ride.  First 25 miles uphill and on the Interstate again.  Will be another challenge.  Hopefully it will not be that hot or windy.