Well if yesterday’s word was windy today’s words are “wet and cold”.  


We woke up knowing it had a 40% chance of rain which turned into 100% chance as soon as we walked outside.  So that sums up the day how the rest of the day went.]


After completing the blog yesterday and planning the ride for today we explored the town.  It was nice.  The stores that were empty had displays in them including May Tag washer dryers, old desks, 50s clothes, and old gas pumps.  Then drove down to the local agricultural museum and saw giant wind mill, small wind mill and steam tractor all which I thought interesting.  The first set of pictures are from that walk.  Then had a dinner of pizza at the local gas station and that surprisingly good.  


I have often said anyone who thinks they can hike the AT can do it so long as they can pictures themselves doing it on cold rainy days.  Well today was one of those and did complete our ride. We arose early and stopped by the gas station again to split a breakfast sandwich and have coffee.  The route was completely along HWY12 for the whole way.  It followed along the Colombia River at a distance, then up and over a big plateau back down to the river and then followed the Snake river and up the Clearwater River to our stop in Kamiah ID about 97 miles.  So we are currently in our third state.  The rain started about 1 hour after our start at 8 and ended about 10 minutes before our finish at 1:30.  I guess god wanted us to start good and end good but did not make any promise about in between.  The time we finished I soaked though and through and very very cold.  I learned on the trail that eating when. cold helps we stopped and bought some smoked salmon and cookies for the room, and now I am having some hot tea.  Dianne hopped in an hot shower.   


When paying for the snacks the Cashier said he was, “pleased to see the thunder storm and rain today as reduced the chance his house would burn down in a forest fire.”  I told I was cold and wet and would just as happy if it had rain last night.  But I do see his point so I guess my lemons is his Lemonade and that must be OK.


Interesting notes

  • More personal vehicles than transport trucks for the first time today
  • 4 lumber trucks 
  • 15-18 motorcycles with 2 big groups passing us
  • Most of the rocks and cut until we reached the Snake River were red lava based, that changed to granite at Snake river
  • There are trees here not seen before at the Snake river and up the Clearwater gorge the area is forested.  Before it was all brown grass 
  • Yesterday we saw 5 or 6 wineries today none
  • We did a lot of hay and cattle ranches today
  • Hot tea is not bad on a cold wet day
  • When wearing glass in the rain on a scooter at 30 the wind blows he water off the lenses slow down to 10 then you can not see!
  • I saw 2 really dumb people pass us agains the line and into oncoming traffic.  There was not a problem as always slow down when someone pass me when he should not.


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