Hello Idaho and goodbye Oregon.
Today was ExtrEmE in terms of endurance, elevation, and the elements in the environment. In addition to 87 miles horizontally, I climbed nearly a mile vertically, all while battling extreme heat. A day like today builds confidence for going longer, going higher, and overcoming obstacles in the environment.
One of the unique experiences I had today was along the Snake River near the Brownlee Dam. I can't ever remember experiencing such extreme silence. There was no traffic noise. No aircraft noise. No sound from the river. And not even birds or crickets (which was a little odd). What amazing peace!
I also learned my lesson about parking my bicycle on a steep grade. Not only did it roll backward while I was trying to take a picture, but starting up again required developing a new technique of holding the brakes intermittently alongside two separate push offs and half crank rotations with my feet to get enough momentum to start uphill. That technique will continue to serve me well as I venture from the Cascades to the Rockies.
From this viewpoint you can see both Idaho and Montana along the Snake River.
