Day 8 Ontario, OR - Boise, ID

Miles:  64.44              Terrain:  Relatively flat farmland
Depart:   7:45 AM      Arrive:  1:08 PM
Riding time: 4:35:29        
Average Riding Speed: 14.0

           Today’s Garmin Download (for cycling data junkies!) 

                     
                                              Today's Ride

I don’t think it’s incorrect to say that everyone’s focus today was on getting to Boise for tomorrow’s rest day.  I can’t speak for others, but for me, the rest day is absolutely needed…both the physical and mental rest.  I’m having a great time, and while I knew that this trip would be not just a physical challenge but a mental one as well, I think I underestimated the degree of the mental effort needed.  I’ll use tomorrow’s rest day post to talk a bit more about that.  Today let me tell you about our 64 mile ride from Oregon into the second state we’re visiting on this trip, Idaho.

Less than a half mile after leaving the hotel, we stopped for the first of many photos to come at state welcome signs.  A few miles later we were in the midst of Idaho farmland.  It was quickly apparent that Idaho farming exists because of extensive irrigation efforts.  A few examples are shown in the pictures, but the agricultural highlight was watching the aerobatic flying by a crop dusting pilot shortly after we passed into the state.  As we all rolled down the road it seemed pretty apparent that our presence caused him to adjust his anticipated pattern of low level passes across the fields he was spraying.  His dives, pull ups, and turns on one wing were as good as any flying demonstration seen at any airshow. 

For portions of the route we were back on our old friend “old U.S. 30.” There were several long stretches (a couple of miles) on straight farm roads, moving first south, then east as we worked toward Boise.  Middleton was the one notable town we passed through (population of about 6,000) located about 30 miles from our destination.  As we entered the Boise suburbs it began to remind me of the northern Dallas suburbs in the 1990’s when we lived there.  Some large McMansions adjacent to farmland and older homes.   

Then newer developments popping up,and finally the older established neighborhoods.  Downtown Boise looks like a typical mid sized middle of America town with relatively low buildings, wide streets,  and in Boise’s case the state capital building.  Since today was such a short distance compared to what we’ve been doing, arrival was very early.  In my case I was at the hotel by shortly after 1:00pm (although my room wasn’t ready until closer to 2:00 pm).

Many of us headed from the hotel to a nearby bicycle shop called “George’s Bike Shop” to buy needed accessories, components and other bicycle items we need to try and make sure that the next nine-day leg of the trip goes as smoothly as possible.  Since today was a “jersey day” for us, where we were all supposed to wear our America by Bicycle jerseys, the shop looked like it was taken over by ABB.

Tonight we enjoyed a barbecue that we were supposed to have outdoors, but with temperatures nearing the century mark late in the day, most of us went indoors to eat.  We had our nightly “route rap” and got to say good-bye to two people, Mike and Michael, both who were riding only this first leg.  Since they were with us from the beginning, it was like seeing two family members go.  Conversely, I didn’t mention that in Baker City one of our riders had his daughter join the tour for this next leg which will end late next week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 

But for now it’s time to end this entry and enjoy an evening where I don’t have to get ready to head out in the morning.  And for the first time in 10 nights, I will not be setting my alarm!