Since Pocatello.....

From Pocatello, ID to Preston, ID via highway 91

Preston, ID is where the film Napoleon Dynamite was filmed. Since this ride was over 76 miles, it was getting dark when we arrived in Preston. We then had to ride 5 extra miles to the campsite up and down towards Grace, ID.
We were both tired and needed to rest. I broke down and started to cry when I saw yet another hill to climb on top of the fact that it began to rain on us. We became frantic as we descended the hill we just climbed thinking we were going in the wrong direction. Once we arrived all was well.

Preston, ID to UTAH!!!

Preston onward via 91 towards Logan, UT where we received free Chick-fil-A! We also were stopped by a Logan Popo and told that we needed to ride in the shoulder and that Utah drivers are not as friendly to cyclists as they are in OR which we had already determined.

From Logan, UT to Ogden, UT via highway 89   50 miles
Lance Armstrong is in Ogden for a triathlon race happening on the 24th. We believe that we saw him as we were riding through the Canyon Gorge and on up towards Trappers Loop. (The only way to reach the 84, without riding the 84 through town was on this pass.)
Now Trappers Loop was just that, "a TRAP". This was the gnarliest hill to climb. I was dehydrated and was feeling it in my thighs!! I had to hike the bike up the entire hill pretty much. Broke down crying again!
I know, WOS is a cry baby, but these hills are hard and with an uneven load on my bike, it is even harder. 

Ogden, UT to Morgan, UT
This is the day we did Trappers Loop through Mountain Green to Morgan, UT where we were again riding in the dark; however the weather was not as bad as a couple days before. The ride was about 2 miles from the highway to the campsite. The campsite was on a Golf Coarse. We were able to tent camp for only $10 which has been the smallest amount yet in UT.

Finally, Morgan to Heber, UT via Freeway 84S, Freeway 80W, Highway 40E    62Mi.
Riding on the Freeway is a lot easier than riding on the old highways in terms of grade, distance and road quality. The noise was greater, more road debris and a lot more dangerous with cars and trucks speeding past you at 70+ mph every 2-5 seconds.
There was still a grade issue in that there was one, but the biggest issue has to be the head winds that we were experiencing from the East. This makes it extremely difficult to pedal.
The morning started off with a flat tire on my rear wheel. We were out of my size tire tube, so Vesper used on of his tubes. This lasted about 10 miles. Another flat, used his other tube which lasted till we were 3 miles away from our destination in Heber City, UT. At this point, I had to stick out my thumb for a ride into town to the Wal-Mart for a replacement tube.
A nice young couple stopped for us who had two empty bike racks on the rear of there car. Kailie (Spelling) and Kevin? I believe were there names, gave me a ride into town to the Wal-Mart where I was to then wait for Vesper to ride down the hill to meet me. It didn't take him long since the ride was all down hill.
The Wal-Mart did not have my tire size with the Presta valve!! We were stuck! The only other place to get my tire size was closed on Sunday and was to open the next day at 10:00am.
We were forced to get a hotel. $50.18. It was nice sleeping in a bed and having a television to watch.

Today, 9/19/11 MONDAY
Went to Bike store, got tubes, pump, patch kit, valve adaptor and placed an order for a front pannier set for my bike. This will enable my bike to ride easier with better balance. It had to be done otherwise; I would never be able to make it across the Rockies. The bike seems to be getting harder and harder to pedal. I have been swollen every morning and feeling very stiff. This may be due to the fact that I am getting healthier and need some adjustment on my medication, or I am becoming a whinny baby.

We could really use some donations. My SSD is going to be $114 less than normal because of Medicare and funds are running out. We are hoping to make it to Ault, CO by the time snow sets so we are not traveling in extreme weather, but we will see. The weather has been on our side thus far, why stop now!! 

Until another library,
Thanks for reading,
Woman of Scars

2nd Day in Pocatello

Last night, once we returned to our tent at the Bannock County Fair Grounds after riding in the rain, we found our tent lying in a puddle of water.
We decided to move the tent to a dryer location on higher grounds. Looking like crazies in the super windy and rainy weather drying out our tent and sleeping pads in the wind, we were able to remake our sleeping quarters.
However, Vesper's sleeping mattress which had never been able to hold air for longer than 30min. was out of commission till the wholes could be patched. He slept on only the floor mat and is now suffering with a pinched lower back which is causing him a great deal of pain.

If any readers would like to donate for the sole purpose of getting Vesper a new air mattress to sleep on it will be greatly appreciated!!

2nd day in Pocatello, Tuesday 9/13/11

We began our day with patching another hole in one of my tires. Vesper is growing tired of Idaho's thorns and road debris. We decided that we were going to look into Tuffy's which is a liner between your tube and tire to prevent punctures. With further research, we decided that the liners usually cause the tears more so than the thorns. Plus they add an additional weight to your overall load. (Not good). So, we bought more patch kits instead.

Yesterday, I had contacted the makers of my Panniers to let them know that I had only had them for less than a month and I already had a tear in one of them. Without hesitation, the customer service rep. offered a replacement for the torn bag and threw in a handle bar bag for me as a gift to be shipped overnight to my location of choice. DETOURS is the brand name, which is a woman owned and run business which makes high quality recycled panniers for cyclists. They are super cute and tuff!
So, today we called and visited the local bike shop 2 times looking for the shipment from DETOURS at Barrie's Ski and Sports here in Pocatello, ID. The manager was really nice to me yesterday, but today he seemed annoyed by us. Hey, don't tell me that I can have an item shipped to your store location and then get snooty with me just because I am looking to receive it the next day. I am sorry that I only spent $1 in your store, but I am still a customer.

We washed our bikes today at the Bangal Car Wash.

Went to Wal-Mart on the other side of town, came back the opposite direction towards ISU for use of the Library to post another days event.

I am also posting new pictures of our travels so far.

Please try to join my blog. I will try to keep the entries as entertaining as possible!

Thanks for reading.
WOS

Pocatello, ID 9/12/11

Our last stop in Mountain Home, ID was intended for a trip to Wal-Mart for spare tubes for both our bikes as well as propane for our pocket rocket stove.
After constant uphill touring with a fierce head wind, we made it to Mountain Home.

Mountain Home is a medium size town that is mainly there to support the Air Force Base down the way. We arrived the day before a huge parade honoring all veterans of the Armed forces.

The cheapest RV Park was Cottonwood RV.
Cottonwood RV had one spot for tent campers for $10 which included a shower as well.
There was also a Laundry room we could take advantage of for $1 to wash and $1 to dry.

The manager of the Park was a retired Vet of the Air force, but we believed that he wanted to really be a Cop.
After Harassing us 3 times by telling us that he could have the cops there in 1 minute and that he had detectives watching the park as we spoke, he left. Not sure if he was jealous that we were able to ride where he was not, or he just didn't like us.
Yoshi didn't like him.

The price was good, but the water had chloroform in it as was posted in the laundry room.

We were going to go to the parade where there would be free food, but we needed to get out of town and on out of Idaho.

Thankfully, my Father did come through with some sponsorship $ where we would otherwise have to find quick jobs to get us through. (There are not many if any in Mountain Home, we looked). Sooo, Thank you DAD!!

We continued on to Three Island State Campgrounds where we had called ahead in Mountain Home to check on the price and if they had a "Hike and Bike" campsite like they do in OR.
Vesper explained to whoever answered the phone what we were doing and was told that all we needed to do was pay the entrance fee to the park.

Get to the park around 7:30pm
There is NOT a hike and bike, there is NOT a designated place for tent camping and we had to pay the same amount as the campers with big RVs did. $23.25.

After a long talk with the Ranger, we went on our way towards Bliss on the old Hwy. 30
What should only be a 25 mile ride, ended up turning into an all day fight against the grade and head force wind from the East, which brought with it a rainstorm.

Sheldon Bluestein, a former Topographer for the entire state of Idaho stopped and offered us a ride into Bliss. He is the author for Exploring Idaho High Desert and published in 1986 and is in the process of updating that book with a new one for today's Idaho. He ended up being the perfect person to talk with on how to get out of Idaho.
He liked us so much, that he changed his plans so that he could take us as far as Pocatello thus avoiding the rainstorm and the winds that came with it.
Thank you Sheldon for introducing us to Costco, Cloverleaf Creamery- Ice-cream and tons of good information on Idaho.
We were going to tell all to avoid Idaho, but if ID does become more bicycle friendly there could still be hope for this Agriculture State.
Better roads, hike and bike sites at the parks and overall knowledge of sharing the roadways with cyclists.

More tomorrow, from Pocatello, ID

Woman of Scars

Dayville, OR

9/1/11 Thursday

After spending the night in the haunted Town of Mitchell, Vesper and I packed up and headed east towards Dayville on 26. It was over a 7mi. hike to the summit in the Painted Hills area. Over 4300 ft. high. Vesper's knee was stilll acting up, so we took it easy.
Once at the top, we road down the mountain which was gorgeous and easy! This is the part of Touring that I enjoy!
We stoped and had Ramen then continued down to Dayville. We were told by some other cyclists that were headed the opposite direction as us, that there was a Presbyterian Chuch in Dayville that offered to Cyclists a Place to sleep, shower, do laundry, and had a full kitchen available.
After meeting Rose, the keeper of the chuch, we decided to rent a couple of movies at the local store and feel normal for a little while.
Thank God this Church was here!!

Friday, 9/2/11

We are leaving onward East on 26 to John Day. There are camping sites avaiable for Cyclists with both water and Electricity. the cost is $5/person/day.