Day 23: August 3rd, 2010 (Route: Riggins, ID to Gateway to Hells Canyon, ID)

Day 23: August 3rd, 2010 (Route: Riggins, ID to Gateway to Hells Canyon, ID)

Technical Data:
Distance, miles: 105.94
Ride Time: 8:19:53
Work, kJ: 4709
Average Power, watts: 156
Normalized, watts: 181
Average Speed, mph: 12.6

Forecast: Hot and Sunny

Rolling over on a deflated mattress in Riggins, WY I debate whether to get up and start the day. Sleepin in a park next to the Salmon river on my thermarest that only stays inflated for a couple hours at a time, covered only with a sheet and enjoying the feeling of sleeping outside I wake. Blink my eyes, then stare at the ceiling of the gazebo and decide what I want to do. Wake or roll back on the concrete and sleep some more. Sound of the Salmon river is peaceful as I get things ready to go.

Rolling out of the park early this morning as I want to get up the climb before the heat hits today. Before I head out of town I stop by the cafe that had wifi available on the front porch, wanted to put my post out before I head out of town as I'm not sure when the next time I will have wi fi will be as I head into another National Park and Eastern Oregon. Grab my razor and head to the nearest hotel as I wanted to clean up a little before getting on the road. I like the feeling of being clean on the road, as after a all this riding I collect a lot of road grime in my sun tan lotion.

Once on the road the legs are feeling pretty good but I won't really know until about 20-30 miles in as I have been having trouble waking up once on the bike. I've noticed a few of the days I have been riding its like I'm still a sleep for the first couple hours of the ride, just going through the motions. I wonder how many people go through the day at work like this? Climbing out of the canyon was pretty, riding along the Salmon for a little bit then along the Little Salmon River for the entire climb out. Nothing like a 30 mile climb out of the canyon to wake up the legs! The motivation this morning was there compared to yesterday when I was having feelings of wanting to call it a day 15 minutes in on the bike.

The climb out was good, I just sat and spun and tried to take the thoughts of being elsewhere out of the mind, parking these thoughts can be difficult some times when you are thinking so much. Thoughts were all over the place this morning! Thinking of my four nieces and how they are all growing up so fast and I'm out here on the bike just riding! What all my family and friends are doing, how my dog's doing! Last night at the park I was watchin a guy and his lab playing fetch in the river and thinking about my little partner in crime. I know he is good hands while I'm away. The mind just couldn't stay focused on riding this morning - when I'm pacing myself and really feeling like I'm not working on the bike the mind tends to day dream a lot! I knew this morning that if I pushed the climb to hard the heat of the day around 12-2 would cook me, not allowing me to accomplish my goal of trying to get 100+ miles in.

Cruising off the summit of the climb, the terrain turned to rolling terrain out of the lush green national forest. I think this is my favorite type of terrain to ride on as the rolling favors my strengths of being a heavier cyclist I'm able to hit the downhill slope of the rollers and carry the uphills with my weight and power which I love. Getting the air flowing now as when I was climbing the air was still, meaning the body core was rising. I really like to have to feel the air flow around me when I'm riding to keep things cool. To be honest I was wanting a little headwind or something on the climb!

Rolling down the road, heading to New Meadows, ID I noticed a small coyote cross the road from a distance, then right where I saw the small on a larger coyote crosses right in front of me. I'm assuming it was a male chasing a female, I look to the right and there she was just sitting. I stopped and really wished I had my camera out as it would have been a perfect picture, before I could get my camera out she darted off into the bush never to be seen again. Living in this moment was great, the back drop would have been an ideal setting to have a picnic as well.

Rolling into New Meadows, ID I stopped and refill my bottles and grab some honey from the condiments section as I was running low, honey is as good as sugar for me! When on the road I put it in tea, on bagels, and some times just take it straight for a little energy and flavor. Didn't stay too long in New Meadows as I wanted to get as many miles covered before the heat hit. l was starting to warm up now but didn't feel like pushing the pace as I was only about 40 miles into a 100+ mile ride. Mentally when I'm feeling good 40-60 miles can go by before I look down at any mileage, however today I was looking at mile 15 so I was a little distracted today.

Cruising now and just really enjoying the day. Having all kinds of thoughts today, one that comes to my mind is "Why are quarter horses called quarter horses?" One would figure if it was 3/4 something else the majority would take the name? Silly thoughts this morning as I know its just a name but makes ya think? Other thoughts I was having this morning was are any thoughts original? With millions of people in the world I'm certain all my thoughts have been thought before, maybe just not shared...

Rolling now and hitting some pretty good rolling terrain then "WHAM"!!! Cruising down a downhill I slip on some gravel at 33 mph and smack the road and slide. I checked the mph after on the computer to see how fast I was going. I must have hit some gravel in the road as my bike just slipped out from underneath me. I know now how the guys in the tour feel, going down can be so sudden, then riding after is something. Those guys have to be tough as nails to shake it off and get back on to the race.

After standing along side of the road for about 5 minutes shaking off the shock from going down yet I again I assess the damage. Bikes lying on the side of the road, the only hoods were bent in and needing of some adjustment! I was bleeding from my hands, elbows, and my left quad, along with a few scrapes on the left side of my chin. Destroyed my the hoods of my shifters today, well not destroyed buy scrapped them pretty bad! The bike is ridable and I'm doing okay, not looking foward to waking up in the morning to be honest! The shock was breif and I had a few moments of "What the hell do I do now?" I'm 2100 miles away from my nearest friends and family and I'm here in the Idaho 13 highway with the thoughts of calling it quits.

A truck did finally stop as I looked a little distraught according to the couple that did finally stop. Cute couple! Both from ranches, one from Indiana and the other from Idaho. Young couple and I had to ask how they met as Indiana and Idaho are not exactly joining states. I wished I could remember their names but given the circumstances and my state of mind I think they will forgive me. The met at a country line dancing hall up near where she goes to school! How cool is that! They assisted me in getting cleaned up a little with some baby wipes, helped me straighten out the hoods on my bike and over all were a blessing for just being there and keeping me from going into shock!

I've been riding bikes since I was a little kid, been riding the road bike now for about eight years and over the last couple of days I'm starting to wonder if I even know how to ride. Two crashes within a three day period is extremely odd for me. Loose gravel and slick roads can do that and considering I have ridden well over 100+ hours in the last three weeks I have to consider myself extremely lucky today. Able to walk away with no broken limbs, lose of a lot of skin but I'm all in one piece! Hell, I'm lucky I didn't get hit by a car when I went down...

I can contest to the moment though, as when I was going down I knew it was going to hurt and couldn't do anything about it! I was descending at a reasonable rate for the trailer I thought, however the remainder of the trip all downhills are going to be slow! The roads out here appear to have some bleeding, a lot of bleeding to be honest! For those of you that are not familiar with the term "bleeding" when it comes to pavement, its when the heat causes the asphalt to seperate from the stone it is adhered to, making the road a nice black slick surface. I'm not sure it was bleeding that caused the second crash on this trip, however I do think it caused the first.

I debated for a long time to share this with all those who care about me as this crash was scary and to be honest I'm lucky to be here typing this right now! Going downhill at 30+ miles an hour on a busy section of highway in Idaho during the middle of the day is not something I was looking forward to. However the river I did crash next to was pretty neat to sit at when all was said and done. The couple was probably shocked I was wanting to get back on and ride, when I denied the use of their truck to help me get to town. The bike was rideable so I was going to continue on with my journey as a few scraps here and there are just a test to see if the healing process is still working on the old body of mine. I do have to say a huge "Thanks" to the man upstairs though as if it wasn't for him watching over me I might not be here right now...

It was about 5-8 miles to Council, ID where I stopped and cleaned out all my war wounds that I got from the pavement with soap and water. I can't afford to get an infection on this trip, along with any more crashes. Talk with a guy at the store in Council and see if he has a first aid kit as I'm looking pretty bad and want to cover the road rash on my leg before I get going, however no luck. So I refill bottles and get on the road! It's another 20-25 miles or so to Cambridge and this is a potential destination stop for me for the night at 83 miles after the crash. I cover the next 20-25 miles pretty quick so I know the legs are working fine after the crash, the right hand/wrist I think took the majority of the fall. I did look in the bathroom and I have cuts on my left peck and left shoulder, I'm assuming from the handle bars.

Once into Cambridge I try the number of the couple gave me as they said there family had a ranch there and they would be able to help me out. I tried the number and individual who answered the phone was not too helpful, I'm sure it was me communicating but I felt like pushing on so I pushed on. I figured I could get to a camp site along the TransAm and rest up for tomorrow and see how I feel in the AM on whether or not I want to take a rest day or continue on to Baker City, OR to ensure I get to Astoria by next Monday/Tuesday.

After refilling and downing a couple of bottles of water at a store in Cambridge I decide to ask some locals what the terrain is like heading into Hells Caynon. I get the same answer, o' its mostly downhill, so I made the decision to push on for another 20-30 miles, find a camp ground and call it a day! The gal I asked was pretty concerned about the scrapes I had but didn't appear willing to help so I was confused on that one!

Pushing off, now onto highway 71 I was looking for this downhill. I looked for this downhill after I climbed another 15 miles. Note to self, don't trust all the locals in Idaho! This is why it is so important to know the area you live in, know your back yard! Then I thought maybe they do know their backyard and are just pulling my chain. Hells Canyon is hot this time of year with temperatures in the 100-115 range F. This is why I drank so much water at the store, I wasn't going to go into this canyon dehydrated. I figured I could get water once I hit the campsite but I wasn't taking any chances. Once over this 15 mile climb I had a nice downhill that I took o so slow. I think its going to take a lot for me to get back on the pony and descend again like I'm accustomed too. On the decent I see a truck stopped in the road, so I stop and check it out. A couple of guys are video taping a black beat up on the ridge line. Young cub just hanging out, the ridge was extremely steep so if Mom was near I think we were pretty safe! This was the first large mammel I have scene on the trip besides the Bison in Yellowstone. I would have taken a picture however a black dot on a picture only gets people asking the question "What is this?" and to be honest I don't really want to explain the photo to hundreds of people so I just opted out.

Once in the canyon I saw a sign for the "Gateway" to Hells Canyon - how fitting! I stopped and and had some food as I wasn't really looking forward to cooking. They had a neat little cafe so I had some food, recharged my computer and phone and asked the locals on camping. They were nice enough to allow me to crash outside the store on a nice flat section of grass and mentioned it will probably be hot tonight. Lamar (sp) said that it was a 103 when the sun was shining down into the canyon and once it went down it dropped to 91 within ten minutes.

I hung out in the store for about three hours just trying to keep out of the heat and recover! I ate way too much and have drank plenty of water, I should prepare for multiple trips to the bathroom tonight, however making sure I'm hydrated is key. I climb out of this canyon tomorrow morning and will hit the state of Oregon which I have never been in and I'm excited! This is what I have been looking forward to since I started this journey! I have heard how pretty Oregon is and now I get the opportunity to see what its all about by bicycle which is way better than a car! Not sure how long its going to take to get there but I'm game to try and get there by next Monday as that will be exactly four weeks to the day if I can get there by then.

Okay - today I have been looking for this guy all day and finally 10 minutes ago he rolls into Hells Canyon. A kid has been riding his unicycle from Yorktown and I finally got to meet him. I only had one question for him - How do you descend? I figured he had a brake and sure enough he does, otherwise I'm not sure he would make it down some of the decents, however I have never ridden a uni so I'm not sure how one descends. Seems to be like a pretty cool kid. Since I was pretty tired I called it a night and headed for the tent.