Day 12
Take it eeeeeeeeasy

DAILY REPORT: 

Yawn...we slept in this morning and didn't load luggage until 8:30, but even though it was a laid back morning, it was still hectic for the staff.  Maybe it was because we were out of our normal routine...don't know.  But the riders seemed to take it in stride and looked forward to an easy, laid back 39 miles to our destination in Burley.  The temperatures were mild and the skies were sunny.  We had a wind to our backs...what could be sweeter...A SCAVENGER HUNT!!!!!

Our route today followed the Snake River Canyon for about 9 miles. Then we broke away and followed I-84 on frontage roads.  It was quite a lonely route except for the sound of interstate traffic and the pulsating sounds of the watering systems that were virtually everywhere.  There wasn't much climbing today either unless riders opted to ride down to the Snake River.  The ones that took that side trip, got a couple good climbs to add to their collection but the views of the canyon were well worth the effort.  But all-in-all it was a pretty restful day on the bike and everyone got in early and got a good rest before a tough day tomorrow.

Before potatoes in Idaho, there was gold!  Many took a side trip to the Twin Falls area which was a beautiful descent into the Snake River Gorge where, in 1869, gold was found below the falls.  As you can imagine, when someone yelled "GOLD" it led to an influx of miners (you wouldn't think hordes of people would flock to this area if someone yelled, "Potatoes!"), but it didn't take long for the mining to fizzle out (potatoes won out in the end).  After the bust of gold mining by 1870, the mining camps turned to agriculture which is still the main activity today.  Lake Bonneville, the bigger ancestor of the Great Salt Lake, flooded this area 15,000 years ago and formed the two cataracts that spill onto the rocks below.  The power dam at Twin Falls supplies enough power to provide electricity to 31,900 homes...oh, the power of water.

In the afternoon, I gave a flat tire clinic.  Some may have felt it was a bit late after all the flats we had going into Mt Home, but several folks were "mandatory attendees."  I covered everything from taking the wheel off the bike to fool proof steps to change a flat without pinching the tube or ruining the tire.  Afterwards a couple of the riders stayed behind for 1 on 1 help and they did well. 

After dinner we judged the Scavenger Hunt. Teams lined up and showed us their collected items...Karen kept score.  Some of the teams were very ingenious, particularly Team Best For Last who showed a nifty slide presentation of all the items...but they didn't have any of the items on hand.  Team Delaware was doing well until they presented a Nevada quarter for a state quarter from east of the Mississippi.  The score was close but the tie was broken by "bonus points" that were awarded by our panel of impartial judges when Colleen from Team Odd Couple (it was odd since the team was made up of 5 people) put on a filthy hat they found on the road (left).

After all the frivolity, we now have to think about riding again.  Tomorrow we ride to Blackfoot...110 miles.  It looks like a good day and hopefully we'll have tailwinds.  Tune in to see what happens tomorrow.  It promises to be another adventure.

Copyright © 2007 by Bamacyclist  
All rights reserved.