TODAY'S TALES: 

OK...I'll not bore you with another "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood" paragraph, but suffice it to say IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD!!!!  NA NA NA NA NA!!!!  At least it was until about 5:00 in the afternoon when some lightning sparks started to fly.  It was in the mid 60s when we left but it got into the low 90s before the final riders got to the motel.  Actually, in this part of the country it feels pretty good until mid afternoon.  Even though it was pretty toasty by ride's end, the air felt comfortable as you were moving...when we stopped for something we could tell it was warming up.  More than the heat was the pesky head wind they encountered for most of mid afternoon.

It was sure nice to get in so early yesterday.  Everyone was feeling pretty good at the start today and we got as early a start as we could due to the forecast warm temperature.  I spent the morning running up through everyone taking photos and watching everyone enjoy the countryside.  As the sun started to peek out from behind some low lying clouds on the surrounding mountains, the pivot sprinklers operating on the horizon glistened as the sunlight bore through the mist.  If you were at just the right angle you could see rainbows decorating the landscape.  Field workers were moving the portable water systems...looked like back breaking work to me...glad I'm doing what I'm doing and not farming anymore.

Every time I come through this area I'm in awe of how fertile it is.  I always try to envision how it must have been riding across this country in a wagon pulled by a team of oxen before irrigation made the countryside green.  It must have been an awesome task walking behind a dusty wagon and trying to avoid the natives, trying to stay alive, and trying to keep the livestock from wandering off.  If you've never seen this area, the climate is really dry--only 9 inches of rain a year--and if you don't irrigate the soil, the only thing that will grow is sagebrush.  Idaho's motto is, "Just Add Water" and this area is a true testament to what you can do with a little water.  Along the Snake River plain you'll find some of the most fertile agricultural areas anywhere, but only a few feet from where they apply the water, you'll find only dust and sage.  The contrast is remarkable...it's either green or brown.  Then imagine walking over 20 miles of parched desert only to find your way blocked by a deep canyon with perpendicular walls on both sides and the water you so desperately need at the bottom.  We rode through such an area today.  Some beautiful canyons have taken over 3 million years to develop, and they'll still be here long after we are gone. 

This area is also well known for its dairy farming.  Twin Falls was settled 98 years ago by a man named Ira Perine.  He came here from Pennsylvania to take up mining.  After a bit, he found it to be too difficult, so he bought some dairy cows.  About that same time, a group of people moved into the area and set up a tent motel along the area near Shoshone Falls.  So, according to the info provided to us by the chamber of commerce, Twin Falls was settled by a dairy farmer and a bunch of tourists...and it's still like that today.

The final mile into town is really beautiful as we cross a gorge on the Perrine Memorial Bridge.  Every time we get here we see bridge jumpers and today one of them offered one of our riders a chute and a free jump.  My stock in our rider's good judgment just went up as he politely declined.  The views from the bridge are beautiful and I'm not sure how far it is to the bottom, but as they say in Alabama, "It's a fur piece."

Well, it's about time to go to dinner.  Even with the long day, I was able to get the page done before dinner.  Maybe I can go to bed early for a change.  Tomorrow's a really short day, only 38 miles, so everyone should be able to have a riding rest day.  I hope so, we've got some long days coming up.  Hope you have a great evening...see you again tomorrow.  M.

PS:  We had a mishap today...Nick and Pam locked handlebars riding on a lonely road and they both crashed.  Pam escaped with just some bruises, but Nick wasn't so fortunate.  He will heal, but he suffered a separated shoulder and will not be able to continue with us.  Our thoughts and prayers will be with him as he returns home tomorrow.  He's vowed to come back next year and finish his dream to cross the country.  Good luck Nick...see you next season.

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