Orofino, Idaho

We left our A-frame cabin in Lowell early this morning to avoid the headwinds that come as the day warms.  We cycled for about 5 miles when we came to a 9 mile stretch where the road had been milled for repaving.  The milled surface provided a very rough ride that made us fell like we were on bicycles that predate pneumatic tires.  Those bicycles were called “bone shakers” and the road had us well shaken.  When the road surface improved so did our speed.  Near the town of Kooskia, ID we met Jack who was heading east on the Lewis and Clark route.  He recommended an excellent restaurant for breakfast, the Kooskia Café, where we filled up on calories, carbohydrates, fats, and coffee.  After breakfast we met Park, a South Korean cyclist that is heading to Virginia.

At Three Forks, the Lochsa River merged with the Selway River and became the Clearwater River.  It still looked the same to us and we were glad that we could spend another day being river-side.  About 10:30 a.m. the headwinds became strong and slowed us down.  As we entered town we saw a new Best Western across the river.  This was not our intended lodging but we could not pass it up.  The rate for this first class room matched the prevailing rate on this trip, but we got a much better lodging than most nights.  When we entered the lobby, Courtney, the manager, greeted us with bottles of cold water, a warm smile, keys to our first floor room, and directions to the in-motel guest laundry.  What more could we ask for?

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