The camp is totally quiet and I should have been in bed at least an hour ago, but here i sit, finally resurrecting the technological bits of the trip. A lot of people hop on their computers as soon as the tent is up and the shower has been had, but me, well, I like to drink beer too much I guess.
We were in Boise on Sunday, and I don't really know how the day escaped on me, but it did, and so I'm late in the posting department. my apologies.
We had our longest ride so far today, 130 km, which of course we will be beating by another 10 or so tomorrow. It was quite a beautiful day, and not nearly so hot as yesterday, for which I was very thankful. I'm pretty sure some heat stroke was in the works, but the two fellows I was riding with were very good to me, and I cooled down in an irrigation sprinkler for a while.
The ride for the past couple of days have been through the desert, and where there is not desert there is significant human-made irrigation systems that make Idaho a land where you can find a lot of potatoes. Sometimes I wonder if we are manipulating the environment too much, but the dairy farm owner who gave us chocolate milk this morning seemed to think otherwise. Apparently the ground is rich in nutrients for growing all sorts of good things, if you add the water.
Today was a day filled with activity. There was the aforementioned dairy farm; an enormous operation that had cows rotating on a carousal while they were milking. Then there was a stop at this magnificent canyon that just opened up all of sudden, in the middle of nowhere. It is called the snake river canyon. While we were crossing the bridge, an enormous height from the riverbed, the truck caused the whole structure to quiver. Some of us got off our bikes to take pictures, and images of broken swinging bridges were passing through my bones. It was kinda freaky, but, once we were across, a fellow from Australia went and jumped off the bridge in an unpacked parachute. It was really cool, but I found I missed the most exhilarating part because I was staring through my camera. So, I have a video of this guy jumping, but I missed it in live action. I'm not sure how I feel about it.
After that we had a delicious lunch put on by the RCA church of Twin Falls Idaho. It was totally great, and leaving at 6:45 a.m. meant that I was there in decent time, along with a lot of other folks. There was an excursion to a giant waterfall, apparently taller than Niagra falls, but I declined because they were a couple of kilometers away, and coming back up would mean a climb at a 12% grade - not my cup of tea. As it is today, and every day, is about 30 km too long.
I jest, mostly, but I want to tell more stories.
For the next time ~ a reminder *Agatha and barbed wire fences
* dealing with 109 degree farenheit heat and talking about cowboys in the desert
* the town of huntington
I must go to bed, and it's not even made. Here's to riding too long in the saddle- here we go again.
love,
Theresa
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6 comments:
Wow!!...now I wish I had been more persistent in the doing of such an adventure...(maybe at least a very small part??...)...so I search with awe and wonder and revel in all the descriptions of the various bikers' blogs...and their pictures are marvellous!! Stay posted in the saddle dear niece and "happy trails to you"...love anutie Bud
Oh Theresa It's so good to hear from you again!!!! I'm on the computer so much reading all the blogs and looking at pictures Dad is ready to do something to me.
Teriffic writing and commentary. Even with all the hard work you sound like you're having a pretty good time.You're in our thoughts constantly. Keep truckin'
Love Mom
this is a trial post to see if it works. my 5th attempt.
miriam
hey look at that, it worked! hurrah. theresa, I have been thinking about you tons and tons and worrying but you are not to worry about me -just keep biking. unless of course you need the distraction. wanted to say that it is a great privilege when the work or activity we are doing absorbs us completely, and I imagine that is what you have with this bike tour. I am so proud of you that you chose to undertake this adventure, that you planned and worked and made the space for it in your year. anyway, we are keeping up through the blogs etc, and really feeling for your high climbs and long rides.
love miriam
I can tell you are a college grad - I love the way you write. I hope you are doing okay still. Keep on peddling... Canada is only a month away! :) You're welcome to stay at our house when you come through London! See you soon - Heather (Driesen) De Boer
Hi Theresa. Wow, another former student of mine going SEA To SEA! (Joshua Kho of Richmond, B.C. went on the first tour)Keep up the good work and God bless your efforts as He rides with you. Interesting blog... Do you remember the time you brought a can of beer (no-name brand) to school, thinking it was a can of root beer??? You were still learning to read back then.
Anyway, look forward to reading more of your blogs...
In Christ,
Yvonne Vandervelden (nee Verwoerd)
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