Blog #2: June 6-June 8 - Priest River, ID - Eureka, MT

Stats

- Days: 3

- Distance: 192 miles

- Majestic views: countless

About 20 miles into our first day on this epic ride, I mildly objected to a scenic detour that Josh suggested. “It looks like it’s a mile out of the way,” I said to Josh. After a brief pause we both laughed. After all, this whole trip is 3,600 miles out of our way!! In fact, we did a lot of work – planning our route, getting the right equipment, making arrangements at work (Carl) and school (Josh), shipping our bikes, flying to Seattle, etc. – for the privilege of going 3,600 miles out of our way! Crazy.

As the trip approached last month, Josh and I would occasionally invoked the John F. Kennedy quote about sending a man (sic) to the moon: “We aren’t doing it because it’s easy, we’re doing it because it’s hahd.”

And it really is hahd – I mean hard. Each day has had its physical challenges: long steep climbs, headwinds, rain, etc. Josh and I have both hit the dreaded “wall”, when suddenly insufficient calorie intake makes you weak, disoriented and ornery. Yesterday, we had the good sense to call it a day at 50 miles when Josh had one of these episodes. But maybe more difficult are the times when one or the other of us have doubted the wisdom of this adventure and/or worried that we can’t pull it off. I’m proud that Josh has articulated these doubts when he’s experienced them, doubts which I’ve held more privately. As with most other feelings, putting them out in the open is the best remedy.

We joke at work that I serve as Just A Start’s CCO – Chief Cheerleading Officer. While my colleagues appreciate my nearly relentless optimism and enthusiasm, they also encourage me to “keep it real.” Things aren’t always going well and there are plenty of things t worry about – don’t be afraid to voice those sentiments too. This bike trip is no different – except maybe that everything’s a little more intense. So, there you have it – I’m keeping it real. Even though we started our trip from a beach in Anacortes, WA, this ride is definitely no day at the beach!

On the other hand, we have ridden through some of the most magnificent, breathtaking, awe-inspiring scenery over these last few days. The photos below don’t do them justice, but sharing them is the best we can do (until you can get yourself out the northern Idaho and NW Montana). And we haven’t even gotten to Glacier National Park (we expect to get there tomorrow), which stands out as about the most beautiful places I’ve visited in my life.

There was a moment yesterday when it occurred to me that I was in one of the most beautiful places on earth on one of the most perfect days – clear, sunny and 65 degrees. I was out of range, with no Zooms scheduled for weeks. There was a sign that read “Bighorn Sheep Ahead NEXT 4 MILES”. Wow! A few hours later, in a depleted calorie state, we were wondering if we’ll be able to pull this off.

In short, this trip has got it all, and we still have 3,000 miles to go!

Kootenai Falls Swinging Bridge, near Libby Montana