Day 71 - Missoula, MT to Powell, ID

55 miles
August 6, 2006

I slept great last night, and didn’t wake up until 9:30. I felt bad because I think Craig and Sherri were waiting for me before having breakfast, even though they assured that me they weren’t. They made blueberry pancakes!

“I have to warn you though – the coffee’s strong,” Craig said. And he wasn’t kidding… I could smell how strong it was before he even said so. Excellent!

After more fun conversation – feeling more talkative after a good night’s sleep – it was unfortunately about time for me to go. They made it clear that I was welcome to stay another night for a rest day… but I thought I should put in some miles after yesterday’s short day. It would be nice to catch up with some of the cyclists that I met back in Lander Wyoming, before we reach the Pacific.

It was a funny thing saying goodbye this morning, after Craig and Sherri had taken me into their home like their own son, even though I’d just met them less than 24 hours ago. Sherri tried to pack me a lunch for today like a mom.

In Lolo I took a break at a gas station, and bumped into Mark and Anna again. We did a quick photo shoot of each other, and then they continued on up to the pass while I finished my Coke and Reese’s.

The climb up to Lolo Pass was steady, and not too difficult. I got more thumbs-ups from some motorcycle guys who were on their way down the mountain.

At the top I crossed into Idaho, and Pacific Time! Now I’m three hours behind the east coast. There was a sign at the pass that basically said “Lewis and Clark crossed here in 1805.”

On the way down into Idaho I started passing these majestic, towering red cedar trees – they were huge, and the forest was filled with them. It was a cool feeling to be surrounded by such height and age, entering the Clearwater National Forest.

I came to Powell, pretty much the only place to stop in the area. It had gas, a camp store, cabins, and a restaurant in a natural setting. I cooked dinner at a picnic table there – a pound of spaghetti and two cans of vienna sausages.

It was a little tempting to shack up in one of the rustic cabins that they had there, but I headed back to the forest for a little backcountry camping experience. There was a quiet field just off of a forest service road, with long, fluffy grass. Life is good.