Miles – 40
Ave Riding Speed – 10-17 mph
Hours Start to Finish – 5.5
Weather – Sunny and 75
Camped last night and no service so posting a day late.
Rise and shine at 5:30am. I actually read the bedside table clock wrong as I peered at it through one eye and thought it was 6:30am. I flipped on the 5-cupper coffee pot as Kim was reminding me what time it was. I meandered around the room pulling a some of my stuff together. We didn’t have coffee cream to go with Kim’s coffee but she reminded me there were packets of hot chocolate mix in the kitchenet one door over and fixed Kim a chocolate coffee for a morning eyeopener.
After showering we packed up and went over to the main house to hand in our key and pickup a few snacks they had for sale. Jeff and his house dog greeted us at the office door and we complimented him on their place and reiterated just how excited we were for their new business. It was comfortable with no tv’s and meant to be enjoyed outdoors.
We departed at 8:30am and rolled down the gavel driveway to heading northeast on Hwy 12. The sun was shining and it was still a bit cool at 60 degrees so we had on our long biking pants and water-resistant wind breakers. The road mostly had a shoulder about the width of a bike lane and traffic was fairly lite. We pedaled directly next to the Middle Fork Clearwater River and stopped, 6-miles up, at the only business in Syringa to see if they had something to eat. It was closed so we pedaled 7 miles up to Lowell and crossed the bridge to Three Rivers Lodge. As we entered the campground, we were hailed down by a couple sitting on the cabin porch and asked where we’re heading. They were bicycle folks but in town for some whitewater kayaking.
We made our way to the office/gift shop/store and they had some essentials. We picked up some buns, peanut butter, sandwich meat, pickle spears, cliff bars, beverages and bug spray. We haven’t had any issues with bugs yet, but figure the day is coming. Can’t find any bear spray yet. Soon I hope as we’re getting into bear country. We met a couple in the store who asked where we’re going. We said Virginia. We traded inquiries and found out that they are currently staying in the same campground we’re heading to today. They invited us to stop by camp C2 and have a beer. They also said the camp across from theirs is open. We introduced our selves to Ariel and Kevin and said we’ll probably see you later.
We fixed a lunch meat and pickle sandwich on the store veranda and gazed at out at where three rivers meett. A young man, Ricki, standing by his car, inquired about our trip and we started gabbing with him. A nice fellow with some health issues, but moving forward.
Soon we departed back across the bridge and rode on the left side of the Lochsa River for another 20 miles. At one point we stopped at a roadside pullout along the river where there were a few cars and whitewater rapids viewers as a group of fifteen kayakers descended through the whitewater. Looks like fun.
Throughout the 40-miles grade increase today we felt good. Something about being next to, and hearing, the water is spiritually invigorating. It’s also Kim’s feel good to be in or by water. We increased our overall elevation by 700 feet for the day.
We arrived at the Wilderness Gateway Campground in the Clearwater National Forest at 2pm and turned right across the river bridge in search of a spot Loop C, Site2. We scoured the sites in loop C for something along the wooded and rocky whitewater river shoreline, but there was nothing available. We settled on C3 across from C2 in anticipation of having a beer with our new friends across the road. Kim was disappointed that we couldn’t find anything on the water, but this will work for one night. We fixed ourselves our last lunchmeat and pickle sandwich and had a few Fritos with it. Water, to get us through tomorrow, will be a little tricky and we’ll likely resort to the Safety Straws to drink the water from the campsite tap. It’s probably safe, but there was a sign on the faucet saying that the water had not been tested this year yet. We setup our tent and put our food supply and all our supplements in a bike pack and hung it from a tree branch to keep out of reach of the bears and varmints. Did the best we could, from the picture!
Rationing our food for the evening and morning we put our attention towards playing hangman. It’s been a few years since I’ve played that, about 25 years. It was approaching 6pm and Kevin and Ariel pulled in, so we thought we go for a walk-through loop C and give them some time to get situated. As we began down the loop tarred road, Kevin shouted our names and said to give them a bit and then stop over. As we walked, we drifted towards a trail that led to the river and sat on a shoreline boulder and gazed at the roaring river. If we’d had a comfy chair to sit in it would have been nap time. After 15 minutes of the river lullaby, we strolled back and walked over to Kevin and Ariels.
They offered us a cold beer and we accepted. It was refreshing, like the best one I’ve ever had. Then they asked if we were hungry and we quickly said, “yep, what ya got.” Ariel said we got way too much and Kevin pulled out some brats, buns, strawberries and blueberries. I put one on a stick and roasted it while we learned about them and vice versa while sitting around their fire. They are from Washington and Kevin had done some biking and was saying how he gets the biking code and to try and help others if you can on their journey. Very nice couple with a great story about how they met while Kevin, an electrician, was working on Ariel’s house. Now they live in a 300 sq ft home they fixed up themselves and love it. You can tell that they enjoy being together.
We departed and went to bed at 9:30pm in the tent we set up on the paved parking spot at our site. It was level, dry and we had our blow-up mattresses.
