Day 57: Po-tay-to, Po-tah-to

Winchester, ID to Lewiston, ID

Stats!
Miles biked today: 45.1
Total miles biked on trip so far: 2061.2
Max speed: 29.0 mph
# of times we've turned down "fry sauce": 6
# of times we broke the speed limit today: 1 (we went 28 in a 25 zone!)

First of all, thank you for all the comments congratulating us on hitting 2000 miles! We are feeling pretty good about it. Since we took a few car rides, we won't hit 3000 on this trip. We only have about 450 miles left! Time flies, and we will be sad and glad when the trip is over.

Dean and I woke up this morning still feeling the pain from yesterday. After yesterday's crazy climbs, I was sore all over. We were tired, despite eating everything in sight yesterday, and Dean had a dehydration headache. We did not feel like getting on the bikes today, but we were bolstered by the promise of a mostly-downhill ride and arriving into a big city (Lewiston), where we planned to take a rest day.

We had breakfast at the Lake City Cafe, where we were once again offered jojos and fry sauce. One thing we've noticed about Idaho is that with every meal there are at least 5 or 6 potato options (french fries, steak fries, potato wedges, tater tots, hashbrowns, jojos, baked potato etc.), and we are always asked if we'd like fry sauce. Apparently, jojos are really thick fries and fry sauce is basically thousand island dressing. But the potato theme is definitely apparent here, as seems appropriate.

Our waitress was asking us about our trip, and seemed shocked when we said we were riding cross-country. She asked how far we'd go each day, and we started by saying that it depended on where the towns were situated, the weather, the terrain, but at least 30 .... She broke in and said, "30 ... MILES?!?!?" We said, "Well, we usually average more like 45 or 50..." and she cut us off again to say, "50 MILES?!?!?!?" That was nice. We felt very athletic. :)

As we were leaving Winchester, the roads reminded us of the roads we'd ridden in western Virginia... until we turned a corner and saw that we were at the top of a massive butte, overlooking several valleys, as far as the eye could see. The view was SPECTACULAR, and we had a 15 mile ride down the butte, with amazing views all the way.

In fact, the first 22 miles went fast and were almost all downhill. Unfortunately, it seemed that once again our planned lunch spot was closed, so we ended up each having a gas station hot dog, thinking that today's ride was downhill anyway, so we wouldn't need much of a lunch.

However, we soon hit the only big hill of the day -- about 1000 foot climb over 4 miles. We ended up walking about 2 miles, as it was a tough hill and we were still beat from yesterday. It was hot, hot, hot and sunny! I got burned again, but at least no heat rash.

After that big hill, it was all flat or downhill, and we rode into Lewiston through Hell's Gate Park along the Snake River. When we got settled, we went to La Boheme cafe and had the world's best late (real) lunch. I had the best salad I'd ever had, the best sandwich I'd ever had, and the best Italian soda I've ever had, and I don't even think the hunger played a role in that judgement. Everything there was really fantastic, and Dean agreed.


We are very much looking forward to having a rest day tomorrow! We bought some local Idaho huckleberry wine just for the occasion!