Day 14 Monday July 1, Pocatello ID to Idaho Falls

Today started bright and sunny with a bike safety lesson..

Safety Inspection at 7:00 AM,

We all checked our own bikes as Mike and Karen demonstrated. the procedure.  Air, Brakes, Cable, quick release = ABC Quick check.  A few surprises were found such as loose headsets and freewheel cassettes.  Repairs were made and we were on our way.Mike (tour leader) is trying hard to deal with being on crutches. He is expected to be on crutches for 5 weeks.  He has not been off his bike for a month in 20 years.  he will be cranky within 48 hrs.

Just what every boy needs a three level tree house

Rounding the corner

turning the corner

Riders turning the corner led by Jeff from New Zealand, shiny red nose and all.  Jeff has been fighting sun burn ever since the rain stopped.  As you can see today was very flat.  Typical of the land we rode through all day.

We are in Idaho Falls,  so of course there is a picture of the falls.  Very wide, not very high.



Patty, Sandy, Sam

Highlight of the day, was when Sandy surprised me at the hotel.  I had no idea they were coming and they came in to say hi and Happy Birthday.  They live in WI and just decided on Thursday to take a road trip.  Patty taught in Colorado for 3 years and knows the cities we will be in.  They are camping for a few days and will see the riders along the route as we go to Jackson Hole and Dubois WY.  Really happy to see them.  Sandy announced my birthday is tomorrow and we hope to have champagne to celebrate the completing the steepest climbs (2.75 mi at over 10%) of the trip and my birthday.  In professional cycling tomorrows climbs would be classed as Hors or beyond category.  In other words really, really hard. 

More of Sandy's handiwork

Tomorrow promises to have some of the most spectacular scenery of the trip.  We 'll have to work to see it.  Slow and steady gets the job done.  Mountains in front and valleys behind
Past Time for bed
Sam