Noxon, MT - Sandpoint, ID (2 days) 52 miles

We're getting down to some pretty low daily mileages. Partly because of the spacing between towns, and we weren't sure what the level of difficulty was and if we'd run into any construction, etc. Now in hindsight we know we could have gone further, but it's really not a big deal. As I said, we got to take an afternoon nap, and relax a little in the afternoons, as well as have time to do laundry, write blogs, see any local attractions, etc. and still get to bed early. I find I need at least nine hours of sleep while we're biking. Bill seems to need more sleep too, but he sleeps a lot anyway, so I don't notice the difference. :)

We've been leaving between 7 and 8 a.m. to beat the heat the last four or five days. It's definitely warming up, but the early mornings are frigid! Like 50 degrees, and when we're in the shade and going downhill, the wind chill factor feels close to freezing! This morning the people in Clark Fork, (pop. 500+) were already getting ready for their 4th of July parade, which was starting at 9 a.m. We were told by one guy that we shouldn't be passing through today, we should stay for the all-day party starting with the parade. Alas, however, we left and rode to Sandpoint, where we are tonight. We missed their parade too, which started at 10. Had a great ride today. I felt more energy today than I have for a long time. Tonight Bill and I went to a nice restaurant, and had some really good food, with wine and the works! We were really looking forward to this all day,as we have had our fill and then some of fried foods, canned veggies, iceburg lettuce salad, and the usual menu items one gets at the little towns in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, etc. At first we didn't care because it was food, and we needed to EAT! We still need to eat, but we have our limits. :)

Since we have to go to bed so early, we decided to pass up the fireworks show here in Sandpoint. Instead, we just finished watching the fireworks from Washingon D.C. on TV, which was just spectacular. We could really identify with some of  t he words from God Bless America, and Battle Hymn of the Republic, both of which were sung during the fireworks, after having just biked across most of the country. We saw the D.C. fireworks in person 11 years ago, and are so glad we had the opportunity to have that experience.

Tomorrow we enter Washington!

Riding on,........
Carol & Bill