So in my post from yesterday I mentioned I was staying in New Meadows, ID.  I was putting my blog post together in the rec room, the only place I could get WiFi.  I was packing up my blogging kit when a farmer comes barreling in.  He shouts at the owner to phone farmer “who ever” and tell him the wolves are at his cows.  Mind you, I am walking outside to go sleep, in a tent, next to the pasture with the cows, where the wolves were just attacking.  Sweet dreams.

Today was going to be an easy day.  61 miles mostly down hill from New Meadows to White Bird along the Little Salmon River.  The reason for the shorter distance, is because coming out of White Bird is a 2600 ft climb over 15-17 miles.  I was not going to face that in the afternoon heat so White Bird it is.  Out of New Meadows I began to parallel the Little Salmon River.  Oh man, the white water rushing down the river was awesome to see and hear.  I think I have a good video and pic of the river.  About 40 miles into the ride I coasted into Riggins, ID.  I stopped for some food and yet another racer rolls up.  I talked with George from, Abington PA, about an hour and a half south of us in the Poconos.  I asked him if he knew where he was in the race and he said somewhere in the teens.  I got a pic with George and he was on his way.

Things were looking up.  Good pace.  Nice scenery.  Flat tire…  It was inevitable.  I didn’t want to think about it or talk about it but it probably was going to happen.  Son of a gun.  I could think of worse places to have a flat. But, off a highway, with little shoulder, in 90 degree heat, with no shade in site was close to worse.  In addition the guard rail, that I used as a safety zone, was as hot as a branding iron.  My legs touched it a few times and I may have smelled burnt hair?  I don’t know, maybe. Lol.  So much for an easy day.

I finally rolled into White Bird and found a nice little campgound on the Salmon River.  Not the Little Salmon, just the Salmon, this is where the big fish live.  I met a fellow TATer named Ron.  Ron is from St Louis and actually went to grad school at Ohio State.  Small world.  After a much needed shower and laundry I had to bike into town for some grub.  I treated myself tonight.  Pizza and beer.  I took a picture of the pizza but it was blurry, lol.  So you get a pic of a can of beer, water and a menu.

So my firsts were my first flat tire, my first beer in 11 days and when I got back to my site it rained.  Fortunately not a heavy rain and I was also not riding in it so altogether not that bad.  Tomorrow we climb!

Day 11 – 61 miles
Total 805.3

Video on my Facebook page
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1202764446402884&id=100000080201650

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