Biking with Bill

SNAKE RIVER GORGE

After a bountiful buffet breakfast at AJ's Country Kitchen Restaurant we were on the bikes and on the road at 6:30 am. The sun was coming up and a little rain was falling when a small group of us missed a turn early on in the ride. Fortunately, we didn't go too far out of the way--only a few miles. It was enough to turn this a scheduled 97 mile bike ride into a 100 mile "century" ride.

We were headed for Twin Falls, ID, where a famous event occurred in 1974.

The overcast skies were welcome, and did in fact keep the temperaures mild all day. It was a relief that the scattered showers in the area missed the ABB cyclists.

The landscape during the early miles was the sagebrush and parched grasses we have seen for days. It turned to irrigated farmland and the green fields brought about by imported water. We have seen so many ingenious and diverse systems of irrigation, from diversion canals to a multitude of sprinklers types.

Past the town of Hammet we turned onto business 84, which parallels the Interstate and runs along the Snake River. We were pelted by little black gnats as we rode. Not a pleasant experience.

The town of Glenns Ferry at the 30 mile mark was the location of the first SAG. We then rode through the towns of King Hill and Bliss (we all liked that name) in a stretch covering 20 miles. I don't think I saw but one pickup truck. These were country roads with solitude.

A big canyon opens up in Bliss with the Snake River running through it. We passed a sign that said "bikers welcome" at the Outlaws and Angels Bar and Grill. I don't think they meant our kind. Do you?

The second SAG at the 60 mile mark was in the City Park in the town of Hagerman. We observed large scale cattle farms for 15-20 miles past Hagerman. These were milking cows caught in the grip of modern milk production farming.

Just outside of Twin Falls at the scenic overlooks we had great photo ops of the Snake River Gorge. We stoppped at the site where Evil Kneivil attempted his famous rocketed motorcycle jump over the awesome 1 mile canyon. Of course he failed, but the town has marketed well not only the beautiful gorge , but also Evil's famous event which occured here in 1974. We crossed over "the tallest bridge in the world", but missed the opportunity to see the "base jumpers". They jump off the bridge with parachutes. Tomorrow we visit the scenic waterfalls at Twin Falls.

I think we all had a good day today. Several groups , including ours, moved right along today. We were "home" rather early and feel good after 100 miles of Southern Idaho road cycling.

Several members of TEAM RTC celebrated another great biking century with a Fosters at Outback.

Bill