I sit, content, behind the general store at Lochsa Lodge, cooking a surprisingly heavy box of Mac n Cheese, sipping beer, and phone typing to you folks. Do not fear, despite my cooking first dinner, I will be having second dinner at the lodge, eating the traditional giant burger as I have twice before. In 2003 Josh ate meat for the first time in months and puked and Norm punched a cat off his tent. In 2007 the girls and I were denied camping behind the store, but found a nice sight in the campgrounds where I built a little bug hut. I get to stay here for free tonight, but have opted for a $5 shower since it's been 5 days (since Halfway) and I rejoin society tomorrow.
I was annoyed this morning, finding that an important piece fell off my bike pump rendering it useless, the bottom of my tent not waterproof, and most of the glued on tent thingies falling off. Gear failures are inexcusable., especially this early in as trip. They come from lack of perpetuation, planning, and attention to maintenance. If I was riding somewhere actually difficult, failure to keep that pump piece tight could have left me stranded or dead. I'm not at new this... But oh well, learn and move on. Makes me think that riding places like Africa or Asia might be best done on shraeder tubes though.
A quick stop at a bike shop and REI in Missoula should remedy these issues, and I got my mind right after a few miles of pedaling. No point in dwelling longer on your failures than is necessary to ensure that you learn from them. Also, I called the dentist today and they agree with my "it was just a gum infection" assessment, so that is over for now. Self medication wins again! Screw you Tom Hanks! I'm not knocking my tooth out with a rock!
The climb today was long and gradual, like the climb out of Eugene to the ranger station but with fewer cars, twice as long, prettier, and a touch steeper. 66 miles in 5 hours on bike. All spectacular and filled with sign board about Lewis and Clark, and how the Nez Pierce helped them, and 70 years later were kicked off their land for their trouble.
I met a lot of great people today. Frank is an 84 year old former smoke jumper and ranger volunteering at the historic ranger station 25 miles out of Lowell. I'll be buying his book about smoke jumping, based off his letters home when he was 19, when I get back. I could have listened to his stories for hours, but had to ride on. I also met Tom, the last place contestant in the Trans Am self-supported bike race (the winner finished weeks ago on the east coast). He may camp with me if he makes it here today. I also conversed with Diane on the size of the road, who bike toured a ton in the 70's and was doing adopt a highway road cleaning in honor of her parents. And finally, Kelly from Florence, or works in the general store here and has been very helpful.
There is a lot more I could say about today, but typing on a phone sucks and my first dinner is getting cold. I'll upload this if I can find WiFi here.
ILYI
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