Between the Equator and the North Pole
As mentioned in yesterday’s post, I had a rather bacon heavy breakfast at the 7 Devils Cafe. Then after doing some shopping at the local market I returned to my half star accommodation above the Ace Saloon, where I wrote and cleaned the bike some before heading out.
The journey from Council to Riggins was 60 miles and one of the better rides of the trip. It goes along highway 95, which has some traffic but often a nice shoulder. A climb begins shortly after town and ends up going through some fantastic scenery in the Payette National Forest. You’re in the mountains with the big pine trees again. One of the best things is stopping for a quick break on the side of the road to eat or to take photos. While stopped you don’t hear a sound.
I eventually arrived in the town of New Meadows. Quiet place with a nice park. They have something on the edge of the park called the Little Library which is a case (with no graffiti on it) filled with books where you can just help yourself to one. I then stopped at Brown’s Mountain Market for lunch. One of the locals was having a conversation with the cashier. “You don’t have BC?!” (BC is a powdered aspirin that was/is popular in the south– and was on television commercials on Saturday night in the 70s, if I remember correctly.) “Nope, and I’ve never even heard of it,” replied the cashier. “You’ve never heard of BC?!,” said as if everyone in the world has except her.
After a nice break at Brown’s I went up the road a ways and discovered that I was halfway between the equator and the North Pole; at the 45th parallel. That was kind of neat. I once stood on the equator and once on the Tropic of Capricorn. I didn’t know I’d be crossing over this spot.
I met up with some headwinds for the remaining 30 miles. I’m traveling more north now and these were the first sustained headwinds to speak of so far. It was a reminder of how much they can affect a ride. The good thing was that I was usually on a generous downward slope all the way into Riggins so I still got the better end of the deal.
The scenery continued to be excellent. I crossed over the Little Salmon River several times. If the name were to relate to their size they must be small as I didn’t even see one of them.
As with most of these small towns, Riggins is a nice place. Fishing, hunting and rafting are big around here and tourism is the industry.
A short day ahead today to go along with the one on Sunday. Together they sort of equal a rest day. Getting some laundry done and writing this at the small, very quiet Salmon River Public Library. Then I’ll be going up the road 30 miles to the town of White Bird in order to be at the base of a rather big climb tomorrow.