Today's trip was, from a bicycling perspective, the best day so far. 

Temperatures were expected to be in the 90's, so an early start seemed wise. At 7:45 AM, I was on the way.

The first task was to ride over the 4th of July Pass. As passes go, this was not as difficult as Steven's Pass or the Orondo Grade. It was not as steep or as long, but it still feels punitive when riding up its slope.  Yet, it only took an hour and one half to the top. The descent could have been much faster, but I braked to keep the speed close to 30 mph. After several miles of descending, I left I-90, to have an early lunch. It was then that I discovered a new trailhead onto the Coeur d'Alene Trail, so I took it.

The advantage of most rail trails is that the slope tends to be much more gradual than are found on highways. Trains just could not pull heavy loads up anything except gradual slopes. So these are great for bicyclers, and this trail was no exception. It was flat out gorgeous. A moose decided to move away from the trail when I approached. I did not know that moose were common here.

At any rate, I was able go fairly fast, for this bike, 12-13 mph, uphill, for extended periods of time.

There was even time to take a side trip to the Catalog Mission, the oldest building in Idaho, and still one of the most interesting.

On the trail again, I approached the back of a large concrete building. It was a Walmart. Not exactly what or where I expected, but I took advantage of this opportunity. Several days earlier, my lips got sunburned . I had forgotten sunblock lip chapstick, and could not  find it in any store until this Walmart.

The arm that was so badly sunburned was still red but the pain had subsided from the aloe vera lotion applications. Though it seemed better, I did the same thing that I did on Saturday. After noon, when things really started to heat up, I would let the left arm drop to the side, resting on a pannier, and using my body to shade it from the sun. It seems to have helped.

65 miles today. 

Tomorrow I cross my third mountain pass, Lookout Pass. It has two other distinctions:  It is the state line between Idaho and Montana; It also puts me onto Mountain Standard Time, the first of three time zone changes as I head east.

Getting sleepy. Good night all.