Will's Bicycle Adventure

Tuesday, 3 June 2008

Day Nine--Tuesday, June 3rd
Mood:

a-ok
Now Playing: How could I lose thee? Let me count the ways.

It's a fact that McMahans have great senses of direction. Have I ever lost a car in a parking lot? No. Have I ever been lost? Well, not often. That is what makes today such a cunumdrum.

The plan for today was simple: Ride downtown in Spokane; Enter the Centennial Trail (a Bicycle trail that connects Spokane with Coeur d'Alene (see, I can spell it now). Then ride to Coeur....... That doesn't sound too tough. It's a short ride, as rides go, 40-50 miles.

Problem #1 I can't find the Trail. Finally, I enter a Power Equipment store and ask for directions. It helps that the store manager is an avid bicycler. It didn't hurt that the entrance was two blocks away. Most of the trail, except for downtown Spokane, was on the side of a street that parallels the Spokane River.

Problem #2 Apparently, its not enough to have a great sense of direction. One also needs to pay attention to the signs. When I finally acknkowledged that I was no longer on the trail (my keen sense of detection came forth after I had been riding through a residential district for 15 minutes), I asked for directions back to it from a kind gentleman.

Problem #3 Lots of times people who are giving directions do not really know either. When I finally got back onto the trail, I had asked 9(!) people. Most got me close. The last person, of course, was dead on.

Problem #4 There was a detour because of major construction on a bridge. Somehow I got lost again (I'm sure it was faulty signage on their part!), before a nice lady took pity on me and got me back on track.

Eventually, I entered Idaho. It was a wierd feeling. Sort of like entering Mexico or some other country. I guess it was clearly a sign that I had closed one chapter of this journey, and was opening a new one.

Rain. Again.

My short term destination is Missoula. It is around 165 miles on the other side of the Bitterroot Mountains and I have three days scheduled to get there. Besides being three steps closer to my goal, it also will be a resting spot. It will have been seven consecutive days of pedalling, and this child's body could use a break.

Will McMahan

Posted by willmcmahan at 4:46 PM PDT
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Tuesday, 3 June 2008 - 5:14 PM PDT

Name: "Joelle Goodman"

What a wonderful adventure. So many will live vicariously through your blog- when, including me, we should be out there with you on the road, through the rain and beauty.

Enjoy Will! It was wonderful to meet you today. God Bless!

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Tuesday, 3 June 2008 - 5:21 PM PDT

Name: "Don and Liz"

Will, we are greatly enjoying your daily reports. Keep up the good work. I checked the weather report in your area and you can be thankful that while it may be raining lightly where you are, we have been experiencing major downpours here all day, so you have not been missing out on any golf here.

Pedal on>>>>>>>

Liz and Don

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Tuesday, 3 June 2008 - 10:36 PM PDT

Name: "Garry Carlson"
Home Page: http://www.23daysfordavis.com

Will, the last post seemed to get through, so I'll try another.

If you still on the trail in Post Falls, ID, it is very disconnected, from mile post 2 to 8. You may be past there already. I couldn't find many side roads to travel through Idaho, so I rode I-90. Perfectly legal and pretty safe. The shoulders were wide, yes, cars go by faster, but they are farther away too.

You'll have two passes, 4th of July Pass. From my notes, the climb starts at mile post 23, summit is at 28, then downhill for 6 miles. Lookout Pass, summit is at the Montana border, is a tough 13 miles uphill, steep the last 6, way tougher than 4th of July Pass. I did 4th of July in the morning, Lookout later that day, that might be why it seemed harder.

It is good riding on the Interstate, wide shoulders, plenty of people if something goes wrong. Only problem, Montana had rumble strips that were the width of the entire shoulder, that was a pain, but until you get to St Regis, there really are no side-roads.

Good Luck Will, I have all my notes to West Yellowstone if you need help or have questions.

Garry Carlson

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	Will's Bicycle Adventure Tuesday, 3 June 2008 Day Nine--Tuesday, June 3rd Mood: a-ok Now Playing: How could I lose thee? Let me count the ways. It's a fact that McMahans have great senses of direction. Have I ever lost a car in a parking lot? No. Have I ever been lost? Well, not often. That is what makes today such a cunumdrum. The plan for today was simple: Ride downtown in Spokane; Enter the Centennial Trail (a Bicycle trail that connects Spokane with Coeur d'Alene (see, I can spell it now). Then ride to Coeur....... That doesn't sound too tough. It's a short ride, as rides go, 40-50 miles. Problem #1 I can't find the Trail. Finally, I enter a Power Equipment store and ask for directions. It helps that the store manager is an avid bicycler. It didn't hurt that the entrance was two blocks away. Most of the trail, except for downtown Spokane, was on the side of a street that parallels the Spokane River. Problem #2 Apparently, its not enough to have a great sense of direction. One also needs to pay attention to the signs. When I finally acknkowledged that I was no longer on the trail (my keen sense of detection came forth after I had been riding through a residential district for 15 minutes), I asked for directions back to it from a kind gentleman. Problem #3 Lots of times people who are giving directions do not really know either. When I finally got back onto the trail, I had asked 9(!) people. Most got me close. The last person, of course, was dead on. Problem #4 There was a detour because of major construction on a bridge. Somehow I got lost again (I'm sure it was faulty signage on their part!), before a nice lady took pity on me and got me back on track. Eventually, I entered Idaho. It was a wierd feeling. Sort of like entering Mexico or some other country. I guess it was clearly a sign that I had closed one chapter of this journey, and was opening a new one. Rain. Again. My short term destination is Missoula. It is around 165 miles on the other side of the Bitterroot Mountains and I have three days scheduled to get there. Besides being three steps closer to my goal, it also will be a resting spot. It will have been seven consecutive days of pedalling, and this child's body could use a break. Will McMahan Posted by willmcmahan at 4:46 PM PDT Post Comment \| View Comments (3) \| Permalink \| Share This Post Comments Page Tuesday, 3 June 2008 - 5:14 PM PDT Name: "Joelle Goodman" What a wonderful adventure. So many will live vicariously through your blog- when, including me, we should be out there with you on the road, through the rain and beauty. Enjoy Will! It was wonderful to meet you today. God Bless! Reply to this Comment Tuesday, 3 June 2008 - 5:21 PM PDT Name: "Don and Liz" Will, we are greatly enjoying your daily reports. Keep up the good work. I checked the weather report in your area and you can be thankful that while it may be raining lightly where you are, we have been experiencing major downpours here all day, so you have not been missing out on any golf here. Pedal on>>>>>>> Liz and Don Reply to this Comment Tuesday, 3 June 2008 - 10:36 PM PDT Name: "Garry Carlson" Home Page: http://www.23daysfordavis.com Will, the last post seemed to get through, so I'll try another. If you still on the trail in Post Falls, ID, it is very disconnected, from mile post 2 to 8. You may be past there already. I couldn't find many side roads to travel through Idaho, so I rode I-90. Perfectly legal and pretty safe. The shoulders were wide, yes, cars go by faster, but they are farther away too. You'll have two passes, 4th of July Pass. From my notes, the climb starts at mile post 23, summit is at 28, then downhill for 6 miles. Lookout Pass, summit is at the Montana border, is a tough 13 miles uphill, steep the last 6, way tougher than 4th of July Pass. I did 4th of July in the morning, Lookout later that day, that might be why it seemed harder. It is good riding on the Interstate, wide shoulders, plenty of people if something goes wrong. Only problem, Montana had rumble strips that were the width of the entire shoulder, that was a pain, but until you get to St Regis, there really are no side-roads. Good Luck Will, I have all my notes to West Yellowstone if you need help or have questions. Garry Carlson Reply to this Comment Comments Page View Latest Entries	Blog Tools Edit your Blog Build a Blog RSS Feed View Profile Open Community Post to this Blog 30 May, 16 > 5 Jun, 16 18 Aug, 08 > 24 Aug, 08 11 Aug, 08 > 17 Aug, 08 4 Aug, 08 > 10 Aug, 08 28 Jul, 08 > 3 Aug, 08 21 Jul, 08 > 27 Jul, 08 14 Jul, 08 > 20 Jul, 08 7 Jul, 08 > 13 Jul, 08 30 Jun, 08 > 6 Jul, 08 23 Jun, 08 > 29 Jun, 08 16 Jun, 08 > 22 Jun, 08 9 Jun, 08 > 15 Jun, 08 2 Jun, 08 > 8 Jun, 08 26 May, 08 > 1 Jun, 08 19 May, 08 > 25 May, 08 Entries by Topic All topics « Testing You are not logged in. Log in