Dans Big Adventure - Canada and Beyond (and below?)

WWR Day 29 Cottonwood CG, Bear Lake State Park,UT to Evanston,WY Sun Aug  25, 2019 Distance 61.1 Start elevation 5932 End elevation about 6750 High point about 7200 Low point 5932 Climbing about  1500'?? Ride time 6:08 Total time about 7:30 Days bike camping: 19 Contiguous days riding : 2 The winds subsided overnight and once again bluebird skies greet me. It is chilly at the 6000' lake in the morning. I warm up doing my morning rituals, and head out  the wake me up  1300' climb of the day. It on paved hwy, there are juniper scattered on the hillsides as I enter the canyon holding my ascent. Higher up a few groves of aspen tenaciously cling to slopes that offer slightly more protection facing north. As I crest the canyon and it flattens out, the aspens withdraw from the landscape. I leave the pavement behind at a dirt road where a couple of cowboy boots invite me to explore. Several miles riding rolling ridge rangelands of dry sage reveal big ...

WWR Day 28 Montpelier,ID to Cottonwood CG, Bear Lake State Park,UT Sun Aug  25, 2019 Distance 44.9 Start elevation 6120 End elevation  5932 High point 6120 Low point 5900? Climbing about 400'? Ride time 4:20 Total time about 5:30 Days bike camping: 19 Contiguous days riding : 1 Another bluebird morn, with reasonable temps forecast. I return the loaned towel to the friendly and generous KOA proprietess as I head out for the couple mile ride down  back into town. I liked my little corner camp spot next the the swiftly flowing creek. Shady at all of the right times, and watched as a couple of kids actually caught fish from the footbridge just downstream. I was planning on getting some fruit for the ride, but alas the grocery stores are closed on this day of rest. My route will take me south today, following the Bear River Valley to Bear Lake. Start riding on the hwy 30 just enough to get the box checked, I soon turn onto paved Bench Road. This goes through ...

WWR Day 27 Soda Springs,ID to Montpelier,ID Fri Aug  23 2019 Distance 38.5 Start elevation 5774 End elevation 6120 High point 6120 Low point 5760 Climbing about 700'? Ride time 3:58 Total time about 5:00 Days bike camping: 18 Contiguous days riding : 1 A little cooler weather forecast today. I will veer off route for an easier trek to Bear Lake. There seem to be very few camping options on route, contaminated creek, mine traffic plus a big climb before returning to hwy 30. I find a back roads route to Montpelier, and then back roads to regain the route near Bear Lake. Bear Lake is a very large lake 20 miles long, 8 miles wide straddling the Idaho Utah border, and is quite popular. Alas all of the on route East side camping options are state parks and they are booked up for the weekend. I take a paved back road out of Soda Springs and quickly become rural. We are in foothills and trees are nearby, including a few groves of Aspen's. I summit the small ridge a...

WWR Day 26 Trail Creek Bridge CG on Blackfoot River to Soda Springs Wed Aug  21 2019 Distance 49 Start elevation 5502 End elevation 5774 High point 6250 Low point 5502 Climbing about 1700' Ride time 5:50 Total time about 6:45 Days bike camping: 17 Contiguous days riding : 9 Another blue sky morning , though it takes a while for old Sol to reach me. Working to get out a bit early as I have nearly 50 miles  to Soda Springs with no shade and another warm forecast. Camping options are again slim after about 10 miles. Given that, I am a bit slow and tired as the tummy gremlins started a kickboxing fight last night, forcing me out at 4AM for an emergency outhouse run. Yum! I pack up, eat though queasy, I will need the calories for the long day. I start out with a stiff steep quarter mile climb out of river bottom, and back onto the rolling bench lands. There are 3 more stiff and steep climbs before the next few campgrounds, one of which I need to push my steed fo...