WWR Day 28 Montpelier,ID to Cottonwood CG, Bear Lake State Park,UT
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 a series of homes, shifting to ranch homes (or clusters, for extended families I presume). A few miles in Bench Road veers east and I turn south onto Dingle Road. The small village of Dingle is about a block wide and 3 to 4 miles long. The pavement ends with a Welcome to Dingle sign.
Now the road climbs just enough to not impinge on any of the fertile bottom lands. The Bear River meanders here as it has since before Dingle, leaving willow breaks in fields and wetlands to mosaic the valley floor and fields. The road had been flat through Dingle but now small climbs and rollers give me views across the valley, of wet lands and eventually the green brown lake of the wildlife refuge. Soon the refuge has a turquoise crescent of Bear Lake crowning it. I will ride along the beatiful azure waters of Bear Lake for 20 miles as I leave the dirt behind.
I am on my the east side, which has few trees, and the west wind strengthens as I again peddle on the undulating roads. There are many lake homes, some standing alone against the lake, with vistas of barren and scattered forested hills across the waters.
I stop for a rest and a bite at the well maintained Idaho Bear Lake State Park and enjoy the shoreline, waves vigorous trying to climb the shore.
I am 16 miles to my destination when I peddle again. I cross the border into Utah, and say goodbye to Idaho for the last time. I have also finished section 4 of the WWR. Idaho has some beautiful spots, but often a long distances of biking investment between them.
The Utah state park has several primitve CG along the narrow strip of land squeezed by lake and lane. Some areas have a few small trees, some willowy, others are sunny and breezy. Glad I have reservations at a CG with shade and shelter. As I approach the southern shore, lake houses become more regular and elaborate.
I stop at the little general store, gas station ice cream shop. Pick up a couple bananas and a cold Powerade.
Headwinds accost me as I peddle the hwy to the entrance. My reserved site is out in the open and they allow me to change to one in the cottonwoods, sweet.
My neighbor family is jet skiing and beaching it in the extensive Rendezvous Beach, and the dad Kenny cones over to chat bikepacking as he is outfitting a Surly Krampus to do some. I encourage him get on the bike and do a shake down ride.
Later he leaves me a dinner care package which tops me off for food this evening. I catch the end of the evening sunset glow over the western shore, and, as the sun sleeps for the night, it is time for the sandman to watch over my beach camp repose.
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 a series of homes, shifting to ranch homes (or clusters, for extended families I presume). A few miles in Bench Road veers east and I turn south onto Dingle Road. The small village of Dingle is about a block wide and 3 to 4 miles long. The pavement ends with a Welcome to Dingle sign.
Now the road climbs just enough to not impinge on any of the fertile bottom lands. The Bear River meanders here as it has since before Dingle, leaving willow breaks in fields and wetlands to mosaic the valley floor and fields. The road had been flat through Dingle but now small climbs and rollers give me views across the valley, of wet lands and eventually the green brown lake of the wildlife refuge. Soon the refuge has a turquoise crescent of Bear Lake crowning it. I will ride along the beatiful azure waters of Bear Lake for 20 miles as I leave the dirt behind.
I am on my the east side, which has few trees, and the west wind strengthens as I again peddle on the undulating roads. There are many lake homes, some standing alone against the lake, with vistas of barren and scattered forested hills across the waters.
I stop for a rest and a bite at the well maintained Idaho Bear Lake State Park and enjoy the shoreline, waves vigorous trying to climb the shore.
I am 16 miles to my destination when I peddle again. I cross the border into Utah, and say goodbye to Idaho for the last time. I have also finished section 4 of the WWR. Idaho has some beautiful spots, but often a long distances of biking investment between them.
The Utah state park has several primitve CG along the narrow strip of land squeezed by lake and lane. Some areas have a few small trees, some willowy, others are sunny and breezy. Glad I have reservations at a CG with shade and shelter. As I approach the southern shore, lake houses become more regular and elaborate.
I stop at the little general store, gas station ice cream shop. Pick up a couple bananas and a cold Powerade.
Headwinds accost me as I peddle the hwy to the entrance. My reserved site is out in the open and they allow me to change to one in the cottonwoods, sweet.
My neighbor family is jet skiing and beaching it in the extensive Rendezvous Beach, and the dad Kenny cones over to chat bikepacking as he is outfitting a Surly Krampus to do some. I encourage him get on the bike and do a shake down ride.
Later he leaves me a dinner care package which tops me off for food this evening. I catch the end of the evening sunset glow over the western shore, and, as the sun sleeps for the night, it is time for the sandman to watch over my beach camp repose.
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