Wed night my PA called with the CT results: nothing of concern. I am now ready to drive east out of the smoke. Spent a smokey night out at Phils. Thurs I did my laundry and ran errands. I left town around noon driving east thru Prineville which was smoked in. Just amazing how heavy and distant from fires smoke settles in. I made Dixie Summit well east of Prineville. I found what i thought to be the snow park. Around the corner is a small rope tow slope. 2 thunderstorms blew thru, the first gave just a few spits, however the second one dropped rain. I got rained on. On a earlier east to west travel I stayed on a logging road at the summit, this time I did not want to drive on the rough road. Quite the scenic drive on rt 26. Still smoke at Ontario at the east end of the state. Interstate driving on I84 driving below 65mph on 80mph limit. Van temp has been rising a little every year now, never to the red zone Temp outside was in low 90s and heat was blasting up from the pavement. A bill board announcing Warbirds museum caught my attention enough to check it out. I was hoping to see a P38 not so. Lots of stuff plus just a few war birds. Continued east to Boise and finally out of the smoke. My end point was Indian Springs TH S of Kimberly. I chose the TH parking after not seeing horse shit from the cattle people’s horses. Flies are very annoying to me. Even with the window open while driving they resist freedom. Tonight I was able to dust buster a few slow ones, works better after dark. Won’t get cold enough tonight to make them slightly slower.
At wake up this morning it was 73 degrees and bright skies. I made an omelet using left over pasta sauce. I lost just a splash when I flipped it. Back in Mountain time which moves Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me program to 9AM instead of 8 in Pacific time. I searched program guide to find an afternoon rebroadcast. I pedaled away. Hot, sunny, and no wind. Climbed up Dry Gulch which was dry and no cows. Tread is below grade causing me to loose a few pedal strokes as my foot was knocked off the pedal.
Continued on Rock Star up top.
Trails are overgrown, cows have added their hooves impact to the tread. Used MTBProject. No shade, 85 degrees. Saw one other rider. I rode here earlier in the year. I talked with a woman who said she helped build trails there not using cow paths. SInce build the cows use the trail which erodes the dirt making the trail below grade in many places. Eat more chicken. Lots of feed lots and big dairy operations.
Back to the sun heated van. Good internet coverage. Found a shower in Idaho Falls, more I84 driving. 2 drivers expressed their dissatisfaction of me moving in front of them. Different manners than Bend.
I continued east on 26 turning off on a FS road to Falls Creek XG. I drove by a place where I stayed on an earlier trip. My plan was to score a saved camp spot then drive to Victor for the evening, I ended up staying at the camp ground. Fucking cows running thru leaving nice fresh splatters. More flies. I asked the camp ground host about it. He said the company he works for put up 1,000′ of fence which worked until 3 days ago. XG closes this weekend. Dirt road is right along the Snake River.
I make an strong effort to drink while riding. I drank a beer and 2 quarts of water then more water at dinner and I hardly have anything to pee.
Today I entered my late 60s.
Tomorrow is Driggs, will ride some stuff at Targhee.
Prineville, Baker City, and La Grande each had horrible AQI readings which caused me to not stop. Plan is to work my way to Colorado which is mostly clean skies.