Day 53 – Wednesday 7/20/22

Kamiah, Idaho to Lewiston, Idaho – 68.3 Miles

It was supposed to be an easy day today, and it was. With only Highway 12 to follow along the Clearwater River, there wasn’t much chance of getting lost or suffering from extreme elevation changes. Flat and fast would be a good description, although the word “Hot” also applies. Having a temperature of 95 degrees at 7:30 PM in Lewiston is all the evidence necessary.

I left the Clearwater 12 motel, which sounds more like a movie theater, a little after 7. Timing the arrival in the town I’m going to stay is important, as motels and campgrounds won’t allow check-in until 2 or 3. Arriving early just guarantees I’ll sit in the heat or rain for a while. Figuring 10 mph with an hour added for stops along the way usually is good enough to ensure that I’m not wasting time at the end of the day.

The first miles were quiet, as the morning traffic was still resting at home. The ultimate destination was Lewiston, but Orofino was the last stop for supplies. Because large gaps between towns have become typical, it’s not something that I worry about. Just adding a little more food and water is enough to compensate.

The scenes along the Clearwater River followed the template of the last couple of days. There are far fewer trees, but the river and mountains are a constant. The Clearwater River is more peaceful than the Blackfoot of a couple of days ago. The elevation was around 1,000 feet today, which is over a 4,000-foot decrease since the Lolo Pass. With less change in elevation, things happen more slowly.

Orofino was a pleasant oasis. They had a hotel and a variety of stores in a town of about 3.500. I ate lunch at Augie’s, a sandwich, coffee and ice cream shop just off Main Street. It felt unusual to sit down and not have to pedal.

With 40-miles left to ride, I didn’t want to get too comfortable. Within a half-hour it was time to go.

The scenery remained, with the exception of the trees. They were disappearing, leaving a rocky bluff behind.

The river just kept rolling along.

The route I was following was perfectly laid out until I got near Lewiston. Roads that should have been there weren’t, which made navigation difficult. The solution was to just keep going on Highway 12.

I got into Lewiston around 3:30. Perfect timing. The Snake River divides Lewiston from Clarkston, Washington, which means state number 14 is about 1 1/2 miles away. In the coming days, I’ll ride through a small portion of Washington, then across Oregon to Seaside. From there, it will be on to Seattle, after entering Washington for the second time.

Tomorrow’s route features some hard climbing, with Dayton, Washington the probable destination.