13 days into the ride life has become an interesting routine. It is simplistic in some ways with basic goals like eating enough calories, riding enough miles, dealing with sun, rain, elevation gain, elevation loss, and wind. Also where can I sleep at the end of the day, where can I get water and how do I make sure I have food for the next day. Those are the mechanics of the ride. The routine also includes contemplating and meditating on a verse that day, praying for family, friends, others who come to mind or that I meet along the way. There are also the spontaneous prayers like help me with the steep downhill (yes I have prayed for brakes), let my tire seal and hold after the flat, keep the drivers on the road attentive to us who are riding, etc. The routine also includes photo stops and just pausing to look at God’s creation. I tried to keep track of detail from yesterday so you can get a sense of a “typical” day on the ride…

• Awake at 5:40 – checking weather and messages while in cell/Wi-Fi
• Dressed in cycling gear, water bottles filled
• Final review of maps and plan by 6:30
• Bikes loaded with bags and gear on at 6:55
• Morning prayer time
• Breakfast at 7:05. 2 huge pancakes with eggs and coffee. Extra coffee for my travel mug on the way
• Took off warm weather gear and stored in backpack (was going to do lots of climbing so wanted to stay cool)
• On the bike saddle at 8:00
• Morning prayer time – for small group and Hike guys
• Energetic/motivational music on
• 5 mile mark – Planned break (climbed up the mountain at a blazing 6mph average). Had water and a snack
• 8:50 UNPLANNED BREAK – Front tire flat due to “goat head” thorn. Gear off bike, tire off, thorn found and removed, tire and tube back on, inflated, gear back on bike, started climbing again at 9:17
• Unplanned Break – (2 minutes) needed to let a herd of free range cattle (moms, calves, and the bull) clear the road
• 10 mile mark – Planned break. More snacks, more water, double checked tire. STILL climbing up mountain now at 5.5 mph
• 10:30 am – reached the summit. Planned break. 11.52 miles of 100% climbing. 2800’ elevation gain, 5-7% grade. Snack and water at the top – talked to the owner of Whitebird Summit Ranch and B&B. He came out to congratulate us. (FYI he is from Belgium, WI lol)
• Music off, put on warm clothes for descent, coat, gloves, long sleeved shirt and long riding tights
• Glorious coasting for 4.5 miles downhill – with prayers to avoid any hazards like gravel along the way and then back on flat roads
• About noon – Entered the town of Grangeville and found the “seasons cafe”. Had coffee, water and huckleberry/peach pie for a snack
• Called Three Rivers Lodge in Lowell, ID and booked a room for the night, too wet and cold to camp
• Put on rain and more cold weather gear as we were going to be wet the rest of the day
• Road about 10 miles in light rain. Then hit extremely steep and curvy road for final descent to next valley. 10-12% grade down with hairpin turns. I obviously survived since I’m writing this I have a cool video to show sometime…
• About 2 pm – Entered the town of Kooskia and went to grocery store. Bought 1 banana, big bag of Fritos, beef sticks, Raman noodles, 1 pkg of tuna, 8 blueberry bagels, bag of premade salad and 2 Snickers. Packed the food on the bike
• Ate lunch on bench under an overhang outside of grocery store. 2 PB and tortilla sandwiches, half a big bag of Fritos, Snickers bar and water
• About 2:45 – began ride to Lowell, ID (last 27 miles)
• Light rain turned into heavy showers. Since already soaked stopped multiple times for photos and videos
• Prayer time and giving thanks for the ride
• 5pm – Arrived at Lowell and checked into the room
• Unloaded bikes, hung lines to dry clothes in the room, warm shower
• Met 2 other cyclists who are traveling east and had been a day ahead of us
• Cooked spaghetti with camp stove, ate premade salad and coffee/water
• Weather check for next day, maps reviewed, plan set, emails sent, GPS, phone, taillight recharged, final plans for Day 14 set
• Bed at 9:20

That was the day….