PACIFIC OCEAN!!

We made it!! Arrived in Crescent City, CA yesterday after spending eight days biking through Oregon during the hottest week the state has seen in the past 100 years. We have so many people to thank and stories to tell from that week but we'll have to post them later since this library is closing in 8 minutes. Now we just have to do our 400 mile cool-down ride from here to San Francisco.

IDAHO

Attention: After many, many failed attempts, the much anticipated American Idol Video has successfully been posted. Please scroll down to see Freda's performance. And see if you can spot the judge who's not like the others...

Idaho is HOT. And windy. We descended from the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies directly into the 103 degree heat of the desert. The 30 mph head winds ALMOST got the best of us one afternoon when it took us 3.5 hours to ride the last 23 miles. Freda was convinced she was pedaling and not moving forward. But we persevered! And we beat Lance. Again.

Rexburg, ID was filled with SnowCone Shacks and the wonderful hospitality of Tony Perkins and Lana Grover. It was by far and away the softest grass we've ever slept on and the best milkshakes we've ever eaten. And your advice on our nutrition needs has led to our daily consumption of a quart of chocolate milk. Each. (Except Melissa). And a big thanks to Mike (the angel) from Idaho National Laboratories who magically appeared on the side of the road with cold Gatorade and Salted Nut Rolls because he'd seen us suffering for 2 days. Good luck on your 200 mile race! (in one day).

Now we're taking a rest day in Caldwell, ID. This should be our last rest day before we roll into the Pacific Ocean. We have to get over the Cascades. Everyone who told us it was all downhill from the Rockies was lying. Lying.

#1: we were a little scared of radioactivity. but things are ok, i think. anyway, "all injuries are viewed as preventable."












#2: Lisa's new tent died. After about a week of use. Eureka has kindly sent her a new one.






















#3: Sometimes I think Freda's tent looks like a cross between Slimer and the sandworms from Dune--especially when the mesh is closed.















#4: Waaaay too hot in the Boise valley to read inside the tent.














#5: Especially when your reading material is so steamy.

Bison!

We had to stop to let the bison cross the road.

Grand Teton and Yellowstone Parks (Lisa's cousin has more pictures)

#1: The snow-capped mountain that we crossed















#2: In front of the Tetons. Lisa is NOT pregnant in this picture; she just wears funny clothes











#3: We taught our new friend, Kevin, to play Euchre



















#4: Freda, with attitude

#5: Self-explanatory, I hope

Muddy Gap and Dubois...WY

#1: Truly the middle of nowhere
















#2: Taken just before a 7 mile descent











#3: Going up into Grand Teton park

#4: We took pictures in our Dubois shirts for the people of Dubois, PA. There's also a Dubois, ID, but that was 20 miles off of our course. Sorry, guys.

Lisa rides the mechanical bull at the Wyoming state fair

In the end, she had to tell the operator that she was done because he could not get her to fall. Evidently, she has a second calling in bull riding. Note that she's getting air in the third picture.