Jun 8 2012

12-06-08 Friday – Rest and Dry day – just couldn’t get into pouring rain this morning so did Maintenance.

i A rest day and Buffett meal at Mama Panda in Kelowna another night at the Super 8. Doing light maintence, patching tubes, oiling the bikes after all the rain. setting up fishing rigs. repacking everything and of course rest and food. Plan is for North of Vernon 63km rain or shine.

Jun 8 2012

12-06-07 Thursday day 114 – 44 km 26.4 miles – Beautiful Sunny morning into Rainy with flat tires cool views and motel night already.

: Really beautiful Sunny morning – neither of us stirred until after 8am

: Well the rain started by 11am and would you believe a flat on the Bullit proof Armadillo tire – so far I have had more mechanical problems in 2 days than in 5 months. Getting out of the way now is better with civilization around than later.

: Of course it is raining on the side of the 4 lane road with 100kph speed.

: I am telling you the hole is easy to find when it’s a Stanely knife blade broken off in the tire. I guess even the Armidillo tire has a weakness

: The bridge into Kelowna, BC over the Okanagan lake. This whole area from Peachland is a large metro area – beauitiful backdrop. Michael says this is still cool – I know it can only get better than this.

: Michael is smileing now that we are somewhere warm and dry. Me too, just had to bring in the motel.

Jun 8 2012

12-06-06 Wednesday Day 113 – 68 Km / 40.8 miles Getting some miles and feel for the Country – still working out the bugs – more rain.

: found a Subway for a breakfast sandwitch and the 1.00 coffee and cookie deal.. and get out of the rain for a little while

: seeing the wild life on the side of the mountains

: Heading up the steep grades – Michael is on the ICE trike – PapaMike is adjusting the Recombant after yesterdays chain break

: Geese on the lake

: The grades are steeper and longer than in texas.

: It is raining again in this morning and that is snow on the mountains across the lake.

: More wild life Mountain goats on the rock cliffs above the road

: Made it to the second nights camp at the Okanagan Lake Provincial Park – cost more than the RV park last night. We are too tired to care.

Jun 8 2012

12-06-05 Tuesday Day 112 – 32 Km / 20miles – The first day across the border into Canada lots of rain and equipment issues and we are off.

: Morn getting up in the rain for the packup and ride to the Canada – USA border

: Michael is ready to head out – in his rain suite. – and boy does he need it

: on the US side of the border the bikes are ready – Later in the day we find out differently and there is no dampening our spirits.

: Canada customs – The agents unpacked everything, cloths bags, sleeping bags, tents, food, at least we got some of the water out after 2 hours. A little daunting having every little item inspected and taken apart. Yet the good news was we lightened up the load and repacked everything out of the rain.

: first break down – bent chain to take apart – Now where is that Master link for a 9 speed chain. Oh yea it is at the bike shop which just happens to be 3 blocks away. Thank you Guardian Angel..

: Well a Noon start, 2 hours at Customs, chain break down, rain, head wind, We are ready for an RV park, it was dry when we pulled into Oliver, Canada for the 1st night – Rick the owner visited – Michael meet some young French speaking kids who were up to work in the orchards and vineyards around there.

: The bent chain section. Michael is keeping it as a momento – Hope there are not many more.

Jun 8 2012

12-06-04 Monday – Up to the USA/Canada Border for the run to Fairbanks Alaska with Michael Pruiett, my Grandson.

: Loaded for the border – Scott and Lin drove from Leonard, Texas to Deary, Idaho in a little under 36 hours – Now we are loaded for the drive to Spokane for REI and Bike tires for Michael’s Recumbent.

: Going by the Grand Coulee Dam on the way to the border.- Longer drive that we thought we were making. Ran into some rain.

Jun 8 2012

12-05-22 thru 06-03 Sun R&R at my niece Amy and Brian her husband – Great time and wonderful visit – Meeting up with Grandson Michael

: 5-26 sat Camp fire in the back yard popcorn and marshmallows

: 05-27 Sun Whole Pig picnic after church for the graduates – cool – Love these small community/church happenings

: 05-27 Sun The guest of Honor – great stuff

: 05-27 Sun Another fisherman at Moose Creek Lake for an evening fishing trip – what a great day

: Caught the first one – It gets better

: 05-27 Sun Now we are talking – meet some friends from town with a paddle boat.

: 05-28 Mon Memorial Day – The fisherman is on the wing – this is really cool there are two Eagles and an Ospere hawk fishing

: 5-28 Mon Patrick and Heather with the first trout of the afternoon – they slayed em took 8 keepers home for the BBQ. What a wonderful day.

: 05-28 Mon – the other imature eagle that was fishing – when the Ospere Hawk caught a fish the two eagles came out and persued him till the fish dropped.

: 05-28 Mon My step-sister Christine and her friend Chris over for the BBQ.

: 05-31Thur – Heather’s school – the whole school at lunch

: 6-1 Fri The new Highschool Senior with his Grandmother Gail – Oh he got his blackberry activated and we may not see his face till the battery runs down.

: 6-1 Fri Heather and Grandpa Brian the awards are for citizenship and reading

: 6-1 Fri Patrick on the first of his two touchdowns during the flag football game.

: 06-02 Sat taking down the big Red Fir – it has been dropping branches on the house in high winds time to come down.

: 06-02 Sat A friend of Christine is taking out the limbs befor toping the tree and felling it

: 06-02 sat Bringing down the next section

: 06-02 Sat Amy and Christine at the tree felling

: 06-02 Sat the crew making sure the tree falls away from the house –

: 06-02 the tree is down now for the work to clear and cut into fire wood.

: Another bridge along the Delta

May 24 2012

12-05-20 Sunday 111 Days 25 miles into Lapwai and Niece Amy and Brian ride to their home in Deary, ID for some R&R.

: Sunday Morning after 5 miles into out of Winchester, ID it is all down hill from here to Lapawi and Church.

: Are You Kidding ME!!! the 5th flat tire and this one on the spare and new tube. Oh well – getting really good at fixing these.

: Meet a couple riding from Portland, OR to Portland, Maine. Mari said she hadn’t had a reason to get new bike until sitting in mine. There is more on Mari and Terry at their blog spot at “http://pedalpushers.blogspot.com/”

: made it to Sacred Heart church in Lapawi in plenty of time this morning 25 miles. My Niece Amy and her Husband Brian are coming to pick me up and take me home to Deary.

: Great Niece Heather looks like her Mom and Aunt Jenn

: Home with Brian, Amy and Patrick what a wonderful home in Deary, Idaho. I like this place.

: The oldest great nephew in Idaho Mathew a super fellow going to be a senior in High school next year.

: and of course KC the youngest of the Popes – photo by Heather

May 23 2012

12-05-19 Saturday 110 days 40 miles late into Ferdinand for Mass and a old stealth camp

: Slow morning getting going at the Bear Den RV Park

: The Rec room where using Microwave for instant coffee.

: What!!! a flat tire – I haven’t had flat for the last 2000miles the road out of Grangeville has rumble strips –

: The fields out of town are beautiful Greens, and yellows.

: stopped and Talked with Chris a young fellow(Late 20’s) who farms 700 acres and runs 250 head of cattle He explained the yellow flowers is winter Canola bean crops. It is in the Bronk stage and grows up to 6 inches in a day until developing the seed pods. also the winter Canola oil is used for industrial oils not food stuff.

: The church in Ferdnado for vigil mass, I was late after having stopped for 4 flat tires combination of wires and poor patches.

: after the 4th flat I switched to my spare tire and new tube. I ‘ll try for Mass in Lapawi, Id. tomorrow Sunday.

: More History lesson of the area and how the weiser river got it’s name.

: A good 40 miles and at dark stealth camped under the trees under the tarp.

May 23 2012

12-05-18 Friday 109 days 33 miles This is the longest steep climb to date – out of Salmon River Canyon

: Morning on the Salmon River – slept really well.

: i spending some time having breakfast and watching this fellow searching for his over the river.

: Great Camp site on the gravel – there was not any rain last night which was fine.

: The view down the River – Up ahead the road pulls away from the river up to the Camis Prairie

: They say some folks up here are perpared for big changes in the world – This fellow may be expecting the global warming ice cap meltnig or another Noah flood, In any case he is prepared.

: Coming into White Bird, ID – stayed on the old hwy 95 the new section goes over the bridge above. There will be climb out of the Salmon River Canyon Today.

: lots the yards in the farms have Iris and they are beautiful

: up close

: Coming out of White Bird came past this barn with the antler display on his barn.

: Rested here and the owner came out talked. A great person who has lived here 18 years after moving down from Alasks after 20 years. He hascommercial fished around Alaska waters for 40 years. Harvey has a some definite views on things and he is prepared in a community sort of way, another one of the hopeful things that I discover in my journey.

: Begining the the grade out of the Canyon

: White bird Battle area with the Nez Pearce Indians They won this one.

: These two folkd passsed me walking up the hill faster than I was pedaling

: Starting to make some progress on the grade – the old 95 grade is a lot of switchbacks – yet to come.

: Caught up with the walkers – They didn’t have any water and were just carring a briefcase – I was able to give some bottles with water so they could continue.

: A lot of the highway in Idaho is open ranges around here – The travel companions are not a attentive or talkative all the time.

: The view gets more and more spectacular the higher you go

: This young calf started following me, so figured out I didn’ t look that much like Mom, wrong color fur.

: The last switch back and the view down.

: Not the end of up though – these canyons are steep and deep.

: yes I can have only a little better feel for effort to get up and out.

: near the top of the White Bird Hill one lane road contruction zone. The traffic is held up and let go alternately. The girl said it wasn’t far to the downhill side. How fast can you go?

: Oh Brother just what I need more uphill to pedal as fast as I can on oneway, holding up traffic in both directions. The road department is netting the sides before spaying with concrete

: Now I am on the down hill finally – Only about 40 cars and trucks backed up. They didn’t start waving at me until toward the end of line.

: i Into Grangeville after 33 miles and decided to back track to the Bear Den RV park for night – great place, shower and rec room with Microwave for coffee.

May 22 2012

12-05-17 Thursday 108 days 35 miles – The wonderful Salmon River Canyon ride

: Morning of another great day – Having dropped down the river almost 35 miles the country looks a lot different

: The river is a lot larger than when I started down it 35 miles back.The river is a lot larger than when I started down it 35 miles back.

: the Little Salmon joined the Upper Salmon and is now the Salmon river. Feels Odd that it is flowing North.

: Spotted this log and tried to keep pace with it to see how fast the river is flowing – Somewhere between 10 and 12 mph for the log.

: History lesson – Gold found around here years ago –

: Along the river are a number of these old mines and some newer ones where they dug in looking for gold.

: and it is still me along the river

: This is one of those only walking or on a bicycle momements along the road – I spotted this mule deer watchig me from the hill side.

: The Geology along here is interesting with the volcano action and river carving the landscape.

: This is a cool cabin that I took pictures of and went through the museum.

: of course you couldn’t get a building permit to build a home like this today or one that would last as long and all natural construction.

: Then again it would be pretty simple life style

: This is another great day down hill and the wind at your back all the way.

: The big wide river of No Return – float fishing for steelhead and salmon is a great sport along here.

: After an easy 37 mile day, another beautiful night along the river – Looks like perhaps some rain behind.

Papamikeonatrike

papamikefox finished a 9,000 mile bicycle journey

12-06-08 Friday – Rest and Dry day – just couldn’t get into pouring rain this morning so did Maintenance.

12-06-07 Thursday day 114 – 44 km 26.4 miles – Beautiful Sunny morning into Rainy with flat tires cool views and motel night already.

12-06-06 Wednesday Day 113 – 68 Km / 40.8 miles Getting some miles and feel for the Country – still working out the bugs – more rain.

12-06-05 Tuesday Day 112 – 32 Km / 20miles – The first day across the border into Canada lots of rain and equipment issues and we are off.

12-06-04 Monday – Up to the USA/Canada Border for the run to Fairbanks Alaska with Michael Pruiett, my Grandson.

12-05-22 thru 06-03 Sun R&R at my niece Amy and Brian her husband – Great time and wonderful visit – Meeting up with Grandson Michael

12-05-20 Sunday 111 Days 25 miles into Lapwai and Niece Amy and Brian ride to their home in Deary, ID for some R&R.

12-05-19 Saturday 110 days 40 miles late into Ferdinand for Mass and a old stealth camp

12-05-18 Friday 109 days 33 miles This is the longest steep climb to date – out of Salmon River Canyon

12-05-17 Thursday 108 days 35 miles – The wonderful Salmon River Canyon ride