Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - No Services Next 66 Miles

Lowell, ID to Powell, ID (76 miles)

As for the Three Rivers Resort, in Lowell, it was nice… if you would have visited it in the 1960‘s. They have an older one story motel, a greasy spoon restaurant, a little gift shot, some cabins, rafting trips, with shuttle buses (that I would not ride in), a not so nice bathroom and showers. Mind you the temperature was in the 50’s and the showers are pretty open air. So, it was pretty chilly dressing and undressing to shower. In the evening, some hippies, who were camping down the way a bit, stopped to talk to us and wanted to look at our camper, which they thought was cool! They had been there for a few days attending the area Fiddler's Festival (which was fitting). They looked, dressed, and acted like they still lived in the 60’s…if you know what I mean. So, we endured the overnight and were glad to move on to Powell.

If there was any question, I would like to clear it up. So, I offer the following…on Tuesday (yesterday), I was very close to the campsite in Lowell, when I had to turn around and ride back to help the stranded SAG team (i.e. the Berning Camper). Once the camper was repaired and we were finally heading back to the planned route and campground for the evening, it was late in the day. So, we all rode in the vehicles to the campsite in Lowell, Three Rivers Resort. Therefore, there was some mileage that I did not ride on Tuesday due to the circumstances. So, long story short, I started the day on Wednesday by backtracking to make up the mileage I missed on Tuesday, which was 8 miles. What can I say, I am an honest accountant and I don't want someone to say that I missed the cross country ride by 8 miles. So, the 8 miles plus the required Lowell to Powell leg of 68 miles gives today's total of 76 miles.

Today's ride was a gradual climb, for the entire day, with very little downhill.  It was a 2,400 elevation gain that was spread over the entire day. But, it was a very pretty ride along the rushing river. The road did not have much of a berm most of the way, but thankfully the traffic was light and the traffic was courteous to move over. In some spots, you had to really stay focused, that you did not ride too close and ride right into the icy cold rushing water on your right, or miss seeing the truck coming behind you to end the day at that point. Thankfully, I made it safely to the destination. Hallelujah! I was really exhausted at the end of the day!

We were not sure about the Powell campground run by the US Forest Service. But it turned out to be very nice campgrounds. Sadly, there were no showers. So, we had to settle for a spit bath that night. At the campsite, there were large ground squirrels which were very friendly. They were the look of a regular Ohio squirrel but had a shorter tail and they would run into their burrows in the ground. If you would not shoo them away, they would almost walk right up to your feet.  Creepy little buggers!

We had chicken on the charcoal grill, then we had our first campfire of the trip. Neat! The park left wood lying around for campers to use. The sites were all paved and we were a stone's throw away from the river.

The sign kind of give you a flavor for what to expect at the Three Rivers "Resort". But it was the only gig in the area.

 The river that the road followed most of the day.

 Hey who is the old man who left his bike by Old Man Creek? (Oh, that is mine.) Hey, that bird is going to poo on my bike...shoo bird!

 There were these foot bridges ever so often that you could pack into the Wilderness on the other side of the river. I mean real Wilderness...not me!

 Speaking of nut cases in the wilderness, here is one of two kayaks I saw on the rapids.

 I stopped at a historic Ranger Station, where they had the multiple buildings set up like it was in the late 1800's. Maryalice was the host at the station and she was the sweetest old woman!

 More crazy fools on a raft in the river.

 BBQ Chicken at the Powell campground---Yum!