Hey everybody! Its Ryan Roemer from Missoula Montana and I am feeling well into my trip right now.   I know that I have not posted in a while, but I will try to do my best to amend that right now. The day I left Baker city it was pouring rain and freezing cold, but I still managed to enjoy myself later in the day when it stopped raining. Because of all the sagebrush in the rain it smelled strongly of licorice, but it looked for all the world like I was in Scotland. The next night I stayed at a farmhouse through the warm showers website. Everything they had was oversized and it was great! I never felt out of place there with that, all the books and the upright grand piano. Biking through Idaho was fun, I met up with my family on the weekend (they had my grandmothers teardrop trailer with them) and we just happened to both turn up at the same campground to stay the night (the campground was called evergreen in case you were wondering). That was again, a lot of fun but all good things must come to an end and we parted ways at White Bird on Old highway 90, where they told me their song for me was "Blackbird", a beautiful song although I might be prejudiced a little bit. Before I left Idaho I met up with the cavalry for the state of Montana, The "Montana Conservation Core" a group of kids that were working on the trails around the Warm springs campground (which had been closed for years I've been told). They were the best company I had, and possibly will have, on my journey. I cannot praise them enough, but I  hope this will do; I was honored to spend the time I did with such great people, you will always be to me my friends and comrades of the Idaho wilderness. I am in Missoula now, as I said, and I've been here for a couple days resting and relaxing before the Rockies ahead of me. The first night I stayed at a motel, but for last night and tonight I was lucky enough to get a place to stay from someone who was fixing their bike at free cyclery. So I enjoyed the town and got supplies (good foods is a great place to go as well) and replaced my worn out tires. I must be getting along but I might not have many places I can update from here to Colorado, so Bye for now! catch you on the flipside!

traveling through Idaho

Ryan's parents writing for Ryan again (few places open to post late in the day and on weekends)
Ryan is enjoying his trek through Idaho.  He said "courtesy" is his word for Idaho.  He's been impressed with the way people here give a wide berth as they pass him and wave as they go by.

He has enjoyed meeting people along the way.  He's run into a few other bicyclists.  He enjoyed getting off road for a little while on the Weiser River trail (from Evergreen campground north about 7 miles) The river trail is an 85 mile trail that was an old railroad grade that goes from Weiser almost all the way to New Meadows and is used by equestrians, mountain bikers, and hikers. It was nice to bike without having to watch for cars for a little while.

On the summer solstice (Friday June 21st) he had a brief mini reunion with family, as we (parents Ron & Renee & sister Robin) met up with him at Evergreen Campground between Council and New Meadows.  He had a cheery campfire going and we caught up with conversation around a late supper together.

The next day we hung out briefly in New Meadows while he biked there on the trail and then met up again and all camped together along the Salmon River near Riggins.  On Sunday we said goodbye to him near White Bird, at the base of a steep grade up to White Bird Summit, where he had over 2000 ft. climb and then almost a 1000 foot drop again to Grangeville.  (We offered a lift or to take his gear but he wanted to get practice for the coming passes in the Rockies.) The bike route took the old highway up with lots of hairpin turns and switchbacks.  He called late in the afternoon to say he had made it to Grangeville. We are hoping he's not getting hit today by the downpour we got near Bend last night.

Today he will probably be connecting with highway 12, following the Clearwater, then Selway and Lochsa rivers and heading toward Lolo Pass. 

(Renee writing for Ryan-who hasn't been able to log in again lately)
Ryan is meeting many wonderful people along the way and feeling very grateful for hospitality in Baker City and again in Halfway, with people he connected with via the Warm Showers organization...and warm showers were definitely an important part of it, as he had a couple of very wet biking days. It was also nice to have warm dry places to sleep in stormy weather, lots of food and good company.  Today he crossed the Snake River into Idaho below Hells Canyon area. The weather was better again. Now (Thurs June 20th) he's in Cambridge.  When he arrived at the city park the community was having a BBQ and they let him join in. He was craving chili and they had several chili dishes. That BBQ was one of the highlights of his trip so far.   Tomorrow night his family will be meeting up with him in Meadows (near McCall) for a weekend visit.

Hey everybody, It's been quite a trip so far. I traveled over 220 miles in the past four days, and I am currently staying in Baker City. I started out around 3 O'clock Friday afternoon, going up through Prineville on the Powell Butte Highway to camp on the Ochoco reservoir before biking to Mitchell the next day. There I met two bikers from Colorado biking from the Oregon coast to their home. Their names are Eliza, and Blake. I biked with them through the scenic "Journey through Time" route to Mount Vernon. When we got there we stayed at a lovely little bike hostel right along the side of the bluff. From there we parted paths, I already have so many stories to tell, but that might need to wait for another day I think, or maybe a book, (who knows?). I have much yet to do, and I need to try to take my college placement tests while I'm still at a computer, so here are some pictures of my trip. That's all for now, wish me "Bonne Chance" ; )

Too many pictures I guess, but oh well (I am afraid a few got out of order, that last steeple with the flag was from Prineville. Oops!)