7/3 New Meadows, ID-Cambridge, ID 47miles

Met another cyclist in Lander, WY way back in the first week and told me about this website warmshowers.com that is for touring cyclists and shows all these people who are willing to put up cyclists for the night. Really sweet deal showing all their locations and and if they have spare bedrooms, etc.

So started emailing people along my route in OR and will be staying with a family in the town of Halfway, OR for the 4th. Realizing that they were about 90 miles away from my last stop so decided to slow down a bit and break it up over 2 days hence the low mileage today if anybody noticed.

Got more plans to stay with folks in Bend, OR since I heard it's a great town. Looking into taking a rafting trip while I am there. To quote Lance Armstrong "IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE BIKE."
I want to get it all in before I become a working stiff! UUGGHHHH

Going to be so hard to come back yet Uncle Sam wants his money back yesterday!

Anyway, so I didn't actually make it to Council yesterday but messed around in Mcall where I shot the pic of the town on the lake. Had yet another flat of the back tire when I came out of the library so had to take care of that. Used 3 tubes on that thing already. It is however holding a lot of weight minus 6 lbs or maybe 8lbs as Trevor eloquently stated in one of his creative comments.

BTW, I mention all these towns if people are paying attention to the map from the first post. I am sure Darby Reid is watching the map as well as putting all my miles on Excel and creating Google Earth with all pics included, right, big boy?

So, New Meadows it was last night in yet another town park. Needing a shower so badly the old bucket/pot thing worked out nicely.

Weather: Damn Hot! 90's and even hotter today perhaps 95. Thank God for no humidity. Sadly, it would appear that I am out of the moutains for quite a while until I hit the Cascades.

I think the trees also went away as well but the first 20 miles were through Evergreen forests which was awesome and couldn't get enough of the smell of them!So now in Cambridge after the worst stretch of road I have seen. Heavy traffic and no shoulders. Frequently had to pull over as a semi was bairing down my ass and another one bairing up my nose! Made it alive anyway and will get off the road towards a place I am looking forward to: hell's canyon. Going to try and get there early and strap on the hikers. Tried to get on a jet boat but couldn't make it happen logistically and still make it to these people's house in Halfway.

Now I must get on my soap box and I hope the following will educate the thousands of my readers to become more respectful motorists of my fellow cyclists:

It has been now 1500 miles logged in so far and by far the worst offenders are the RVers followed by select truckers followed by "rednecks" in large pickups. I know some of you are Rvers or will become one so pay attention. Please forward on to known truckers since I know none.

1. With no opposing traffic, use the entire left lane

2. Even using the shoulder, use the left lane

3. With double yellow lines, use the GOD D#$% LEFT LANE!!

4. With opposing traffic, perhaps slowing to a tad under 90mph wouldn't be too much to ask!?

5. I have just as much right to be on the road as you

6. Even with wide shoulders, they are frequently rough with stones and glass, so let me stay inside the white line

7. NEVER HONK AT ME unless it's a tap letting me know you're there and FOR ALL THE LOVE USE THE OTHER LANE!!

I am done though I could go on. Most motorists have been great but don't remember them.

So tomorrow, looks like 58miles to Halfway, OR with halfway being the Snake River roaring through Hell's Canyon.