Return Trip - Day 39 - Boise, ID

Today, we drove in 6 hours what it took 5.5 days to bike! Of course, in that amount of driving time you could fly to Europe.....buuuuuuuutttttttt, you can't bike to Europe - from here at least. The most interesting item of note from today was that it rained non-stop from Portland to Boise, a distance of over 450 miles. That is a storm 7,920 football fields long (minus the endzones). Tomorrow we're off to Salt Lake City, stopping on the way at Shoshone Falls - the "Niagra of the West." It's 36 feet taller than the New York landmark. We're thinking there will be a little leisurely biking in Utah.

Finally, we've been doing some research on Rocky Mountain National Park's Trail Ridge Road, which at this time is *not* closed due to snow. There is some fascinating information about the road on the Park Service's website: www.nps.gov/archive/romo/visit/weather/scenicdrives.html . Taken from that site: "Covering the 48 miles between Estes Park on the park's east side and Grand Lake on the west, Trail Ridge Road more than lives up to its advanced billing. Eleven miles of this high highway travel above treeline, the elevation near 11,500 feet where the park's evergreen forests come to a halt. As it winds across the tundra's vastness to its high point at 12,183 feet elevation, Trail Ridge Road (U.S. 34) offers visitors thrilling views, wildlife sightings and spectacular alpine wildflower exhibitions, all from the comfort of their car." Well, if things go as planned, I'm going to put the bike trip '08 bike fitness to the test this weekend and try and see the view from the comfort of the bicycle and "time trial" the road...or at least, try and ride it fast. We'll see how it goes. Stay tuned.

Requested Superlatives
Biggest Roadkill: There was a remarkable amount of roadkill of all sizes seen. Only when we made it to Wyoming did the actual living wildlife become something other than rabid, teeth-showing dogs-off-leashes ready to chase spinning wheels and bright clothing. The biggest roadkill was probably a several point buck - a deer with many points on its antlers. Unlike with most of the roadkill seen, it always seemed as if someone had pulled the deer off the roads, which was a good thing. On an upbeat note, during the next to last day of cycling I saw a giant, living badger sitting in the middle of the road. That was cool. Also rode along side a hawk one morning in Idaho.