Day 1. Avoiding Hwy 95

Posted bycinnicrewPosted inSelkirk

8/19/24. Sandpoint ID to Bonner’s Ferry ID

39 miles. AIS 3:43. 10.6 mph. 1016 elev.

We were off as planned this morning after a coffee and breakfast sandwich stop at a nearby coffee shop. 8am. departure and the temp was a comfortable 60 degrees.

The starting line

The plan was to avoid a very busy highway 95 that has shoulders of varying widths. Our route took us on 4 miles of gravel that hardly seemed gravel. Nothing like the ping pong ball size gravel of Yellowstone County! It was packed and fast. We connected with a country paved road that had no shoulder but minimal traffic. We did have a couple “big boy” pickups that didn’t want to slow down as oncoming cars approached. Just a couple of the a**hole drivers that are still on every road somewhere. We both ride with rear view mirrors so you can see the “squeeze play” coming.

Smooth gravel start… like a dream
Road just north of Sandpoint. The Selkirk Mtns to the right.
Home of Schweizer Mountain Ski Resort

We took another gravel road detour to avoid 95… this one was a bit rougher with a few spots of soft sand and some washboard but pleasant. This was about 6 miles.

Eventually we had no choice but the big highway. At first we had a nice shoulder but that didn’t last long. We came upon highway construction and flaggers. The female flagger let us go right through so we rode on the new asphalt and bridge they were working on skipping the single file traffic. That’s a treat! Also when they’re stopping traffic like that you get a few minutes reprieve from any traffic. Then it comes in strong for several minutes of non stop cars and trucks.

In the construction zone. Kind of a tall fence as an obstacle to the toilet with a view.

We must have been on that road for about 4 cycles before exiting on the most beautiful backroad called Deep Creek Loop Old Hwy 95. We rode through a very tiny burg called Naples. Then we had this road with new pavement almost all the way to the outskirts of Bonner’s Ferry.

Lunch at the Naples General Store
on Deep Creek Loop. Steady stream of locals stopping to get their mail and chitchat with the workers.
Extremely rural American scene
Cueing up for lunch. Today’s lunch was tortilla with hummus, avocado, tomato and cucumber. We ate on the side of this building on a concrete ledge.
Deep creek
So beautiful, quiet and brand new asphalt. Hard to top that kind of pleasure
on a bicycle
Entering the Kootenai River valley just before we climbed into Bonner’s Ferry.
Our first camp night at an RV campground in the city limits of Bonner’s Ferry. They allow tents in the lawn area.
Pretty cheap $20!
Took a 2 mile ride down to the downtown area along the Kootenai River to checkout the local brewery.
Had dinner at this interesting restaurant. Husband/wife team. She’s Filipino and cooks a variety of Asian/Filipino food but also had some Mexican dishes. We had Filipino… actually quite good! Friendly little simple restaurant

Random things I see…

I’m on the lookout for brightly painted houses on this tour
It’s Idaho so various Trump political signs are common. It’s interesting that the sign is in great condition but the flag is in tatters and almost non-existent. We’ve seen several tattered Trump flags.
Not worth buying a new one??

Tomorrow we cross the border into British Columbia, Canada at Porthill ID. headed to Creston BC. Looking forward to riding in Canada again!

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