Day 2. From birds to brews…

Posted bycinnicrewPosted inSelkirk

8/20/24. Bonners Ferry, ID to Creston, BC

Stats: 41 mi, AIS 4:20, 9.5mph, 1230 elevation

Beautiful start to a beautiful morning. We spent all morning riding along the Kootenai River valley on the west side of the river. (West Side road). It kept us off of Hwy 95 all day.

View of the river leaving Bonner’s Ferry
Interesting barn
Creative grain loading?

This morning we started traveling through the Kootenai Wildlife Refuge. Today it was predominantly geese but I did spot a group of pelicans. The road was paved for several miles, then decent gravel, then paved again until we crossed the river at Copeland.

We did not take this loop but took the road to the left of it
Looking north toward Canada
The pelicans
Looking east toward Bonners Ferry

We took a little hiking trail (1/4 miles) to see the Myrtle Creek Falls. Simple side trip not far from Bonner’s Ferry

Nice pool above and below the falls. Inaccessible unless you rock climb or rappel.

After the refuge the road began to climb and the farmland below became agriculture. We noticed acres and acres of strange “trees”. Tall and skinny. From the distance we couldn’t tell what they were until we came across a sign at the entry to one of the fields.

The Hop Farm
These hops were growing for miles and miles. There was a break where the farmers grew oats and then it was back to hops to the Canadian border.

At an area called Copeland we crossed the Kootenai. There was a boat ramp with picnic table, toilets and a Border Patrol agent taking a break. We chose to take a lunch break here as well.

That’s a very old boat.
The border patrol agent told us this Farm to Market road was all paved but the last mile to the border at Porthill ID.
The stretch of farming that was not hops
Looking at Canada ahead of us. Farm to Market road was 10 miles from the border.
Back to hops. Closeup view. Canada is 1/2 mile north. The gravel section of the road was more like 2 miles and somewhat fresh gravel. It was pretty rough! Hands and butt weren’t happy.
Porthill Mercantile. Stopped for an ice cream bar, root beer soda and water fillup.

Oh Canada….

The Canadian border stop
The USA/ Canadian border clearcut strip in the mountains
10 miles of pavement to Creston BC
We’ve seen a lot of motorcycles but no other bicyclists… yet.

Our route choice today was so relaxing and enjoyable (except the last 2 miles to the border). We had very, very little traffic. It was quiet and so scenic. What a gem of a ride to the border.

After the border it was 10 miles to our RV Campground of the night. We had a tailwind and really smooth pavement into town. It was mid 80’s and 3pm when we arrived… so it felt hot. Jim had been warned that there was a hill to the RV camp. It was a soul-crushing 2 mile steep hill at 80+ and 3pm! I stopped once in the shade, then remounted, then ultimately walked the last and steepest section. Arrived at our really nice campground and tent site… a bit spent.

Set up camp… showered (which always helps), did the usual hand wash of today’s bike clothes and set off for dinner and a beer in downtown Creston.

Local brewery.
Food truck at the brewery. Not nearly as good as my friend Mia’s Korean food but hard to pass up a one stop brew/meal combo

It’s important to note that Creston is the home of Kokanee Beer (an Anheiser-Busch product). It’s across the street from our campground. Big operation. Needs alot of hops!!

Tomorrow we head north to Crawford Bay on Kootenay Lake. We will be riding along the river between the Selkirk Mtns and the Purcell Mtns. Creston is between by both mountain ranges and they are just beautiful!

Happy to be in Canada again riding my bike! Looking forward to tomorrow in a place I’ve never seen before. Today was very special too.

5 thoughts on “Day 2. From birds to brews…”

  2. the early morning photos are so beautiful. What a glorious world and continent we live in.
    When I rode my e-bike on a loose jagged gravel road with some soft Sandy parts my back tire would shimmy at times. You with your packs on front and back may not have that issue

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