Broompilot
Veteran Expediter
Delivered in Boise, ID yesterday. On my way out of Little America I have only one more state to add to my list of 48 and all of Southern Canada, Utah.
This is one state I shall never forget. US 30 just scoots by so I figured I will take US 89 that cuts the upper NE corner. Well it was night and I did not study the map well enough, looked like a road that dodged the MTNs, the ROCKIES that is. I completely missed the little ski hill guy stamped on the HWY 89 anyway I thought lets do it.
I probably started at 7 to 8 thousand feet went thru a little town and started that upward CRAWL than the sign said UNDER CONSTRUCTION OK well the road dissipeared I mean gone the only thing not in my way 2 AM local time was trees. The road had turned to rock and dirt and bounced me all over the place. It was at no kidding at least, an 8% grade in its most level spots the temprature guage reached new highs, and it was only a 4K load in back and it was in the low 60s high 50s never ever saw another vehicle for 38 miles except one other flat bed. When I came to the peak the consruction ended I had traveled a total of almost 5 miles in about 25 minutes.
I thought I must be in heaven the skies were beautful and I could see falling stars. Then came the flat bed going up hill heading into that contruction at about 60 mpg I turned the CB on and warned him what was ahead as by judging his speed he was as dumb as me for taking this SHORT CUT. He thanked me and I warned him it gets worst the further he goes.
Anyway I began my decent down 5 miles I am thinking wow this is a long way down, very steep grades down hill not to many curves but those that were there were to be taken at only 20mph. So after 8 miles I am wondering wheres the bottom expecting I have another uphill ahead of me right? OK now its 14 miles and I am still going down, finially after almost 20 miles I hit my first uphill grade. Has anyone ever traveled up or down for almost 20 miles before? I was amazed at far downward this was had I of known or been able to see Utah would still be the state I have never traveled before. Watch I probably jinxed myself and will have to DH from my next reposition to PU in Salt Lake you watch this is my luck.
Anyway end of that long story, Boise ID is a great great town people are fantastic. I carry my bike with me and I have been entertained, am getting exersize, and total enjoyment. This city has invested into bike paths on every road and bike trails along all of the river fronts and busy roads. Cars are expected to give yield to bikes and THEY DO. Heck I ride my bike in my own Subdivision at home and am lucky to not get run over. The bike store in this city is as large as any Harley Davidison or Car Dealership. I got a flat, and stopped to ask for some directions when this guy said "heck lets put it in my van I will take you to the bike store". Ask that in Chicago? I have had a ball and now am sore as sore did about 30 miles yesterday in 89 temp and never broke a sweat, ate well, and Boise State University was full of pretty women. (I can look).
So if you ever get a chance bring your bike the sun shines 330 days a year here and its cool enouogh to get outside. PS the river trails take you by natural fields, golf courses, business parks, benchs to view the river from, people are fly fishing, cruising the paths, tubing, canoeing and just enjoying life. Why do I live in the EAST?
This is one state I shall never forget. US 30 just scoots by so I figured I will take US 89 that cuts the upper NE corner. Well it was night and I did not study the map well enough, looked like a road that dodged the MTNs, the ROCKIES that is. I completely missed the little ski hill guy stamped on the HWY 89 anyway I thought lets do it.
I probably started at 7 to 8 thousand feet went thru a little town and started that upward CRAWL than the sign said UNDER CONSTRUCTION OK well the road dissipeared I mean gone the only thing not in my way 2 AM local time was trees. The road had turned to rock and dirt and bounced me all over the place. It was at no kidding at least, an 8% grade in its most level spots the temprature guage reached new highs, and it was only a 4K load in back and it was in the low 60s high 50s never ever saw another vehicle for 38 miles except one other flat bed. When I came to the peak the consruction ended I had traveled a total of almost 5 miles in about 25 minutes.
I thought I must be in heaven the skies were beautful and I could see falling stars. Then came the flat bed going up hill heading into that contruction at about 60 mpg I turned the CB on and warned him what was ahead as by judging his speed he was as dumb as me for taking this SHORT CUT. He thanked me and I warned him it gets worst the further he goes.
Anyway I began my decent down 5 miles I am thinking wow this is a long way down, very steep grades down hill not to many curves but those that were there were to be taken at only 20mph. So after 8 miles I am wondering wheres the bottom expecting I have another uphill ahead of me right? OK now its 14 miles and I am still going down, finially after almost 20 miles I hit my first uphill grade. Has anyone ever traveled up or down for almost 20 miles before? I was amazed at far downward this was had I of known or been able to see Utah would still be the state I have never traveled before. Watch I probably jinxed myself and will have to DH from my next reposition to PU in Salt Lake you watch this is my luck.
Anyway end of that long story, Boise ID is a great great town people are fantastic. I carry my bike with me and I have been entertained, am getting exersize, and total enjoyment. This city has invested into bike paths on every road and bike trails along all of the river fronts and busy roads. Cars are expected to give yield to bikes and THEY DO. Heck I ride my bike in my own Subdivision at home and am lucky to not get run over. The bike store in this city is as large as any Harley Davidison or Car Dealership. I got a flat, and stopped to ask for some directions when this guy said "heck lets put it in my van I will take you to the bike store". Ask that in Chicago? I have had a ball and now am sore as sore did about 30 miles yesterday in 89 temp and never broke a sweat, ate well, and Boise State University was full of pretty women. (I can look).
So if you ever get a chance bring your bike the sun shines 330 days a year here and its cool enouogh to get outside. PS the river trails take you by natural fields, golf courses, business parks, benchs to view the river from, people are fly fishing, cruising the paths, tubing, canoeing and just enjoying life. Why do I live in the EAST?
