Day 7 – Ione to Round Lake State Park

81 miles (130 km) – Total so far: 437 miles (703 km)

Gabe was a bit over protective of his bathrooms at the RV camp in Ione. I was given two keys for an upper and lower lock on the door. It was quite luxurious but after all it is a bathroom. Apparently cars come off the highway and their drivers use them. This Saturday night the highway was very quiet though.

Early Sunday mornings are often the best time for riding and this was no exception. The cycle route stays clear of the busy route 2 and tales the Leclerc road on the east side of the Pend Orielle river. I saw only a handful of cars. There are some beautiful houses and most have river access and a beach. For 60 miles at least the river is more like a lake – there is a height difference of a couple of metres only. There a few gentle hills but the riding was the fastest yet, averaging 13.5 mph for the first 50 miles.

I have a room booked in Missoula. It is the only one I have booked ahead at this stage, so I needed to get through some miles today. I aimed for the State Park because in other states they have been cheap and basic. Not so in Idaho the visitors’ centre told me. In this state State Parks are the most expensive option, here 25$. It’s a pity that the initiative shown in Montana, California and Oregon of the hiker – biker sites is not shared. In those State Parks a communal area for those without cars is assigned and there is always space, so no one is turned away, for 5$. On busy nights they may actually make more money like that. There’s no other bikers around tonight or else I could have shared the site. I argued my way to a reduction of 5$ as had no car. It’s not so much the money but the principal..

Perfect riding on a quiet and cool Sunday morning along the Pend Orielle river

The Kalispell Indian Reservation and a huge Pow Wow that has been going on for 3 days, a meeting of tribes for celebrations.

View from the bridge – across the river into Usk for a break, then back to the quiet road down the east of the Pend Orielle

At Usk about 9 am Sunday morning, just starting to get busy

Watersports races on the river at Newport. Very Welsh names here. This is a much bigger town – lunch here then a change of the side of the river to keep off busy highway 2.