Home sweet home in Missoula

Since our last update, Derek and I have blasted through Idaho in 5 days and made our way to Missoula, MT. From Baker City, OR, we had an 84 mile day to the Idaho state line. This brought us into and through the infamous Hell's Canyon, through which the Snake River runs. Notably, it is also the deepest gorge in North America (The Grand Canyon is actually the third...the second deepest is also located in Idaho). During our trek through the mostly barren landscape, the afternoon sun brought the temperature up to 108 degrees, not exactly ideal cycling weather. We rested in the afternoon to beat the heat, and then got in the last 11 miles or so as the sun dropped below the hills. The next morning, we awoke to find ourselves in Idaho, but within spitting distance of Oregon. We climbed out of the gorge before lunch, and despite, the big gain in elevation, we still managed to make a 78 mile day to New Meadows, Idaho. It was pretty horribly hot during the afternoon, even though we were no longer in the canyon. By the last 15 miles or so, a thunderstorm had developed, complete with lighting, thunder, and LOTS of rain....so by the time we got to New Meadows, we were soaked and freezing cold. Four more days of biking followed (each of which got progressively cooler as we headed Northeast, and out of the desert), taking us along the Nez Perce and Lewis and Clark trails, through the Nez Perce Reservation, and up and over Lolo pass and into the long-awaited big sky country...so, alas, here we are.
Thanks to Renee and her family, Missoula has been an ideal rest spot. Laundry, showers, and damn good home cookin'! Thank you!
Tomorrow (August 1st), we will begin to head Southeast, hopefully getting into Wyoming @ Yellowstone on the 5th. The next day, Grand Tetons/Jackson area, and we'll probably take a rest day on the 7th, at which time Dena will be meeting up with us to join us for however much of the journey her schedule allows. :)
Sarah