GDT Day 9 - Lima to Redrock Lakes Wildlife Refuge

Sun July 24, 2016

Start - 6250
High pt  approx 6650
Lo pt 6250
End Elv 6650
Climbing  ?700'

Miles 57.7
Total time  7:45
Ride time 5: 51
Day with BOB 8
No divide crossings

Today was cruising eastward upstream  though 50 miles of a 65 mile valley/park area, paralleling the continental divide that is also the border between Montana and Idaho. The divide runs along the Centennial Mountains, and I watched as the peaks grew taller and craggier as I persisted through the emptiness.

After the half mile start through Lima, I did not see a car until 27 miles into the ride today. I did however run into a cow jam on the road earlier. As I came around a turn, I met a phalanx of cows across the width of the road. They were wedged between a hilldide and a gence, and were lowing  loudly and discontentedly at my presence, stopping at this perceived threat. There was no way to pass them, nor did I want to try to force my way through them,  so I abandoned my bike in some sage in the ditch and walked up hill to stop intimidating them. From up on the hill I saw that this was a cattle drive, and the lead cowboy was wondering what had stopped his herd. He waved back at me and worked to get the herd moving again.
A man and a woman worked the back of the large herd ( 300 - 400) as well. I enjoyed watching this working of the west for over 20 minutes, all the while hoping no cow stepped on my rig. I did not, however, enjoy 'running the gauntlet'  of cow leftovers when I started riding again. Choosing good lines and precision steering were most definitely required! More so than traditional trail mountain biking, for sure.

During the endless miles, I saw many many falcons hunting, no doubt hunting the plentiful ground squirrels running across the road, at times parting like  water to the prow of my wheel.

Before getting to the lakes and wetlands of the refuge, I did pass by Lima reservoir  (5+ miles long) and saw my first pelican of the trip, plus a fair number of dark geese.

At the refuge, Glenda hiked during the afternoon, and saw about a dozen Trumpeter Swans, lots of geese  and ducks. We drove down to the lower lake campground at dusk, and saw many different birds species, including curlews, a first for me.

Some may find this land boring, but I enjoyed the day, and set a nre personal distance record for the BOB on this gentle route as well.