My First Road Trip!

Went on my first road-trip with the new toy. I was hired to do medical stand-by for a mountain bike race at Silver Creek Plunge. They had a new track and the insurance requires that they have medically-trained personnel on stand-by just-in-case.

I left early Saturday Morning. I was hoping to take one of the girls, but not knowing what to expect with this group, I went alone.
I rode up Hwy 55 through the area that I grew-up traveling. It was a great trip up memory lane. While growing-up, we traveled north for most of our camping trips and scout outings. One of the stops that we always made was the lower rapids in Banks, Idaho.

This is the sandbar that used to exit the river on, but this has been a good water year here in Idaho:

I continued to a little town called Crouch. We used to visit here while Mh and I were engaged because we had some friends that had a cabin here. It is a weird little town, but it has grown since the last time I was here (about 10 years ago).

The road to Silver Creek Plunge has really improved over the past years. I haven't been up here since Mh and I were engaged, so it has been like 14 years, but I remember the road being a lot rougher. It is some beautiful country though.
'The Plunge' as I learned it is called now, was not much different than it was 14 years ago. The lodge was the same, the pool was the same, but they had added some camping areas, solar panels and they had some amazing pictures of the forest fires from last year. They actually used the pool for a dip tank at one point. Even with the fires last year, it is an amazingly beautiful area.
The race was cool. This a very passionate group, but very accepting and entertaining. They had all levels of competitors, and a new, very challenging course. There was a spectator loop (beginner coarse that is also the beginning of the sport, professional and expert course), then the
big loop'. It was a killer loop of about 20 miles that I was told was the most difficult and strenuous coarse anyone had ever seen, but they loved the challenge and were looking forward to it next year. It was a fun day. I almost wish that I had brought my mountain bike so that I could have tried at least the spectator loop. The winner finished the expert course in like 2 hours and 20-some minutes, but we had one guy that was "lost" on the course (just very slow) and when he finally finished it was 6 hours and 50-some minutes, but he insisted on finishing. It was really fun talking to the racers and my job was simple. I bandaged just a few scrapes and bumps, but got paid and had a free lunch.

These last pictures were the placement board. As you come across the finish line, they record your time on a tag and hang it on the board. Instant results.

After the race, I took off to head home and decided to take a different route. I loved riding the dirt roads in the hills. I haven't done much off-road riding, so this was a cool, different experience.
I road through Garden Valley, then headed back toward Horseshoe Bend. Once there, I took Hwy. 52 toward Emmett. I love this road. It follows the river for most of the trip then opens into the reservoir above the dam. I stopped at the park below the dam to take a break.

I then rode through Emmett, up Freezeout road to Middleton then home. It was a great day. I really enjoyed the freedom that you just don't get in a car. This was a new experience for me.