Day Twenty Five - Arco, Madison County & Rexburg

We got an early start this morning. Arose at 6:15 AM, loaded the bikes, and since the hotel didn't offer breakfast, we decided to head on down the road a ways and stop for breakfast later. It was only 48 degrees when we left at 6:52 AM. The sun was just barely up. We had liners and rain jackets on and I even switched on my grip heaters on low for a while. He were headed directly east on Hwy 75 and with the sun so low it was challenging coming around corners with the sun right in the eyes. Even so, because of the twisty mountainous nature, we were't in the sun so much.

Day 25 Track

It was a really nice ride with zero other traffic and the road winding alongside the Salmon River. We did see several pickup trucks parked along the road, fishermen I presume. We also came to a one-lane construction zone, but the wait was less than a minute. We ran 75 out to its intersection with US-93 and since Larry was looking for an ATM at a specific bank  to replenish his cash, he had searched last night and found one so we detoured north to Challis ID where we found the bank, but no ATM outside and the bank wasn't open yet! So, we found a nice cafe right nearby  for breakfast and figured by the time we finished then the bank would be open.. I knew it would be a good diner when I saw all the locals packing the place. We shed our cold weather gear and went in for breakfast.

Y-Inn Cafe in Challis ID

Yes, it was a genuine log cabin construction, but very nicely finished. The food was excellent and plentiful.  There was just a single waitress, but she hustled and we got served quickly. We ate a leisurely breakfast and then got on the bike to go back to the bank. We got there and it wasn't quite open yet so we just waited for about 10 minutes when it finally opened and Larry got his cash.

We then rolled south on US-95. It would be about 80 miles down to Arco, our first waypoint, but the ride was outstanding. Perfect weather, awesome scenery and for twenty miles we didn't see any other vehicles, and when we did see our first, it was a bicyclist.

View rolling down US-95 from Challis ID

View rolling down US-95 - looking back

View rolling down US-95

 We would reach Arco by about 10:30 AM. We snagged our post office photo first.

I've Been Everywhere Man - Arco

After the post office photo we went searching for gas, ice and air (for the tires). We found a tire shop with an airhose out front and topped off the tires and then got gas and ice across the street. (The hotel we stayed at last night didn't have an ice machine...) So, now we were good to go for another leg.

US-95 ended in Arco where it intersected with US-20 so we are on that for a brief bit, and then onto Hwy 33 all the way to Rexburg. Along 33 we would pick up the Madison County Line for our Presidential tour.
But before that there was plenty of scenery along the way.

Remnants of two volcanoes

 The above photo was off to our right about ten miles after 33 left US-30 near Butte City.

View ahead on 33 just after passing the volcanoes

 It would be another hour down the road before we would get to the Madison County Line.

Presidential Tour - Madison County line

And it would be yet another 15 minutes ride into Rexburg. We would stop for lunch before getting the post office photo.When we got off the bikes for lunch we noted how much the wind had picked up and the building clouds. By the time we finished lunch, it had begun a very light sprinkle. We headed for the post office without changing into rain gear.

I've Been Everywhere Man - Rexburg

No rain gear turned out to be a good call as the sprinkle ended by the time we got the post office photo. We then headed out of town on 33. As we got clear of Sugar City we could see the clouds responsible for the rain moving eastward (as we were). We've been really lucky with the rain on this trip but is was starting to look as if our luck might run out.

That road is where we are headed!

We stopped to think about putting on the rain gear. I grabbed the photo above. Now, this photo is taken when we are about 12 miles west of where 33 turns directly south at Tetonia. It looked like we might have a chance to skirt the rain, but its going to be very close. Larry thinks we can make it so I defer to his excellent judgement. We decide to take the chance and go for it. As we make the turn and head south I got these photos.

View to east as we head south on 33 towards Diggs

View to southeast as we head south on 33 towards Diggs

View to northeast as we head south on 33 towards Diggs

 As we roll into Driggs the streets are wet and its clear that the rain was here just in the last 15 minutes. We are catching a few sprinkles, but it appears we may have dodged the bullet.  Just a few more miles and the road is dry and I get this photo. And once again, Larry has proved himself the MASTER rider in making the rain gear call. 

This is as close as it gets!

From here we have a very nice ride southwest through the Targee National Forest and then down through Swan Valley and up past the Palisades Reservoir into Alpine where we are to spend the night.

Another fantastic day!

Today's Stats: 333 miles in 8:41 elapsed time, 6:05 saddle time.