America the Beautiful

Any of you that know me, know that we plan to return to the United States as soon as we retire.  For you progressives in the bunch, California is not part of the United States, not as I know them.  More to come on that.  Today we rode from Winnemucca to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  What a ride.  538 miles!  Much of it was freeway through Nevada, which I can take or leave, but then we got onto a two lane road to head to Twin Falls.  It was a beautiful ride with vast prairies on either side and regular reminders that herds of deer migrate across the road.  We kept a vigilant eye, but never spotted a deer, thankfully.  As much as I like seeing them, I do not enjoy the thought of them in the roadway, particularly in herds...  The fences on the sides of the road must have been 12 feet high and we even came across 2 bridges specifically for migrating herds.

Bridge for herds of deer to cross the highway.

We stopped for lunch in Twin Fall, Idaho, the beginning of the United States.  Of course we ate at Subway.  Every time we stopped in Idaho, someone would come up, comment on the bikes, as where we were going, offer directions, etc.  At first it freaked us out a bit, being from California, but eventually we calmed down and enjoyed the attention.  At one stop, Ray left his credit card in the store.  As we rehydrated and chatted in the parking lot, the young lady came out to give Ray back his card.  I'm fairly confident he will not find any unusual charges on it, after all, it is America.  I'm trying to cut Ray some slack since he is a Prospect, but he seems to forget a lot of things.  Let's see, no sunscreen...no bike lock, no cover...  I didn't ask about rain gear....  Welcome to the club, Ray!

Pam and Ray

The ride from Twin Falls to Jackson Hole was spectacular.  Beautiful fields of golden grain, large fields of something green...we were going 75 miles per hour.  It reminded me that our nation is not just the cities, but has a large heart land that produces an abundance of food, so much the we feed the world, and still have enough left over to burn in our cars.  If I was bringing someone from outside the country to see the U.S., I would avoid S.F. and New York and bring them to Idaho so they can see the immenseness of our farming capability.  Everywhere you look, huge John Deere equipment plowing and reaping.  America at its finest.

As we entered Teton County, there were signs to watch for moose on the road.  Needless to say, this captured my full attention as I was both excited and fearful all at the same time.  No luck, or perhaps great luck as no moose were spotted.  As you come into Jackson, there are full size metal silhouettes of moose on the side of the road.  We all thought they were real a distance.

As day 2 draws to an end, we are not far from Yellowstone as seen on Disney or the National Geographic channel.  See you on the road.