Day 12: Twin Falls to Burley,
Idaho
July 2, 2004
Miles: 42 (38 official plus a side trip to see Twin Falls)
Because this was an easy day, we didn't have our route rap (ride
briefing) until 8 am. Breakfast for Team Clydesdale followed,
then we finished packing and loaded the van. After another few
minutes to try to locate a lost cell phone (found later in the day) we
headed out. We were near the last but one rider, we're told,
didn't leave until 11 am.
Our plan had been to go off the route to see the Shoshone Falls and
Twin Falls. Everyone else blew past the Shoshone Falls turnoff
but we learned from Pete and Re-Pete (father and son, Jr. and III) that
the falls weren't "falling" due to low water from heavy irrigation
drawdowns. Jeff and I almost missed the Twin Falls turn but we
did make it down to the observation area halfway down into the
canyon. Due to the installation of a hydroelectic generating
facility, it is down to one fall:
The climb back out was fairly steep, which helps keep our
climbing legs tuned for Teton Pass, which is coming in a few days.
Most of the rest of the route followed pretty closely to I-84.
The scenery reminds me of the Sacramento Valley that we ride in at home.
Though not quite as flat, there are canals delivering irrigation
water. The roads are a little smoother.
Here is a ruggedized mailbox:
The
staff cooked up a scavenger hunt for today. Sandy and Dave from
Cameron Park were the winners. Team Clydesdale came in the middle
of
the pack. Fittingly, our bottle cap was from an Anheiser-Busch
product--the home of the Clydesdales!
Mike gave
a drivetrain maintenance clinic. He recommends using WD-40,
sprayed into a rag to wipe down the chain. Others swear by Simple
Green and Formula 409 as chain cleaners.
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