Challis Hot Springs: Tourists and Tent poles

We had ridden 80 miles to Challis, ID and decided to check out a hot springs camp ground in Challis that someone had told us about. It was getting dark, and the hot camp ground was nearly 5 miles off the main road--10 miles from the town.

We arrived to a bed and breakfast/RV park/Camp ground. Not what we had expected. Women were walking around in dresses and a others were coming out of the hot springs with their shirts off--guys, of course. The hot springs had just closed. And one of the women in a dress came over.

"did you guys ride down here to get in the hot springs? or to camp?"

Andy: "Well we were thinking about going in the hot springs--are there not any others around?"

"No we own them all. They close at ten so we just locked them up for the night. Are you planning on camping here--we'll open the hot springs up at 8 am tomorrow morning--you can get in them after you wake up in the morning before you start riding again."

"how much are the campsites? just to tent"

"well it's $21 for the first two people and $8 for each person after that."

"No we definitely won't be camping here then."

At that point a long silence ensued. Matt started looking around for people who were leaving the small parking lot, hoping to hitch a ride into town. The lady just stood there. It was dark at this point and most people seem to think that once it gets dark we shouldn't be riding on the road. People also tend to look at a distance like ten miles as a great distance to ride a bike because they don't pedal bikes around often. The silence went on for close to a minute.

"ah. well I'll let you sleep in an empty spot then. I'll get in my car and show you. (laughs nervously) I don't like to walk really, even if its only a few hundred feet."

we showered her with thanks, hoping to get that slightly disgusted look off of her face. She walked 50 feet to her car and drove us 200 yards through a gate and pointed to a campsite.

"This isn't like New Jersey boys, you have to be careful about where you end up in Idaho!"

"Yep. Real sorry about that. We'll be more careful next time for sure."

The campsite was nice. The grass was mowed and it promised not to wake us up to sprinklers spraying our things (like it did earlier that morning in Arco, ID).

Matt propped his bike against the table and began pulling this off, getting ready to sleep.

"Andy, remind me not ever to listen to anyone who reccomends going to anything that has to do with tourists again."

"Ya I know, right."

5 minutes later Andy was talking on the phone to his girlfriend. Matt had set up his tent and was starting to eat when Morgan came back and said he couldn't find the tent poles.

"Andy come get the tent poles. We can't find them." Matt yelled.

Andy just sat there and kept talking. Matt went over.

"Andy you need to get off the phone and come find the tent poles!"

"I know. I think I left them in Arco." Andy whispered, still on the phone.

Matt turned around and went back to eating. It was the same sort of reaction he would have the next night when his sleeping bag got bumped into a waterfall at the top of a mountain. No visible reaction. These things are sort of funny, if not maddening, and they always happen. Getting visibly upset is only worth it when the social consequences are few (i.e. when its just you and your brother and no one else is around it's usually ok to hit him. he'll heal. no one else will think you're very violent, provided you don't leave any bruises, and your anger is instantly purged.)

Sure enough, Andy left the poles in Arco. (At this point it might help to explain that both the tents we're carrying are split up to distribute the weight properly. Andy was given the poles of his tent, Morgan carried the poles to the tent Matt sleeps in.)

"Do you mind if I sleep with you in that tent," Morgan asked.

"ya I don't mind," Matt laughed.

He then finished his food, completed his pre-sleeping rituals, legitimately tried to console Andy while brainstorming a solution (Morgan suggested calling the owner of the gas station in the morning--earlier that day we found out he was from Reading, PA and gave us free sandwiches, etc) and headed toward the tent (with poles in it).

The problem was solved. they went to bed anticipating bathing in a hot spring full of other tourists in the morning. Andy slept in the tent without poles, and life was fine. sort of.

That is a forrest fire. Nature is incredible. Death is the engine of life.

A few days ago we met a most extraordinary couple. They were riding their bicycles across america...with their 4 and 6 year old children riding behind them in a trailer! Yes that is right. The Murr family is pedalling across the United States and pulling their two children behind them in a trailer. More than three months on the road, they are riding to promote family invovlement, environmental awareness, and a healthy life style. You should check out thier website at http://www.murrbike.com

.SMALL town.

While at Jon Geruntho's place we have been learning to cook...and eating.

Pictures from the Tetons

Morgan never learned to skip.

Tina was a great contact in Grand Teton National Park. We spent a few nice days with her and a few of her friends there.

A few facts

• Our most recent leg of the journey was 150 miles long. We rode for 11 hours and made it 150 miles.
  
• We rode up route 93 through Idaho, into Montana, and headed west on route 12 over Lolo pass. This was the same route Lewis and Clark took on their expedition to the pacific ocean
• We are now in the Pacific Time Zone
  
• Matt, Morgan, and Andy ate an entire half gallon of ice cream in one sitting.
• A River Runs Through It is a great movie.
  
• Over the past week we have sat in 3 natural hot-springs. Life is tough.
• We are currently spending several relaxing days with Jon Geruntho. Jon is a good friend from Albright who is now attending graduate school at Washington State University
• We have now been on the road for 60 days.
  
• Matt is currently working on something more substantial for you to read.
  
• Pictures will be coming soon.
• Our last leg of the trip will look like this: From Pullman, WA to Portland, OR to the coast, into Olympia, WA and up to Seattle on or about Aug. 13.
  
• 
  

Idaho: Into The Wild

A recent conversation with a man pointed out that people feel good about accomplishment. An individual undertakes great things, or lesser things that are also great, primarily for the reward that comes with the accomplishment of that thing. He then went on to argue that survival for all species is an accomplishment. well, survival and the reproduction. isn't that what species are all about anyway--surviving and ensuring the survival of their species? He was saying that it's only natural that positive, healthy emotions follow such an achievement in order that the species does what it's supposed to--survive and reproduce.

So I had hiked a few miles into the back country of Idaho and was sitting close to the summit of one of the hills commonly called the Rocky Mountains. I was naked. And I was floating in a hot spring, my head on a rock, watching the moon come over the rock face right above me. The big dipper was above on the right, Orion's belt somewhere straight up, and only the silhouettes of different trees and plants were visible in front of the moon. I was out in the middle of no where. As far as my sense could tell no one else was around for miles.

I couldn't help thinking that maybe there was some part of me that was supposed to live like this. Wild and untamed, not unlike those previously prestigious explorers who had passed the same way 200 years earlier. Living like an animal.

Back to the guy and the sense of accomplishment:
He was making the point that he'd like to live in the wild. Each day would be a struggle to survive. Each day would be an accomplishment. He was convinced he would be happy that way. He was convinced more people should think a little more about living life a little bit more like that. If nothing else it might be a bit healthier.

We are animals, I suppose.

Pictures.

Feet and a pronghorn...

We got into the Park Rangers stash.

Funny looking legs for a Buffalo.

This is our new friend Matt. Matt works for the National Park Service in Grant Teton NP. Matt hosted us for a few days. He makes wonderful homemade bread.

Interesting bit of history.

It was dark when we arrived, but we made it.

We are still climbing.

It is a bit hard to see here but we had a rude awakening one morning when the spinklers started going off and soaked all our stuff :( We blocked the sprinkler near our tent with a sock and went back to sleep!

Fund Raising Update

We have great news. Because of what God has been able to do we have officially finished our second water project (in Piswa, Uganda)! We have now united enough people to raise over $10,600! In faith we will be accepting a third village to advocate for. The name of the village is Kitany. Kitany is within 20 miles of Piswa and will require a very similiar water system. As of now I do not have any pictures or much other information. Hopefully that will come soon... Thanks everyone and praise God. He has created a beautiful world and is pleased to walk with us as we serve as its caretakers.