Day 107 - Priest River, ID to Ione, WA - Two Far 2023 - Oranges to Apples

July 31, 2023

Day 107 - Priest River, ID to Ione, WA

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It was an easy day today. I got an early start today to beat the afternoon heat and enjoyed the entire ride, making it to our motel in Ione by 1:30.

My first stop was just over 3 miles from the start, when I stopped at the Albeni Falls Dam. The visitor's center was closed but there was a paved path that led down to the dam. This dam is not nearly as large as Libby Dam, which I visited a few days ago, but it was still interesting to me.

From the dam-site, looking back towards Priest River.

Albeni Falls Dam is relatively small, but it did raise Lake Pend Oreille by 11 feet when it was constructed.

The crane is used to clear debris from the generator intakes.

The transformers generate a very substantial buzz.

The outflow is only about 30 ft lower than the lake level. The power plant generates about 42MW of electricity.

After leaving the dam, I continued on US-2 for about 2 miles before I turned off onto LeClerc Creek Road, which I followed all the way to Ione. This is a great road that closely parallels the Pend Oreille River and offers great views for most of its way.

And an older active barn, just across the road.

I crossed the river at Usk to visit a C-Store. I asked the clerk what all the pilings in the river were for, and she said that they used to float logs down the river and would corral them here, to be used by the local lumber mill.

Just across the river from Usk. I did not see a sign saying I was leaving the reservation. There was a second sign near this one informing you that you were under tribal jurisdiction while on the reservation.

My second stop for the day was at the Manresa Grotto

The Grotto as seen from the small parking lot.

It's much more impressive up close. There were several chambers to the grotto.

The grotto is a Kalispel Indian religious site for which vandals have no respect.

Just a mile or so from the Panhandle Campground is Mill Creek.

Mill Creek splits just uphill from the road and creates 2 separate waterfalls which are just a few feet apart from each other.

A flock of turkey hens and their chicks, crossing the road.

There are more than a dozen turkeys in this photo. The chicks are well hidden by the grass.

LeClerk Road. When not looking at the river, I had views like this. It was a great road to ride. Traffic was this heavy for most of the way :-)

A very colorful bridge, just outside Ione.

Today's ride: 57 miles (92 km)
Total: 5,061 miles (8,145 km)

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Alain AbbateI've really been enjoying the spectacular scenery from the last couple of weeks of your ride. I don't know if you keep a running tally of your elevation gains, but you must have climbed the equivalent of Mt Everest at least once.
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1 year ago

Jeanna & Kerry SmithTo Alain AbbateAlain,

Let's see...

Total Miles: 5,102
Total Ascent: 98,677
Max Daily Ascent per Mile: 66.07 (Elkton to Strasburg)
Total Time: 415:58:59
Total Pedal Strokes: 1,587,829

I have more (much, much more) :-)

Kerry
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1 year ago

Alain AbbateSo 3 mount Everests and a little bit. Who said recumbents are not designed for climbing?
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1 year ago