The drive from Powell Campground to Whitebird was about the most scenic stretch I’ve seen yet. First of all, it descends 70 miles along the Lochsa, Clearwater and Salmon Rivers.

Can you see why thoughts of multi-day rafting trips came to mind?

It didn’t even start to level out until about mile 50. After Kooskia it started rising and falling again, through drier, rumpled landscapes. Went through the Nez Perce Reservation and dropped down near the White Bird Battlefield, site of a skirmish between Nez Perce and U.S. cavalry that began a disastrous war for the tribe.

And then it rose again, through beautiful high farmland.

I found a spot at an RV camp right on the Salmon River in Whitebird. Russ arrived a couple of hours later, and we hit the Wildside Steakhouse and Saloon, for the best loaded baked potatoes we’d ever had (this IS idaho, after all). Wandering around camp the next day, I found the flowers that I’d seen carpeting hillsides all around the area: a species of vetch, it’s often planted as a cover crop to restore soils, and it has spread widely.

Salmon River beside our camp.

Monday the Fourth of July threatened rain, so we stayed an extra day and spent the holiday here. I was apprehensive about spending the Fourth at an RV park, but it turned out that most of the people at the park were avoiding loud fireworks displays, not looking to create them, and we met another couple close to our ages who were biking the Trans America, but from west to east. As I finish this blog, Russ is happily sharing his last two beers with the husband and chattering away about bike esoterica. Happy Boy!

My next stop will be on the Oregon border—the last state on our westbound journey.