Day 25: Fish Creek to Ashton, ID (58 miles)

8/17/15

Was awaken early this morning to a noise just a few yards from my tent. Let me note that I’ve become extremely cautious in Grizzly country to the point where strange noises just off the trail have magically propelled me up and over mountain passes after I was long ready to give up. Coming out of a dead sleep I can’t open the tent quick enough to exit with bear spray in hand ready to shoot with a shaky hand like Deputy Barney Fife. Once outside the tent I could see through the trees that the noisemaker wasn’t a bear, however, the legs I could see were just too long to belong to cattle.

I had moose coming through my camp. They had no real concern that I was there and came within 20 yards of where I was. They were even nice enough to let me grab my phone to take some pics. Although I wasn’t taking any chances deciding to quietly step around the other side of my tent, keeping a little something between me and them.

Awaken by these two coming through my camp about 20 yards away.

After mama and baby moose left camp I was fixing breakfast and would have two more moose make a visit. After my close encounters with extremely large wildlife, camp was packed up and soon was back on the route not really expecting the kind of climb I was in for. Can’t believe I consciously added a torturous climb to this adventure. As I huffed and puffed my way up this mountain pass the only thoughts I could muster was could the soft Warm River Trail really be worse than this? I doubt not.

None too soon I was enjoying the downside and just using the brakes to control my speed. Even though all the climb was dirt half of the downhill road to Warm River camp, where I would rejoin the main route was paved.

This paved road was obviously not used very much as weeds growing in cracks of the pavement and bushes were overtaking sides of the roadway. About now I wasn’t sure about the burger I ordered in the restaurant yesterday because my digestive system was now holding a revolt necessitating a few pauses of the downhill run.

When I finally reached Warm River Camp I decided to stop and hang out under their pavilion for about half an hour due to some distant thunder in the direction of where I intended to travel.

Soon the skies looked more promising and pushed on. Thanks to the couples I met the other day at Upper Lake Camp who provided me with lunch, I decided to divert 6 miles off the route and ride into Ashton ID.

The main reason for diverting to Ashton was to visit the recommended Big Jud’s restaurant which was made famous by the TV show Man vs. Food. What brought a TV show to Big Jud’s is a 2 lb burger that the host attempted to devour. The previous day Big Jud’s was certainly on my radar and knew beyond a doubt that I fully capable of destroying their 1 lb burger… That is until the intestinal revolt that started earlier in the day. Once I arrived at Big Jud’s, I would have to settle for the 2/3 lb burger and the recommended Ironport cherry soda.

The burger and frys at Big Jud’s

Not sure where I was going to lay my head for the night but as I rode past the local forest service office I stopped in to get some recommendations. Turns out there is an RV park just a mile south of town. Before heading out I need more supplies from the local grocery and Just couldn’t resist visiting a little drive-in diner advertising Root beer floats. The huge rotating “Root Beer” sign was calling my name.

Loved the sign, it rotated.

Made the quick trip out to the quaint little camp. When I got there a handwritten note on the door said they were out and would be back soon. I waited a few minutes before deciding to go talk to the only other tenter in the place.

What in interesting character he was with a strong British accent. Told me he had just come from Yellowstone where is did some cycling. He was on a two-month tour to see the western half of the US and get on his bike once in a while. This fellow had many stories and within a few minutes, I was hearing about his missing front tooth. Lost it eating jerky but is having his wife believe it was one crazy night in Vegas. This guy was a one man entertainment show had me constantly laughing.

Before the proprietors of the campground returned from their trip to town I took the liberty to set up my tent near the Teepee. Did consider sleeping in the Teepee but it had a musty smell and decided against it. Did, however, park my bike in there for the night. My only reservation about tonight’s lodging was the railroad tracks a few yards from my tent. Last time I camped near tracks it didn’t go so well.