It would be a shame to camp at the beach and not even hop in the lake.
Quite refreshing
Heading north on Highway 89, I had an amazing view of Bear Lake and all the vacation homes lining it's shores. Not before long, I crossed into Idaho. Utah, its been fun.
I stopped at a gas station undergoing construction and picked up a root beer and apple. My food supplies were a bit low and I just needed something to tide me until I could stock up at the grocery store in Montpelier.
While outside enjoying the soda, I met Tom. He was sitting down, working on some lotto scratchers. I'm not sure he would have said anything to me, but once I started the conversation, he had lots to tell.
Apparently he is a savior to cycle tourists. He recounted multiple stories of saving cyclists from the snow, rain, etc. One particular cyclist from Japan got stuck in a brutal sleet storm nearby - Tom took him back to his place, gave him a bed and meal. That was eight years ago and they still email each other every day!
Tom doesn't speak Japanese, and the cyclist doesn't speak English, but they make do with Google Translate (or similar).
I wished Tom the best of luck and thanked him on behalf of cycle tourists and moved on.
Since I'm in barn country, I'm passing some interesting specimens. This one isn't even a barn, but clearly taken over by the cows.
They wouldn't come near me, sitting on their porch.
I'm also passing some pretty incredible Latter Day Saints Temples.
One of the first buildings I saw entering Montpelier advertised restrooms and free wifi - the city's chamber of commerce building.
I entered and there was not a soul inside. I had the whole, air-conditioned place to myself. I guess smaller towns aren't concerned with theft or vandalism - I cannot even imagine a similar place existing in the Bay Area.
After a relaxing two hours, I headed down the main street, to stop almost immediately at a chocolatier, with ice cream.
I ordered the Aggie Blue Mint. Not sure what the Aggie part meant, but it was definitely blue & minty. And instead of chocolate chips found in traditional mint ice cream, this flavor contained chocolate cookie dough.
A cycle tourist's best friend
I'm glad I ate some ice cream, because I don't like shopping at a grocery store on an empty stomach. I also have a rule for how much you can buy: you have to be able to hold everything with your hands.
This rule did not prevent me from buying too much: apples, bananas, peanut butter (a no-stir, good kind), tinned tuna, pasta, etc. Oh, and a massive deli sandwich for dinner.
While ringing me up, the courtesy clerk, Craig, mentioned that he wanted to go pick some fresh apricots in Challis, Idaho.
Do tell, I said, that's where I'm heading.
That conversational catalyst lead to a much longer discussion that now has me searching for Craig's friend, Rodney, and saying hi to him, in Challis.
Mission accepted.
I rode another hour to a free, dispersed campground east of Montpelier. The site was crammed with RVs, but I nestled myself in the corner and ate half of my massive sandwich.
Guess what is for breakfast?
Joe