Harrison to Wallace Idaho

September 27, 2017

Elevation gain: 781 feet

This should have been an easy 39-mile ride to Wallace, but that would mean we would miss the Western portion of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alanes, including the bridge across Lake Coeur d'Alene that is in pretty much every picture you see of the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes. So, my brother had the bright idea that we would start the day by riding in the wrong direction until we had crossed the lake, and then we would reverse directions and go to Wallace. In theory, this was not a bad plan.

So, in the morning we rode the trail south from Wallace and then across the lake. It was a beautiful ride, about as good as it gets. Then we reversed and returned to Harrison. At this point it was nearly lunch time and since there would be no other places to eat lunch for a long time, we ate lunch in Harrison. Thus, after lunch we were right where we had started the day and no closer to Wallace.

The ride to Wallace started out spectacularly, following the trail along wetlands and a river. Eventually it crossed the 90 highway a couple of times and the trail became a bit more utilitarian. The last 15 miles were a bit of a grind. I was hungry, thirsty and maybe had not spent a lot of time getting in shape for the trip. Thus, it was that I passed within a few feet of a dead moose lying on the side of the trail without noticing it. My brother, who is not as deep a thinker as me and thus notices things like a dead moose on the bike trail, asked me if I had seen it. I had not and was not convinced it wasn't a trick, so I rode back and sure enough, there was a great big dead moose partly on the trail, the best evidence I have yet that there may be such a thing as live moose.

Live moose sightings: 0, dead moose: 1

Another moose sighting. Also did not appear to be alive.

Some guy had a tailer that brilliantly turned into a boat somehow

Lunch in Harrison where we had started the day. Not making good time.

After the trail leaves Harrison, it follows some wetlands and a river.

This had been a station when the trail was a railroad and now had been converted into a house

Another old station, this time converted into a bike shop

Today's ride: 68 miles (109 km)
Total: 171 miles (275 km)

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