Map: Day 6 Day: 58.2 km | Trip: 432 km

I left Riggins after a small breakfast at 8:30 AM. The sun did not reach the valley yet so the uphill ride went slow but smoothly. I took a small side street through Pollock and took a picture of the post office for Anne. There was also a very cute cat around who really liked my bicycle.

Back on Route 95 towards Pinehurst I met Lizz, a young bicyclist from England. She was riding from Astoria (OR) till as far as she gets by the end of September. We exchanged experiences and hints from our trips. In Pinehurst I had my second breakfast.

From Pinehurst till Hazard Creek Road the street was under heavy construction. In parts it was gravel only and one lane wide with no shoulder. I was happy that I went through this on a Sunday when the construction crews were not working. The traffic was also not too bad. The road led out of the dry grassy canyon land into a foresty region and after Smokey Boulder Rd. into flat farmland surrounded by mountains with a sparse tree cover.

I am wondering why rifles are so popular here for hunting. People are doing a great job using their cars. Today I saw again four dead deer on the side of the road.

Lizz told me about a campground 4 miles before New Meadows with hot springs. By the time I reached the sign it was very hot and I was almost out of water. I did not want hot springs but rather a nice cool motel room, going out for food and buying some groceries for the next day and finishing the last four miles. Tomorrow the ride will be long enough.

The Meadows motel is not great and at $49 quite expensive. It does not offer AC but the rooms are relatively cold. I discovered that I have cell phone coverage here, even digital, not bad. For dinner I went to the Coral Pizza Shop. The pizza is very plain, spices anyone? and was only half baked. Brrrr.

Tomorrow I have to be careful to take enough water with me.