On this morning, Garrett and I opted for an early start in an effort to avoid morning traffic. I planned to install new clips on my cycling shoes before leaving, but I couldn't locate them... or my helmet... I remembered having them last at the bike shop; where they still were, thankfully! Our host was able to obtain the bike shop store owner's phone number. After about 90 minutes, we were connected with the store owner (1 hour before opening the store), shoes with helmet, and ten minutes later we were on the road. The route to Kooskia (pronounced, "koozkee" by the Idahoans) followed US-12 along the Clearwater River. Not long after departing Lewiston, we found that US-12 narrowed considerably; to the point where the shoulder was near non-existent or entirely non-existent. For the most part, people driving automobiles were generous about giving space when possible while passing. Logging trucks were a different story, which I have a new deep resentment toward. Lewiston has a paper mill, hence all the logging trucks. On many occasions, we found that logging trucks would not give space despite the fact that there was space to give in a feasibly safe manner. For the sake of brevity: I don't like logging trucks. After Kamiah, we didn't encounter another logging truck. Before leaving Kamiah, we met three other guys from New Jersey that were also on tour (Oregon to New Jersey). They are in their mid-twenties and have varying experiences touring; one that rode coast-to-coast last year, one who rides recreationally, and one that started riding March. It turned out that we all had planned on camping at the same campground in Kooskia. Due to all of the traffic we encountered on this day, we decide to get up and be on the road shortly after 5am. We would ride on to the area before Lolo Pass.
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