my favorite things

We've escaped...from Montana. After being held in purgatory for what seemed like an eternity, and more recently being pushed to our physical and mental breaking points, we've finally found our way out...

...into Idaho. Here, egomaniacal drivers in pickups tote rifles on their dashboards, and fans of Ziggy Marley come in droves to worship their [proxy?] idol. Of course, these are only my extreme initial impressions. Otherwise, Sandpoint seems like a well-equipped outdoors town (FUN FACT: Sandpoint is the headquarters of Coldwater Creek, a big women's outdoor apparel company).

We've also crossed our final time zone...Pacific Time...which means the current time (8:28) is inconsistent with my not so sudden urge to sleep.

But tonight's feature: my favorite things! To say the least, Bike & Build has taught us to work with often limited resources. In this light, I have listed eleven things, in no particular order, that I have come to appreciate more than anything else in my daily routine.

- GRASS: anything soft enough to sit on will do, however soft, plump, cushy, deep green grass is really what I crave. Give me a good patch of grass, and an amazingly relaxing rest will most certainly ensue.

- PEANUT BUTTER: Nearly 3,500 miles and about 70 peanut butter sandwiches later, I must admit I still look forward to that creamy, sometimes crunchy, peanutty goodness at every lunch stop.

- SHOULDERS: This is a two-part fav. First, my own shoulders. One may be slightly messed-up, but they keep me firmly supported on my bike and even protect my head in a fall (three times so far). Lets just say I am grateful they still function, especially after my first fall. Second, road shoulders...WIIIIIDE road shoulders. Three words: peace of mind.

- ICE: adds a bit of refreshment to a long, hot ride.

- 50 CENT "DESIGNER" SUNGLASSES: because it's not about the UV protection.

- PLUSH CARPET: it’s the Bike & Build equivalent of sleeping on a cloud.

- A FRESH COAT OF CHAMOIS CREAM: especially in cooling “eurostyle”, this stuff has the power to make any chaffing, rubbing, or pulling discomfort disappear.

- GAS STATIONS: For a quick snack, cold Gatorade, or pee emergency, these things are lifesavers. Forget the hyper-sapping of precious natural resources.

- HILLS: The odd one of the bunch, you might be thinking. But they make the ride interesting (and often absolutely gorgeous), help the time pass much faster, and there’s always a sweet downhill or two. It only took until after crossing into the Rockies for me to realize this.

- ICE CREAM: My main indulgence/vice, of many on this trip. Every night is a search for the nearest Dairy Queen or local spot. The local spots are always the best (Huckleberry and Mint Chocolate Chip mix surprisingly well), but a large M&M Blizzard with chocolate soft serve hits the spot every night…sometimes twice.

- PEOPLE: They’re not so bad…specifically the non B&B types…because without them, we’d be camping, eating pasta, and talking to the same 29 others every night.

Ten days left!