PLC camp to NPS camp I really enjoyed my little camp on the creek in Idaho (PLC=perfect little creek). I woke up hearing the creek and felt rested and ready for the day. I once again made good progress getting ready, but wanted to call my wife since I actually had service! We chatted for quite a while, and I got on the road about 9:30. It was an odd day with regard to road surface: they were either really smooth or exceptionally bad. No middle ground today. I suppose it all evens out, but the rough roads get tiresome after a while! I left the PLC camp on very smooth dirt road. I rolled along in silence, enjoying the mild, calm morning. I began to think this 73 mile day was going to be easy. Then…I took a left on a rocky, sandy road. No in between—either ride on rocks or wallow in sand. I switched back and forth trying to pick the best of the worst option! All the while, the road goes through a thick lodgepole forest. I can’t see anything but rocks and sand. After a while the road tipped upwards for the expected climb, and I actually enjoyed the change of pace, if nothing else. On I bumped and wallowed through the lodgepole, with the occasional ATV to break the monotony. Then, like a mirage in the distance, I thought I saw…pavement!? Turns out it wasn’t a mirage, it was real! Smooth pavement cutting through the same lodgepole as before. I rolled along once again enjoying the silence and smoothness. The road was very nice, and I found myself wondering why the road was even there!?! In 15 miles of paved bliss, I didn’t see a single car. I began to wonder if I had missed the zombie apocalypse somehow?! On I rolled, losing elevation over the miles until the lodgepole tunnel finally broke and I was able to see more than 25 feet into the forest. Believe it or not, I was grateful to see a car so I could stop thinking about the zombie apocalypse. Alas, I turned onto a dirt road—er, rock garden that followed a small creek and took a break at that point. There was ample bear scat in this area, but no bears attached to them. That bell Jill gave me really works—even when off!! After a few miles, the rock garden mercifully changed the pavement, and the landscape also changed to rolling farmland! Looked like wheat and alfalfa were the crop of choice, and it was nice to see an open, different landscape. I could see the western aspect of the Tetons, but sadly the smoke has arrived here as well, so the view was hazy. This section of pavement also ended, and so began the longest stretch of bummer gravel I have encountered so far. Picture a gravel road with wash board from shoulder to shoulder. Now throw coarse rocks—from nickel to small egg size—all over the road, and go! Not a great ride on any wheeled vehicle, much less a bike. This went on for close to 10 miles. I periodically stopped to check my bike and cargo, as I couldn’t believe I wasnt shaking something loose. All good, so I guess that was a good test of my gear. The highlight of this section was a small sign that read “Entering Wyoming”. My relationship with Idaho was so short I feel I don’t even know it!? Nice camp, though. Maybe it coincidence, but the road improved quickly after that sign, and my pace and attitude followed. I found a nice creek and refilled my water and took another break in the shade. I knew I had one more pretty decent climb ahead, but had been pacing myself appropriately and the climb was simply “normal”. I descended quickly, and happened to spot a young bull moose in a willow meadow! I took a picture of it, and it looks like a brown blob in a willow meadow! I rolled past the last landmark of the day—grassy lake reservoir—with plans to camp at the inlet of it. I decided to roll past after seeing the site, as it was a long muddy slope to any water and not much for views. I rolled down a very nice rolling gravel road, and entered Teton National Park at some point. My map showed some NP camp spots ahead of me and I thought I could just camp at one of those. After passing 2 spots that were full (only 1 party per site) I pulled into the 3rd and asked the nice young couple if could camp there. They were very nice about it, and I promised to give them as much privacy as I possibly could. I found a nice little spot shielded from view and set up my tent. Dinner out of a bag was served at 8:15 and I was tired! It had been a good, long day and I was tired but not destroyed! I talked to to my love for a few minutes with a tenuous cell signal and called it a night.