HOW FAR IS IT

It seems to me that there are a lot of different ways to measure how far we've gone on our bikes. Most people relate to the actual mileage, which is over 420 miles now, my little bike computer missed about 25 when the wheel was on "backwards". I also think about the states we've crossed, which is one and a half right now, in Sandpoint Idaho. We've crossed a lot of counties and town lines, are almost into a different time zone. But the thing I've been measuring distance with is the little containers people have on their mailboxes to collect the local paper. When we started, we rode several days through SEATTLE TIMES circulation. Then, slowly, it was replaced by the bright lettering of the WENATCHEE WORLD. For a day or so, I saw a red box that just said THE CHRONICLE. Then it was THE SPOKESMAN REVIEW, and yesterday THE BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE became the paper of choice for home delivery. I like papers with BEE in the name. I don't know where that comes from...are Bees supposed to be up on the news? Busy? Industrious, maybe. So. We're making progress, and I"m looking forward to the next newspaper tubes.

We're in Sandpoint Idaho this morning, taking care of a variety of business---there's a STARBUCKS in town, and that caught Kami's eye. I headed to the EVERY DAY INTERNET CAFE, which is the sweetest little spot in town, chock full of boys on bikes who want to know all the details of this ride. They are awestruck, which tickles me to no end. We need clean clothes, and to dry off. We've had quite a bit of rain and cold weather.

This morning we had sweet potato pancakes at the campsite this morning, it was perfect.My brother is an AWESOME camper! Kami has had a couple of flats---one was repaired in the cemetery of Ione---just as a group of mourners poured in. Poor timing for us! We replaced the tube this morning, and I think it's going to hold now. David is still doing his bear research, and he found out about something called SKUNK CABBAGE, which bears eat after their long hibernations to get their digestive tracts reactivated. Apparently, the skunk cabbage totally scours the lining of the intestine, causing a rather dramatic and unpleasant reawakening in the bear. David has said for a week that we're having SPAM for dinner, and he told me this morning that I have dodged the SPAM bullet as long as possible. Tonight is definitely SPAM, and I'm afraid we're having skunk cabbage as a side dish. I'll be having a HUGE LUNCH today as a defense against dinner!

We're only going another 30 miles or so today, into Clark Fork for the night---we have to plan our days carefully to hit campgrounds along the route. Everything is going well for us, I'm meeting a lot of nice people and learning about the area. Life is good.