Sunday, October 4, 2009

Idaho



Redundant picture is redundant!




Unplanned detour. This is by Catholic Creek, just over the border.




Idaho 64. I pulled over and rolled down my window.




An old church in Nezperce




And this is where I aged 4.7 years. Approximately.

You see, when one sees a road with an official-type label, like "Idaho 64", one expects--oh, I don't know--A ROAD. But then I ran into the "No Pavement for 7 Miles" sign. And I thought: Hey, seven miles. I can handle that no problem. Wait. Why are my ears popping?

And then it turned out I was driving down the side of the Clearwater River Basin. There was no pavement, no shoulder, and no guardrail. Just those little metal sticks with reflectors. 25 was the posted speed limit, but I stuck with something closer to 10, while I imagined the locals in Kamiah watching me die a fiery death while their conversation went like this: "Yep. 'Nother stoopid tourist." "Yep. Betcha they were driving some pussy import." "Yep. Betcha it wasn't even four wheel drive."

It went on like that for forty minutes. When I got to the bottom, I felt like one of those ancient mariners who steer their boats home, only find their fingers frozen to the tiller. I pried my fingers off of the wheel, stepped out to get some air, and promptly set off my own car alarm. I'm that smooth.

After that, LoLo pass was like a walk in the park. I went through that thing like an old pro.

1 comment:

  1. I fear thee, ancient Mariner!
    I fear thy skinny hand!
    And thou art long, and lank, and brown,
    As is the ribbed sea-sand.

    ReplyDelete