We left Gooding this morning at 6:40 due to the length of the ride and to avoid the heat. We could smell the residue of the grass fire, which they were able to put out. The dogs were barking early this morning. They probably smelled the smoke when the wind changed and were alerting us all to the potential danger.
We cycled past much farmland and wherever anything was growing, it was due to irrigation. We stopped for a tour of Ted Miller's dairy farm. The cattle line up and enter a carousel where they are milked and then leave in ten minutes. The carousel holds 50 cows. We were served milk as a snack, both white and brown.
After leaving there, we cycled past the Snake River gorge near where Evel Knevel attempted his legendary rocket motorcycle jump. We crossed the gorge on the I.B. Perrine bridge which is 480' above the river. Teresa wouldn't even look over the edge. When the big trucks are going over the bridge, there is a little movement that is a little freaky.
Shortly after leaving the gorge, we were served lunch at the Twin Falls Reformed Church in Twin Falls. We were served Subway subs, watermelon, potato chips and ice cream sandwiches and bars. These events are so appreciated.
8km from the church is Shoshone Falls. We left the route with many others to check this out. We didn't go to the bottom. This falls is higher than Niagara Falls but has much less water flow. They divert some of the water for the creation of electricity.
The route into Burley after the Falls was mostly uneventful, but long. There was another fire in the distance that we could see for the remainder of the ride. It did not pose a threat to us or any of the villages we were going through or to. There was a slight wind at our backs to help get us there.
We met Corporal Jeff Fracknell of the local sheriff's office. He talked with us for quite a while and had a tour of the gear truck and the kitchen.
The total route today was 140km (87 miles).
