Osprey, Blackberries and The Beach-Day 9

July 28- Grangeville, ID to Near Syringa - 41 miles

Taking our time this morning we avoided a small smattering of rain and Gregory got to play on the playground after we had a leisurely breakfast visiting with folks. Another great downhill day we met several cyclists headed in the opposite direction including a couple on a recumbent tandem and another couple, Robin and Ben, who began their trip in St. Louis, Missouri. We came through the Nez Pearce Indian Reservation and rode along the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway and the Lewis and Clark trail. This is an area rich in history and scenic beauty. After getting groceries in Kooskia (Koos-kee) and eating a 4:00 lunch we decided to ride on and enjoy the cool evening and flat riding. Another friendly Idahoan pulled over to give us tips on the area. We sought out the big beach area on the Clearwater River for camping. We stopped to pick wild plums and blackberries and soaked in the breathtaking views along the Clearwater. We had a white sandy beach all to ourselves for the evening. We soaked our feet and used our Katadyn water filter for the first time. The pink and purple sunset offset a magnificent moon perched just atop the tree line and Canadian geese honked and flew overhead.