We are on the road at 10:10am. It is +12C and cloudy, and we see some rain not so far away. After riding 17km we cross the continental divide for the fourth time on our trip at the Targhee Pass (elev. 7072'). We also leave Montana and enter Idaho. See the picture below.

Some seven kilometers before Ashton we start a steep descent to the potato fields. The ride is spectacular, but unfortunately the road is under construction, so it is also dirty.

Now we say goodbye to the mountains for a while!

At 3pm. after riding for 56.7km we are in Ashton (elev. 5255'), the major seed potato producer of the country, that also hosts the Mesa Falls Marathon. We visit Ashton's visitor info, that gives us useful material (maps, RV park guide etc.) and hints about how to continue the trip from Arco, our next-day destination. We are told that a younger couple visited the center earlier the day, and they had started in Philadelphia and were heading to Portland, like we are.

We are treated well, as well. Gosh, the cold water tastes good!

It is closer to four o'clock when we continue our trip. Our destination of the day, St. Anthony (elevation 4970') looms just 14 miles away. The sun is merciless, but luckily we have a strong tail wind and flat road ahead.

About three kilometers before St. Anthony Tomi has a flat and we change the tube. We enter the town from backroads around 5:30pm. The Best Western's Henry's Fork Inn is the only option for accommodation ($65).

There are two options for dining on Sunday night. The motel receptionist recommends the neighbouring Charlie's. We choose Jill's. Tomi has grilled liver and Tei trout. Both entrees cost about $10, including potato soup and salad bar (the only bar open on Sundays). After the dinner we return to the motel to watch Olympic games in Athens. Today we rode 116.6km in 5:50. The average speed was 19.8km/h.

We exit St. Anthony via backroads. On our way to highway 33, we pass sand dunes and farmed elks. We reach 33 after 37.1km and 2:10 of riding. Sun comes out and we put sunscreen on. It is almost noon.

At 1pm. we stop at the weigh station by I-15 (see the picture below at left). We top off the water bottles. So far we have ridden 60.5km in little more than 3 hours and practically in desert. There is nothing out there but sand and shrubs - no houses, no trees, no water, not even traffic. And it is hot.

We continue riding. We still have some 50 more miles to go to Arco. It is getting cloudy and the wind changes its direction, often. The landscape is flat, but the air pollution, as we are informed in one of the interpretive centers by the highway, makes it impossible to see very far. For instance, the buttes pictured below at right were clearly visible from this distance ten or fifteen years ago.

After riding 129.5km in 6:45 we stop in Howe to refuel. It is 6 o'clock in the afternoon. A thunderstorm is approaching. Once we are ready to go, the rain starts. It does not last long.

It is already dark when we arrive at Arco (elev. 5318'), the first town in the world lit by nuclear power. We stay in the DK Motel for $40. They have coin laundry, but we have no plans to do laundry tonight. The plan is to find food.

We pick up some items for breakfast at the gas station, as well as a couple of beers for tonight: Moose Drool brown ale from Big Sky Brewing Company in Montana.