Day 5 - Spokane, WA to Sandpoint, ID

Day Five – Spokane, WA to Sandpoint, ID
After filling our bellies with home-made granola, we rolled away from the beautiful Cosgrove home with Art Cosgrove joining the group for the first few miles. From there the trio climbed gradually through the pine forests and dropped into the Pend Orielle River valley, heading for Sandpoint, Idaho.


After lunch in the historic mill-town of Newport, Washington (Many thanks to the Aerie at the Newport Chamber of Commerce for helping to spread the word) we mounted up and continued the last 34 miles along the incredibly scenic Pend Orielle river, winding our way into the Selkirk mountains. Temperatures stayed perfect – topping out around 72 degrees mid-day. The riders were feeling strong thanks to a consistent tailwind, and kept up a brisk pace the whole day.
We arrived early afternoon in Sandpoint, Idaho, hometown of teammate Cassandra and of our first-week driver, Scot Auld. Cassandra and her husband Chris Ankney hosted us all at their home for a big dinner and to celebrate our arrival in the great state of Idaho. Here we will leave Scot as he returns to his family and real life as a manager at Schweitzer Mountain Resort. Gray Davis, the next driver, will take the wheel tomorrow as the THF Coast to Coast team heads across the narrow panhandle of Idaho and into Montana. Cassandra too will be leaving the team for a short time to get caught up on life and work – but will be rejoining Bill and Dick in Bismarck, ND.
After dinner Bill and Dick took the van up to the village at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, another generous supporter of the Coast to Coast trip, sponsoring the lodging for the team this night. Tomorrow Dick and Bill will head into Big Sky Country!

PS: I want to thank Dick Tapply and Cassandra Ankney for first offering me the opportunity to support this great adventure – and second for talking me into taking it! It has been a great learning experience for me, as well as a wonderful opportunity to meet some new friends and reconnect with some old ones. Moreover, I am grateful for the chance to share the challenges, successes, and good laughs with three amazing people whom I admire greatly. My thoughts will be with you – I wish you the best in completing your journey. Thanks again – and perhaps the next time our paths merge I’ll be riding a bicycle. – Scot