Leaving Placervillle, we travel a stretch of paved backroad along granite creek. It was clearly evident that this area was mined as the stream banks had random piles of dirt. The land appears to be preserved now, no mining, and new trees are established. Sherri is treated to a wild surprise, a moose cow with two calves, in good view as they retreat into the forest. We top out to what appears to be a good clearing for a view, only to find it is the town dump. The road heading down the dreaded "moon dust" and we wait for it to settle after a caravan of forest service trucks pass through. After a few downhill miles, we roll into Idaho City with a cloud of dust behind us. A hoot and holler from Sherri and we roll up the dirt main street. Once one of the largest in the west, Idaho City now appears to be but a small outpost. Having burnt down 4 times, only a few original building remain, but they have kept the spirit of the wild west alive with many buildings retaining the "False Front" architecture and wood sidewalks. It remains the county seat, and also has some very nice and well kept municipal buildings.
Very dry and parched, we head for the Saloon...……………………...but it is closed.
Harleys Pub and Spirits is open though...….
There is a bouncer at the door, a big yellow dog, and after a sniff we are let in and seated. There is group of older fellers at the bar we eventually find out to be from Florida. We discuss our trip and theirs, and when Sherri leaves to visit the necessary, one of them suggests I watch my step with a tough lady like her. After our cold beer we head back outside into the bright sun and heat in search of food. We find it at Season restaurant, where we sit outside and watch the goings on in town, some of which I find to be entertaining and a bit peculiar. For one thing, the teenagers freely travel through town on ATV's and motorcycles. They seem to be making the rounds at various stops, only to circle past us again every 10 minutes or so. Then there is the blue pickup with tinted windows also regularly driving past. At one point a wind whipped up fairly good sized dirt devil and it traveled right past us. We were lucky the awning we were under held up, because it was strong enough to bring down some tree branches. Within minutes, the blue pickup cleanup up the fallen branches. After lunch we check into our roof for a night, the old Idaho City Lodge. We get an upstairs room facing the wooded back, where we keep our bikes overnight.
After we wash off the road, we head out into town and do "touristy" things.
The museum was very good, and had a full time curator.
In the evening, we head back to Harley's to play shuffleboard and watch the wildlife.....
28mi 2863ft
Very dry and parched, we head for the Saloon...……………………...but it is closed.
Harleys Pub and Spirits is open though...….
There is a bouncer at the door, a big yellow dog, and after a sniff we are let in and seated. There is group of older fellers at the bar we eventually find out to be from Florida. We discuss our trip and theirs, and when Sherri leaves to visit the necessary, one of them suggests I watch my step with a tough lady like her. After our cold beer we head back outside into the bright sun and heat in search of food. We find it at Season restaurant, where we sit outside and watch the goings on in town, some of which I find to be entertaining and a bit peculiar. For one thing, the teenagers freely travel through town on ATV's and motorcycles. They seem to be making the rounds at various stops, only to circle past us again every 10 minutes or so. Then there is the blue pickup with tinted windows also regularly driving past. At one point a wind whipped up fairly good sized dirt devil and it traveled right past us. We were lucky the awning we were under held up, because it was strong enough to bring down some tree branches. Within minutes, the blue pickup cleanup up the fallen branches. After lunch we check into our roof for a night, the old Idaho City Lodge. We get an upstairs room facing the wooded back, where we keep our bikes overnight.
After we wash off the road, we head out into town and do "touristy" things.
The museum was very good, and had a full time curator.
In the evening, we head back to Harley's to play shuffleboard and watch the wildlife.....
28mi 2863ft
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