BOISE ET LE BEAU BATEAU.

Somehow the sound of speeding cars was soothing. Surrendering to sleep was simple. My alarm clock for this morning was a raft of ducks quaking away outside my tent. About twenty feathered friends surrounded my site and forced me to start my day. When nature calls, I listen. Upon my picnic table was yet another gift from an unknown source. It was a mere apple, and I ate it while packing up my camp. 

First, I rode through a small Caldwell neighborhood. It was charming, in my humble opinion. My assumption was that I had finished the country riding, but I had a few miles left. My ride through the countryside was pleasant, as usual. Traffic is minimal, and the landscapes are lovely. After a few farmland miles, I had to return to Highway 26. It was busy and backed up, thanks to construction. They were paving more lanes, but there were no workers out today. Rather than cram myself onto the shoulder with the pissed-off drivers, I took that fantastic fresh pavement all to myself. 

Eventually, I turned off into the posh part of town. Magnificent massive mansions filled these streets. This is where I found the acclaimed Green Belt Trail, which stretched about forty-six miles across Boise. It did not take long for me to find bikers, runners, and walkers occupying the trail. This was an indication that I was heading in the right direction. The trail runs along the Boise River, and it was littered with rafts and various floating devices. At close to ninety-nine degrees, this was the perfect day to float along this ice-cold river. I was envious, to say the least. 

My energy was running drastically low. Without no fuel or moments of rest, I pushed the last couple of miles to my destination. Upon arrival, I was greeted with a cold beer and a lavish lunch. We had avocado toast, bagels with cream cheese, some salad, tapioca pudding, and IPAs. After some discussion, we decided that I had to get on that river, ASAP! We instantly inflated the tube and headed to Barber park, which is a popular drop-off point for river residents. This was a scene that I had never encountered before. The place was chaotic as people poured into the park, attempting to get into the river. Cars were pilled up, sun lotion was being applied, and tubes were hastily being inflated. It was clear that everyone was greatly enjoying themselves on this perfect day. I jumped into the freezing river with my tube and was off. 

Many other floaters accompanied me down this sensational stream. The river's banks were filled with spectators who relaxed along the beaches. Often they would raise their beverage to cheers our descent down the current. It was the definition of good vibes. While floating downstream, I encountered a handsome young lad whose floating device was deflated. The water that fills this stream is runoff from the nearby mountains. Simply put, it was snow just a few days ago. This poor guy was shaking from being submerged in this icy water. There was plenty of space on my raft, and I offered him salvation from the shivering. 

We spent the remainder of the ride chatting and shooting the shit. He was a recent high school graduate, and I did my best to offer him valuable advice for his future endeavors. It was fate that our paths crossed because my communication device was damaged by water, even though I had it secured in a waterproof bag. If it were not for our acquaintance, I would not have had access to a device for contacting my ride back home. It is funny how fate finds a way. It did not take long for my generous host to pick me up. 

We made our way to his local bar and enjoyed a late dinner. Mark is a former high school classmate of my father and decided to put me up for a few nights. Luckily, we have many common interests, and it felt like we had been friends forever. For food, I had a Gyro, some soup, chips with dip, and an IPA. After dinner, we returned to home base, and I attempted to fix my tablet. I am not technologically skilled and failed miserably in this affair. The day was extremely tiring, and I was in the sun for the majority of it. I enjoyed a glass of whiskey to ease the pains of the day, and then I promptly passed out. Here is the link to the route. Tune in tomorrow!