2023 CDT - Day 7 - Zero Day, Leadore, ID

R n R.

Had a slow relaxing morning. Beau got to get up on the bed in the morning with Peggy while she got coffee in bed. Then another coffee in bed. When I walked over to use the park bathroom I noticed a couple of hikers that had arrived last night and were packing up. They didn't have trail names yet and had been not far behind Runningbird as they had seen her footprints. They were from the UK and were going to stay another night in town at the Mustang Inn. We chatted about Hadrian's Wall in the UK and when Runningbird came over they discussed about the trail conditions. They hoped to time their hike so Freddy could experience a destruction derby in Salmon on the weekend and Isaac hoped to see the rodeo in Helena.

After breakfast we took the pleasant forty-five minute drive into Salmon and stopped at the Country Store where I had bought Mark's danish but it turned out they're closed on Thursdays and Sundays. We did have a look around at their lovely Adirondack chairs and the nursery before going on to Salmon. There we went to a ranch store to get waterproofer, some socks, and a few other items. Then across the street to an outdoor a store for a fleece blanket to convert to a sleeping bag liner, then to the Saveway and to Subway before returning to Leadore.

In the afternoon Peggy unpacked and repacked her tent assembly and backpack removing items she didn't need and adding more food and other items that she would need considering her schedule adjustments. From the RV park we can watch the traffic go by on highway 28, mostly farm trucks but quite a few motorcycle riders. Mostly Harleys and both groups of riders as well as solo riders. When I was up at Bannock Pass on the dirt road I did see a solo Harley rider with side bags and radio blasting as he traversed the dirt back road going over to Dillon and I-15. It was interesting to imagine the freedom of that kind of touring. Our neighbor and friend Will has a lot of stories about his experiences doing the same and even on this same stretch of highway.

The early evening was still quite warm so we set up the portable stove on the picnic bench and Peggy created a tasty and hardy one pot casserole with broccoli crowns, cheese soup and wild rice. We topped that off with ginger cookies and tea and took Beau for a walk. Although we were both quite tired it was too warm to try and sleep and 'm sure we were both a bit anxious about the next day so we both read for a while and ate more ginger snaps.