72-Newport-Ione

51.3 miles/ +1160.6 ft/ Total miles 3083.5

My ride today continued to follow the Pend Oreille River, as it turned to the north, heading to Canada and the Columbia River. I rode on LeClerc Road, which is on the east side of the river. Hwy 20 is on the west bank of the river. I left Newport at sunrise (5:15) and enjoyed a shady ride almost the whole way to Ione. 

The traffic was light – only a few logging trucks, and a couple of oversize loads with construction equipment. I passed cyclists riding the “Selkirk Loop” — a nine-day ride in Idaho, British Columbia and Washington that runs on both sides of the Selkirk Range. We did a ride in about 1988 that included part of what is in the loop ride. I saw the map book in Sandpoint — might be worth looking into for the future.

The only “attractions” along the route are a few primitive campgrounds and the Manressa Grotto on the Kalispel Indian Reservation. So I stopped at the grotto to take a look. I hiked up a short trail to an opening in the huge rock wall. 

Looking out from inside the grotto: 

The grotto rocks are so huge it is hard to get a good photo. It is an impressive natural feature. 

At the end of LeClerc Road, I turned west to ride on the bridge across the Pend Oreille River at Ione. Nice paint job!

Ione is a very small town. The only place making food is the deli/cafe in the grocery store. So I got a sandwich and a few groceries there and then rode about ½ mile north of town to the RV Park. The owners have a lot of cyclists stop in, and they have a very nice setup for tent camping. So Ione is a pleasant stop before the climbs start – tomorrow a climb on Hwy 20 to get out of the Pend Oreille valley.