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Thursday 12th August 2004

Salmon River near White BirdFrom Swiftwater RV/Camping Park (White Bird) to Zim's Hot Springs. Campground. A total of about 58 miles on route, once again with heaps of uphill. Breakfasting on Cheerios is not ideal since it seems to be mostly basic sugars - but it was all we could find suitable in the campground shop. Then we headed up the Salmon River to Riggins, seeing various rafts going downstream. The Salmon River is a glittering and fast river in a very parched landscape - the photo shows the view just as you leave White Bird. We also glimpsed a fast moving cyclist who we thought was Arduth - last spotted in Yellowstone. Later it turned out it certainly was Arduth, who sets off early and finishes early. The reverse of our strategy. The rafts were not very speedy - rafting can be quite a gentle experience, clearly. Had lunch in Riggins, where we caught up with Arduth and who was setting up camp. We also saw the aftermath of a traffic accident - a headon collision, with ambulance taking someone away. The roads round here bend and twist so much along the river, I guess it's quite dangerous in a pick up truck. Then uphill, getting steeper now we were on the Little Salmon River, to Pinehurst, where we took refuge from 110 Fahrenheit heat in a little cafe. The cafe owner chatted with us - we are becoming familiar with the politics of the area! Logging versus conservation, taxation issues, etc. Milkshakes and iced water were a great help. Though the heat had declined by the time we came out of the cafe, the road deteriorated quickly into a heap of stones - more roadworks. The dust was terribe as the RV's swept by at speed. We kept coming to a halt in a pile of pebbles, with no grip for the wheels. Eventually the roadworks ceased, after about 4 or 5 miles, then we reached the plateau where we saw the sign for Zim's Hot Springs. Excellent - a hot and a tepid swimming pool. My favourite hot springs for swimming. After all the dust and heat, it was blissful so we spent almost two hours soaking.

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