Greetings from (rainy) Clark Fork, Idaho

Hello Everyone,
I hope everyone is warm and dry, because we are not. I can't believe how much rain we have been through. It has been by far the wettest trip I have taken. It isn't only wet, but it is freezing cold. I don't like to complain, but this is crazy. Just to give you an idea of what we are dealing with, the mornings are around 40 degrees, the days warm up to a blazing 55 degrees, and it is raining around 75% of the time. Yes, we are still having fun, and yes, this is part of cycle touring. But, where's the sun! I am sure we will find some sun soon and we will be hot and sweating, so enjoy it now, I guess. This is the deal, we are cycle everyday through this wearing, 1 pair of shorts, 2 pairs of pants, 3 shirts, 1 jacket, rain booties, wool hat, winter mitts, and going down some of these mountain passes, we are still freezing cold. Going down Sherman's Pass at 5,575 feet in Washington, there was 4 inches of snow on the ground, the wind was about 30 mph, and the road was covered in slush, and almost had to get off the bike and walk it down. We didn't, but we did take it very slow until we were low enough to lose the snow and slush. This all sounds fun to you right? Well, it is. We are making the best of it and brighter days are to come. After all, this is an adventure. Yes, we are both tired of the conditions, but we can't control that and will make due no matter what gets thrown our way. It's just funny that back east it is 100 degrees and it is so cold here in the northwest. We are now in a very small town of Clark Fork, Idaho, pop. 530 and stopped to write a blog. The small town libraries computer won't allow us onto our site, so the blog will have to wait. We will be biking into Montana this afternoon, and will be in that huge state for awhile. We hope to bike the "Going to the Sun" road in Glacier Park but not sure the road will be opened due to snow. We heard yesterday that they are receiving "winter conditions" this week. So, the road in the park is 6,600 feet and I bet getting a lot of white stuff. I really hope we can bike this road, it is one of the main reasons I wanted to do this trip in the high north and I will be very disappointed if we can't do it, due to weather. Stay tuned to find out. Thanks to Rosemary and Michael for updating our site with photos and videos of when we were together last week. We had a great time with the two of you and we appreciate all you did for us. OK, that's it for now. Our clothes are dry and we are ready to roll. Keep in touch.
Mike and Bonnie

P.S. Bonnie adds: We passed though Sandpoint, Idaho, and camped in East Hope by Pend Oreille lake. We should reach Montana today. We heard that Glacier has been getting snow and the pass is not open. Our maps have an alternate route around the pass, but of course we want to do it. Maybe by the time we get there it will be open - but there's no point in hurrying.We have followed the river for several days now - it might be nice scenery if it weren't cloudy and rainy. But there are lupines blooming all over, I've seen lots of herons and ospreys by the water. One section of the road had lots of poles for osprey nests, and we saw a head sticking up from some of the nests. Last night there was a beautiful yellow bird, with black wings and a red head, hopping around the hemlock trees. I'd never seen anything like it - any ideas? Also, have seen several bluebirds around.