Log and Roll

Log rolling competition on the Priest River

Children seeking shade during the festival 

Poll Climbing 

Mercedes and Rochelle, awesome ladies!

Forest Gump and Irene, Title 1 teachers

Today was a very short mileage day and I made the most of this opportunity to enjoy the area and its people. I was not disappointed. After leaving Sand Point, Idaho, I meandered into Priest River Idaho where the residents were celebrating Timber Days. I met the lovely Mercedes and Rochelle who informed me that they were in town for a logging competition that their husbands were talking part in. They both appreciated what I was doing and motivated me to stay in town and watch the competition. I’m glad I did. The logging parade was unlike any parade I’d ever seen. Large log trucks rolled down the Main Street while the drivers and their occupants threw candy and small trinkets to the hundreds of children lining the streets. While sitting on a bench with one of the senior residents of Priest River, Irene told me the history of the town and the origins of the parade. She was a retired teacher. She taught every grade and was even a Title 1 teacher like myself. She made a generous donation to my ride and wished me luck. I’m so lucky to meet such wonderful people. I ran into Ginger, one of the MS riders, and we decided to stay in town to watch the logging competition. We saw axe throwing, pole climbing, two man tree sawing and log rolling. The skill and athleticism was amazing. Ginger and I finally headed out of town and met up with Nick, our Northern Tier axe throwing champion and fellow rider. We rode the last 10 miles into Washington State. We’re staying in Newport, Washington. After arriving at the Church of Christ we headed to the local Catholic Church for dinner. We are truly a nondenominational bunch. We love the the hospitality of all the various denominations.