Molly and I just drove from Minnesota to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. While we were on interstate highways, about 1/2 of the time I managed to find local routes. Just like when we are bike touring, when in the car we want to see America. The best way to see the country is to escape the interstate. Traffic will also be light.

Here is a great example, while on a local road driving across Washington State we saw a sign which said scenic lookout one mile. Coming around the bend … wow! Mount Rainier appeared!

Here are a few more photographs from our travels. The Clark Fork River in Montana … a sunrise bike ride, and two bird images.

This Purple Martin was teasing its chicks in the hope it might entice their young to take a first flight. The California Quail was watching over a brood of about eight young.

As Molly and I work our way across America by car to our bike touring starting point, we make certain to include enough time for a daily bicycle ride. Today is was 96F in the mountains of Montana (ugh), but that did not stop us from taking a 20+ mile ride along the Clark Fork River.

It was great to see an old friend. During our Glaciers to the Sea Tour three years ago we biked along the Clark Fork for four days. The scenery and peoples in this region are Wunderbar!

The river is beautiful, but one does have to do some climbing. Two pics of Molly enjoying some vistas …