Nice Saturday ride out into the heart of rural America, which, I think, may have heart disease.
...and I'm not just talking obesity, but poverty. Maybe I was blind to it when I first moved up here, over thirty years ago, but I doubt it -- the working mills have largely closed and the towns, or what's left of them, are literally crumbling and haunted by preppers. There's a weird meanness I don't remember.
Anyway, thru Bovill (pop 300) and out to Elk River (pop 200), where the vehicle of choice is a quad or razor and camo is de rigueur. Don't think they've seen a lot of Vespas and everyone there made a point of pretending not to see mine. The cafe I used to love had closed and the old school house, its size a remnant of a once larger town, where my riding buddy staged a play 20 years ago when it was a budding arts and culture center, is, well, you can see the pic below.
Ok, then back thru Deary (pop 500) where we were stopped by the Deary Days Parade: one fire engine, a handful of horses, a logging truck, and a hay wagon...but the whole district had turned out and that was cool (more camo!), but here the sweet part:
A group of Mennonites recently transformed a dilapidated, abandoned bank building into a cafe/creamery/pizza place where they sell artisan cheese...and the usual espresso, cold press coffee and stuff, and freakin' awesome, awesome chi chi sammiches. I had hot brie and roast beast and roasted garlic...jayzus it was good. About a dozen seemingly related, uber clean cut Mennonites busily running the place with machine-like efficiency...such a far cry from the trailers and lawn trash so familiar out here.
Also, Mennonite women are hot. Sorry, but it's true. If I weren't such a sinner I think I coulda gone over to their side. For decades I've noticed that the line between Mennonites and rural hipster/hippies is razor thin, especially when the Mennonites are pushing such high quality foodie food. This place would utterly thrive in downtown Portland or Seattle and I only wish it the best of luck out here where only the darkest bars seem to survive.
Anyway, great day rooting around in the largely forgotten or ignored corners of our country. My bud's flamed cruiser proved a more fitting subject for today's scenery, especially given the heat and smoke.
Huckleberry season. Elk River Idaho.
The state of education in Idaho.
Bovil Opera House.