Milestones
- Part of my 2nd Annual “Bike-A-Palooza” (SEE the Whole Trip)
Salmon, Idaho calls itself the birthplace of Sacajawea. To get to my hotel, I traveled along the “Sacajawea Historic Byway”. The byway begins at the intersection of Interstate 15 and Idaho 33 at exit 143. I followed Idaho 33 for about 12 miles west to its junction with Idaho 28. I then took Idaho 28 northwest for 120 miles to Salmon.
Along Hwy 28, I ran across the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) which is one of the national laboratories of the United States Department of Energy. Historically, the lab has been involved with nuclear research. Much of current knowledge about how nuclear reactors behave and misbehave was discovered at INL. Various organizations have built more than 50 reactors at what is commonly called “the Site”, including the ones that gave the world its first usable amount of electricity from nuclear power and the power plant for the world’s first nuclear submarine. Although many are now decommissioned, these facilities are the largest concentration of reactors in the world. As a Physics major in college I always enjoy these encounters.
The route along the Sacajawea Historic Byway is as remote as it gets and there were long stretches without another soul on the road and without cellular service. However, the surrounding beauty of the Lemhi Valley was beautiful.
The town of Salmon has special significance to me. 20 years previously, my Dad and I drove across the western US to this same location.
The city of Salmon is only 15 minutes drive from the location where Lewis and Clark crossed the continental divide on August 12, 1805.
CLICK HERE FOR MY TRAVELS ON NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS
Just like the first time, my hotel room at the Stagecoach Inn was 50 ft from the Salmon River.
- I was hungry, and it was my birthday, so I had Trout, some wine and dessert for dinner.
- I opened my patio door all night to the sounds of the river flowing. Very peaceful.
- The next day, I drove out of Salmon towards Missoula, MT
