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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ride Affirms Life Is A Gift

Ben Holstrom Special To Opinion

I had waited for this solo bicycling tour for 20 years. Finally I was heading for the open road on a self-contained tour that would take me from Spokane to British Columbia’s awe-inspiring Kootenay Bay.

Seeking spiritual fulfillment, outdoors adventure and balance to a complex world, I pedaled effortlessly toward the Centennial Trail. The wind was picking up and the menacing clouds suggested rain. But, like Henry David Thoreau, I was prepared for whatever may turn up in heaven or earth.

My hybrid bike was saddled with camping gear and the handlebar bag was filled with miscellaneous items and Powerbars. Although my families said I was foolish to attempt such a crazy thing, I knew better.

The highlight of the first day was the stretch along the Centennial Trail that follows the Spokane River to Idaho. The diverse wild flowers, multicolored birds and small animals affirmed a belief that life is a rare gift.

I spent the first night in Sandpoint and the second night north of Bonners Ferry.

After that it was into Canada at Porthill, pedaling north on Highway 3A along pristine Kootenay Lake on whose secluded shores I camped on the third night of my trip. From magnificent Kootenay Bay I would take the province of British Columbia’s free 45-minute ferry ride to the beautiful, remote port of Belfour. This was my halfway point from which I would continue pedaling 3A as it loops south. I rested one day in unforgettable Nelson, B.C., then pedaled back to the United States via Highway 6 through Metaline Falls.

After a few hundred miles and countless unforgettable experiences, I rolled into Ione, Wash., exhausted. I pulled into a motel on the outside of town. There I met Jay and Debbie Clark, owners of the Ione Motel. Even though I was short on funds, these kind people gave me a room so that I could get a good rest before the final 86-mile push to Spokane.

All of the people I met on this seven-day tour were extraordinarily friendly. One elderly gentleman in Post Falls was on his third bike tour from Portland to Minneapolis. But I will not soon forget the Clarks and their unselfish act of human kindness.

Yes, I am already planning for my next bicycle tour.

MEMO: “Your turn” is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a “Your turn” column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write “Your turn,” The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.

“Your turn” is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a “Your turn” column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write “Your turn,” The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.