The

Lottery

Tour

Michael Conley sponsored a lottery through his bicycle shop in Spokane, the winners getting a railbiking trip on the Camas Prairie RR.   So three lucky people were introduced to railbiking and added a new dimension to our normal group.  Two of these were a romantic couple who were much more interested in each other than the biking.  And having a young vivacious gal on the ride added a little spice to the adventure.

The only damaged bridge on the Headquarters Branch had deteriorated to the point where riding across became too dangerous.  We allowed the bikes to roll across on

their own and then climbed through the wreckage to cross the stream.

Gathered around Michael's trailer

at the Konkleville Motel

we prepare to head 50 miles up the mountain to our starting point.

We hired a driver

(in black jacket)  to shuttle the van and trailer back after dropping us at our starting point.  Railbiking from there was virtually all down hill for the 25 miles back to Konkleville.

Mont and Endina

joined us on their
one-of-a-kind

Whitie-built side-by-side
railbike.

John shows off

his new battery operated

chainsaw.  We put it to heavy

use after this tour

when we went to Montana

to clear Homestake Pass.

The three washouts

in mid-canyon

have not changed much

over the years

and portaging

around them went

as usual.

Enjoying the view from one of the twenty-six trestles in the upper canyon.

We don't remember their names

and they probably don't remember ours,

but they will undoubtedly

remember their romantic

railbiking adventure

  after winning the lottery.

Jim (above) follows John

down the last leg toward Konkleville.

We were running behind

schedule and Michael was worried he would catch hell from our bed and breakfast host, Lavina Bovie, who was very adamant that we not be late for the elegant dinner she was preparing.  Michael did get a serious scolding.

Michael crosses the Half Moon heading toward Culdesac.  We had to get off the rails about 5 miles from our destination because of stored railroad cars.

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