Day 52 - Winchester, Idaho to Clarkston, Washington

Rode through the Nez Perce Reservation in Idaho this morning before crossing the Snake River into Washington near its confluence with the Clearwater River.  After two weeks in canoe camp the corps of Discovery traveled down the Snake and whitewater rivers to theColumbia river.

Lewis recorded his fondness for the Nez Perce in his journal:

In 1831 the Nez Perce sent a delegation to St Louis to meet with Clark, who was then the director of Indian affairs, to explore ways to get the tribe assimilated into the new country. Toward that end, a few years later schools and missions were established in this area. 

In 1877, Nez Perce Chief Joseph, refused to sign a treaty establishing the reservation and the United States cavalry pursued the Nez Perce across Idaho and into Montana. They unsuccessfully sought refuge with the Blackfoot. Eventually the the tribe turned north east of Fort zBenton and crossed theMissouri river at cow island thinking that that marked the United States border with Canada. It did not and chief Joseph surrendered, saying that from where the sun then stood he would fight no more forever. He was imprisoned and many of his his people were sent temporarily to a reservation in Oklahoma.

It was a cool, rainy night here in the twin towns of Lewiston and Clarkston. I arranged to stay with Gregory, a magnificent warm showers host, and was delighted to see that Robert, my new cycling friend from Barcelona, who camped next to me at Wilderness Gate, was also staying here. We had a great evening and it would have been a cold wet night in the tent. (Gregory middle and Robert right)