Two wheels, two states, two countries:

By Ben Olson
Reader Staff

Saddle up, Sandpoint, it’s time to ride. The Sandpoint and Ponderay Rotary Club—along with seven other Rotary clubs in Washington and British Columbia—will be hosting the WaCanId Bicycle Ride from Sept. 12 through 17.

The 370-mile ride takes the participant along the International Selkirk Loop, and travels through Washington, Canada and Idaho (hence the name WaCanId).

A map of the 370-mile WaCanId Bicycle Ride route traveling through Washington, Canada and Idaho. Map courtesy of wacanid.org.

Approximately 60 riders from around the country will be staging at Sandpoint City Beach at 8 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 12 and setting out for the ride, with overnight stops in Colville, Wash., Rossland, B.C., Nelson, B.C., and Creston, B.C.

The WaCanId route is truly one of the most amazing in the world, featuring majestic mountains, beautiful lakes and rivers and North America’s longest free ferry ride. The U.S. Dept. of Transportation designated the Selkirk Loop as one of the “Top 10 Scenic Destinations in the Northern Rockies,” and Sunset Magazine named it the “West’s Best Scenic Drive.”

Along with incredible scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities from the road, the communities riders pass through are chock full of friendly people from all walks of life. Being after the last big holiday weekend of the summer, the roads are usually devoid of heavy traffic and the weather is mild in September, with warm days and chilly nights.

For more information about the ride, check out www.wacanid.org.