Making the grade
Making a splash
Those are some hills!
Tunnel vision
Snow way
Making a pass in the mountains
You can bank on it
Images of the Cascades
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Images of the Cascades
Making the grade
Making a splash
Those are some hills!
Tunnel vision
Snow way
Making a pass in the mountains
You can bank on it
Images of the Cascades
One more to go
Today I'm hold up in the town of Republic, Washington. I have one more pass to cross, Sherman Pass, which is the highest of the Northern Cascade Range at 5,575 feet. It's raining and lightning storms are predicted so I've decided climbing this pass today is not a smart idea.
The Cascades are nothing short of spectacular. I'm not having any luck posting pictures from this computer so I'll try again later.
On Sunday I caught up with the couple I met at the hotel in Anacortes, Barb and Bill Bochner. They are from California and headed for Bar Harbor. They are biking in part to raise awareness for Canine Companions. You can find their blog at http://pedalingpuppyraisers.wordpress.com/bblw25@comcast.net.
Yesterday I stopped in Tonasket for lunch at Pedros, something of local fame I'm told. The food was great but better yet I met Alan and Karen Crossley whom I have been riding with since. A fun couple to be with. Ok, for the coincidence department: Alan is a wildlife biologists who studied at the University of Maine at Orono. He shared an office with Mark McCollough from Hampden, father of Paul's college roommate with whom they still keep in touch. small world? No, tiny.
Yesterday as we were climbing to Wauconda Pass a gentleman in a car stopped, rolled down the window, and offered us to stay at his place near the top of the pass, which we did. It gets cold at the top of these passes this time of year. This morning I had ice in my water bottles.
The Cascades are nothing short of spectacular. I'm not having any luck posting pictures from this computer so I'll try again later.
On Sunday I caught up with the couple I met at the hotel in Anacortes, Barb and Bill Bochner. They are from California and headed for Bar Harbor. They are biking in part to raise awareness for Canine Companions. You can find their blog at http://pedalingpuppyraisers.wordpress.com/bblw25@comcast.net.
Yesterday I stopped in Tonasket for lunch at Pedros, something of local fame I'm told. The food was great but better yet I met Alan and Karen Crossley whom I have been riding with since. A fun couple to be with. Ok, for the coincidence department: Alan is a wildlife biologists who studied at the University of Maine at Orono. He shared an office with Mark McCollough from Hampden, father of Paul's college roommate with whom they still keep in touch. small world? No, tiny.
Yesterday as we were climbing to Wauconda Pass a gentleman in a car stopped, rolled down the window, and offered us to stay at his place near the top of the pass, which we did. It gets cold at the top of these passes this time of year. This morning I had ice in my water bottles.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
The Mountain Passes
John has been having quite the adventure the last few days: when he and I last spoke (Monday night), he had completed three mountain passes, the first one being the toughest biking he’s ever done: 34 miles up and 26 miles down. After this first one he was exhausted and found a place to pitch his tent. Memorial Day weekend made it difficult to find a place to stay but he had read about a private home that catered to cyclists, offering a place on their lawn with access to their bathroom. He knocked on their door but no one was home, so he pitched his tent and decided to check in with them in the morning. He set up his tent with the sleeping bag and mat cozily tucked in and took all of his gear out of the paniers. All of a sudden, sprinklers popped up out of the ground and started doing their thing. John frantically pulled up tent stakes and moved gear to a dry place, but not before EVERYTHING got soaked. He ended up hanging all of the wet things in a garage and slept on his soaked sleeping bag and pad on the concrete garage floor. I’m happy to report that the next couple of days went much better and as of this writing he will only have one more pass to go over (in the Cascade Mtn. range). For those of you following a map, John was in the town of Omak as of last night.
John has been having quite the adventure the last few days: when he and I last spoke (Monday night), he had completed three mountain passes, the first one being the toughest biking he’s ever done: 34 miles up and 26 miles down. After this first one he was exhausted and found a place to pitch his tent. Memorial Day weekend made it difficult to find a place to stay but he had read about a private home that catered to cyclists, offering a place on their lawn with access to their bathroom. He knocked on their door but no one was home, so he pitched his tent and decided to check in with them in the morning. He set up his tent with the sleeping bag and mat cozily tucked in and took all of his gear out of the paniers. All of a sudden, sprinklers popped up out of the ground and started doing their thing. John frantically pulled up tent stakes and moved gear to a dry place, but not before EVERYTHING got soaked. He ended up hanging all of the wet things in a garage and slept on his soaked sleeping bag and pad on the concrete garage floor. I’m happy to report that the next couple of days went much better and as of this writing he will only have one more pass to go over (in the Cascade Mtn. range). For those of you following a map, John was in the town of Omak as of last night.
Friday, May 23, 2014
This is Bev posting on behalf of John since he doesn't have access to a computer tonight.
John completed his first day of riding today. 60 miles. In the rain. Still suffering from the effects of a cold. Can you tell how impressed I am? After discovering that the campground he had chosen was full due to the long weekend, John chose the only motel in the town of Concrete-Eagles Nest Motel. He was "greeted" by a man in a t-shirt, with a cigarette hanging from his mouth, and several barking dogs. Not the Ritz, he thought, but how bad could it be? Well, as it turns out, pretty bad. His room: electrical cords hanging exposed from the ceiling; empty beer bottles in the trash can; no phone; no clock; old coffee still in the coffee maker with mold growing inside. I didn't even ask him about the bed. It's supposed to continue raining tomorrow but he looks forward to getting out of there.
John completed his first day of riding today. 60 miles. In the rain. Still suffering from the effects of a cold. Can you tell how impressed I am? After discovering that the campground he had chosen was full due to the long weekend, John chose the only motel in the town of Concrete-Eagles Nest Motel. He was "greeted" by a man in a t-shirt, with a cigarette hanging from his mouth, and several barking dogs. Not the Ritz, he thought, but how bad could it be? Well, as it turns out, pretty bad. His room: electrical cords hanging exposed from the ceiling; empty beer bottles in the trash can; no phone; no clock; old coffee still in the coffee maker with mold growing inside. I didn't even ask him about the bed. It's supposed to continue raining tomorrow but he looks forward to getting out of there.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Seattle/Anacortes
Seattle's great. It's a wonderful city (lots of bikes). Bev and I had a great visit with our niece, Danielle, who showed us the non-touristy part of town and treated us to a super meal. Thanks Danielle.
We made our way up to Anacortes on Tuesday and checked in at the Ship Harbor Motel with astounding views of the bay, surrounding mountains (yes mountains, not hills) and the ferry terminal, the official beginning of the trip.
We said our tearful goodbyes yesterday morning and Bev drove back to the Seattle airport and after a long trip home dodging bad weather that included a missed flight in Philadelphia, arrived home this morning.
In the meantime, I have managed to pick up a case of the Seattle Crud! I've been sick since last Friday and so I am hold up at the motel in Anacortes for a couple days of rest and recovery. I'll try my luck and start my ride tomorrow.
Yesterday I made my way over to the beach and Sarah took my picture with my back wheel in the Pacific. I'll see if I can figure out how to post this picture from the road (It should be no surprise that just to do this post from the Anacortes Library is a major feet for me).
We made our way up to Anacortes on Tuesday and checked in at the Ship Harbor Motel with astounding views of the bay, surrounding mountains (yes mountains, not hills) and the ferry terminal, the official beginning of the trip.
We said our tearful goodbyes yesterday morning and Bev drove back to the Seattle airport and after a long trip home dodging bad weather that included a missed flight in Philadelphia, arrived home this morning.
In the meantime, I have managed to pick up a case of the Seattle Crud! I've been sick since last Friday and so I am hold up at the motel in Anacortes for a couple days of rest and recovery. I'll try my luck and start my ride tomorrow.
Yesterday I made my way over to the beach and Sarah took my picture with my back wheel in the Pacific. I'll see if I can figure out how to post this picture from the road (It should be no surprise that just to do this post from the Anacortes Library is a major feet for me).
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Progress!
The pass over the Northern Cascades Higway was opened on may 8th. The snowshoes have been removed from my panniers.
Scott Seymour and the boys at Pat's Bike Shop have boxed up Bob. Fed Ex picked up yesterday and as of this writing it has left Connecticut on its way west. I delivered my other touring bike to brother Ed in New Jersey on the 27th of last month. I continue to get some miles in, now on my road bike. This bike feels like rocket compaired to the touring bikes; I feel like I'm cheating. I made a goal of 1,000 miles before I leave. Right now I'm at 830, including my first centry ride for the season (a trip up to Lincoln and back). Will I make the 1,000? Probably not, but I feel as though I'm as well prepared as I can be.
A little eastern wisdom: A twist of the old addage: "It's about the journey, not the destination." Thich Nhat Hanh, a Budist Zen Master, says: "Why race to get to the destination? It's your funeral."
Scott Seymour and the boys at Pat's Bike Shop have boxed up Bob. Fed Ex picked up yesterday and as of this writing it has left Connecticut on its way west. I delivered my other touring bike to brother Ed in New Jersey on the 27th of last month. I continue to get some miles in, now on my road bike. This bike feels like rocket compaired to the touring bikes; I feel like I'm cheating. I made a goal of 1,000 miles before I leave. Right now I'm at 830, including my first centry ride for the season (a trip up to Lincoln and back). Will I make the 1,000? Probably not, but I feel as though I'm as well prepared as I can be.
A little eastern wisdom: A twist of the old addage: "It's about the journey, not the destination." Thich Nhat Hanh, a Budist Zen Master, says: "Why race to get to the destination? It's your funeral."
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