Ok... Let get serious

 

Track from our ride on Wed 6/3

The riding after the rest day in Walla Walla got more serious as we get closer to the mountains.  Our first day was a ride Pomeroy, WA, a small farming community with a campground at the country fairground.  It was a nice place and had showers which was good after our 68 mile and 4000' of climbing day.  The climbing wasn't steep but very long sections of constant up hill. 

Campground at the Pomeroy County Fairground

Yesterday was our big riding day for the week, over 70 miles and over 5000' of climbing with the biggest climb coming at the end of the day.  Our favorable tailwinds were not with us, but luckily we didn't have a lot of head winds either.  John (66) and I took an alternate route to the finish which took us up a 2300' climb where the first 8 miles were pretty steep, but then leveled out a little as we made our way to Winchester.  The views from the road were amazing and no traffic.  There are few main highways in this area, so the truck traffic is more than you would like.

Views along the road to Winchester.  The yellow field in the distance are Canola.

Today was a relatively easy 46 miles to Kamiah, ID.  There were a number of significant rolling hills, jand then an 1800' drop at the end that was a lot of fun.  It would have been more fun if there wasn't a 10 mph headwind in my face going down the big hill.

Train trestle along our route to Kamiah, ID

Tomorrow we join up with the route that Beth, Nicholas and I did in 2013 all the way to Missoula, MT.  It is a long slow climb tomorrow for nearly 60 miles.  Then the day after tomorrow we'll climb over Lolo Pass which will be the highest point on the trip so far.

The "Three Amigas" - (left to right) Dorothy (73), Jocelyn (62) and Sheri (74)

I'll fill you in on some of the riders from the tour.  We call them the "Three Amigas".  Almost from the first day they have been riding together or very close.  

Dorothy (73) is from the Finger Lake area of up state New York and taught Veterinary medicine specializing in large animals until just recently.  Her husband Steve rode with us from Astoria to Portland, but Dorothy is a far stronger rider and frequently was ahead of him.  This is her first long cycling trip and was fairly worried about being able to make it.  We are now 10 days in with a couple of serious riding days and she is doing fine.

Jocelyn (62) is from the Asheville, North Carolina area and still a part time CPA.  She has a Starlink with her so she can do some limited amount of work even in remote sites.  Jocelyn is a veteran touring cyclist with many multiday/week trips and is also a strong and steady cyclist.  She is frequently in the lead of the Amigas grinding their way up a hill.

Sheri (74) is from Bainbridge Island, WA, just across the sound from Seattle and a retired elementary school teacher.  She is riding an ebike we loving call "The Beast".  It must weigh well over 60 pounds fully loaded.  Sheri has also done a lot of cycle touring and is usually bringing up the rear of the Amigas, just peddling along and conserving her battery for the big climbs.

All three have a great sense of humor and are taking the riding and camping in stride.  Tonight there was a motel option at our campsite and they all took the opportunity for a real bed and a private bath.  I don't blame them, but I have been sleeping better in the tent than any hotel so far, so I am in the campground.