Day 7: In a Montana State of mind

Sandpoint to Thompson Falls MT: 86 miles

Ah, ANOTHER state: Montana. The tough part about today's ride, though only 86 miles, was the fact that I crossed a time zone into Mountain Standard Time, meaning that I lose an hour. It was VERY cold today. The morning probably was around upper 30s to lower 40s and didn't let up. The clouds kept the sun at bay (meaning no sunburn), though it started to rain as I entered Thompson Falls, Montana. I did, however, feel very strong throughout the ride, and was able to pass a Lake Pend Oreille--BEAUTIFUL. Also, as a tid-bit of info: Route 200 through Idaho and into Montana passes straight through a former river bed (well, we're talking tens of thousands of years ago) that ran from Missoula, MT to Washington. The striated rock, high cliffs, and fast-flowing rivers are evidence of this. A geologist's dream!

Day 6: You never forget your first BEN-GAY

Spokane to Sandpoint ID: 87 miles

Spokane to Sandpoint, IDAHO!! I crossed my first state border today. Even though the ride was only 87 miles today, it was probably the toughest day by far yet. I had a number of firsts today: first time seeing scores of logging trucks hauling piles of logs; hexagon cut-outs in the forest; a very GREEN Idaho with plenty of trees, and no potatoes-- YET! and my first trip to the drug store to buy a tube of BEN-GAY.

Day 5: The mysterious missing four hours, and Spokane looked . . . well, pretty good

Electric City to Spokane: 92 miles

Over 90 miles from Electric City to Spokane. A very tough ride--I finally got to Spokane near 7P, after 8 hours of being on my bike, but nearly 12 hours of being on the road. I was fortunate enough to stay at the dorms at Gonzaga University, so at least my night accomodations were very comfortable, versus sleeping on the ground in my tent. Very spoiled, though I feel well-deserved after a tough day's ride.

Day 4: Not hit by rocks, but tortured nonetheless . . .

Wenatchee to Electric City: 95 miles

Torture. Though dinner was available immediately upon completion of ride. About 95 miles in 90 degree weather, heat waves dancing above the ground, and fields of wheat and no toilets in sight. BUT...

Coming into Electric City was breathtaking. The Columbia River tracing our way to the center of the river valley, "beware of rock slides" signs lining the cliffs on the left, red and yellow ore brightening up the dry rock formations.

Tired, sore, but content.

Day 3: Over the Cascades

Skykomish to East Wenatchee: 64 miles

4601 feet up Stephen's Pass. I made it!! I had to stop every 100 feet in the last mile or so, but I conquered the 16-mile climb up over the Cascades. It's amazing. I'm so tired right now it feels as if I rode up the mountain an entire week ago.

In just a day's riding, I went from snow-covered mountain tops to dry desert land. Tomorrow's ride is nearly 100 miles through this desert.

An interesting note today is that I passed through Leavenworth, a "real" Bavarian village. Everything from the "Wilkommen" sign to the clothes of the shop owners was initiated in the 1930s when a dying mining town asked the UW College of Business to come up with a way to save the town when the mining stopped. The students of the town along with the service groups built up the "village" and sure enough, tourists started coming and the town survived.

Day 2: Psychic Flashes

Everett WA to Skykomish: 67 miles

The first 67 miles are behind me! From Marysville, I rode to a port in Everett where I dipped my back tire into the Pacific (well, Puget Sound). When I arrive in Boston, the front tire will be dipped into the Atlantic. I'm looking forward to that and the journey along the way.

The ride today was a challenge, though I made it to camp with no bruises or cuts or battle wounds, though I did take my first spill of the trip--I was cycling up a pretty steep hill and just didn't go fast enough. I yelled out: "I'm going to fall!" and a second later I fell. I think I'm acquiring psychic abilities along this trip...

I did meet a man in Snohomish, WA who was planting some flowers in his front yard. I stopped to take a picture of horses after seeing the sign: "horse pasture for rent," and asked him if the horses were his. His reply: "No, but this land is." Proud and content, he chatted with me and then went back to his gardening.

Tomorrow we ride about 77 miles, the first 20 or so will be over Stephen's Pass, getting us over the Cascades, land of Bigfoot. Hopefully he doesn't come scrounging around our campsite tonight... ;)

Aloha,
Joce