Yesterday was our final day of mountain climbing. We woke up to very cold weather, shivering in our sleeping bags. Finally we all managed to get our bags packed and breakfast eaten. I took off with Diane, Kate, Kelsey, and Ellen.
The Washington Pass is about 12 miles of climbing through beautiful rocky peaks still covered with snow in some places. We took our sweet time, stopping often to enjoy the scenery and rest our legs. Upon reaching the top we walked out on an incredible scenic overlook that looks down on the road we climbed up. It was neat to see from above.
From there we had a 3 mile descent before hitting our second climb, Rainy Pass. From the direction we were coming the second climb was only 1.5 miles. I wouldn't even consider it a pass, though I wouldn't want to climb it from the other way. We took off from that pass down a 20 mile descent to lunch. It was unbelievable. We descended along amazing rocky cliffs and a mountain creek. There were waterfalls falling down the cliffs and beautiful mountains in the distance.
After lunch the descent continued and brought us to a teal river...it was gorgeous. As we came out of the mountains the road became much more wooded and hardwoods began to appear. The trees almost covered the road completely from sun...it was a like a tree tunnel. At times it felt like and smelled like Ohio.
A couple miles from our campsite we stoppped at Cascadian Farms for a snack. The company was founded in the valley here. I had a Ginger ale and a whole pint of blueberries. It was so refreshing. Once at camp I headed down to the river for a freezing cold, but great bath.
It feels so good to have the mountains conquered and behind us. Washington challenged everybody and we are all happy to be descending into Vancouver.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Another day, another mountain pass
Yesterday I rode sweet with Stephanie and trekked along with Nate and Erin as well. We ate breakfast at a local cafe in Republic before hitting the mountain pass just outside of town. We climbed for 13 miles slow and steady, then enjoyed a very long descent alongside rocky formations cliffs. I am surprised by how arid the land is here. It has something to do with the mountains holding back the weather systems. We were stuck at lunch for an extra 45 minutes because Nate left his helmet in the van but we were well rewarded after with a long 5 miles descent. We then spent a long time drinking milkshakes at a local cafe before heading into our host.
Today we climbed our 4th mountain pass. It was 18 uphill and took a very long time...plus our legs are quite tired. The descent was totally worth it though: 8 miles of 6% grade. Since we're camping tonight we all took our time riding today. Right now we are in a very cool town, Winthrop, that looks like a cowboy/western town and has awesome shops.
Tomorrow we have two more passes and then its all downhill from there.
Today we climbed our 4th mountain pass. It was 18 uphill and took a very long time...plus our legs are quite tired. The descent was totally worth it though: 8 miles of 6% grade. Since we're camping tonight we all took our time riding today. Right now we are in a very cool town, Winthrop, that looks like a cowboy/western town and has awesome shops.
Tomorrow we have two more passes and then its all downhill from there.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Oh mountains
Significant moments from the last two days:
- coffee club stop leaving Sandpoint, tasty yerba mate
- rainstorm...stopped to wait for lightning
- soaking wet and freezing
- McDonalds lunch stop, craving a burger and fries, warm coffee, dried off with hand dryers
- cool birds flying in formation, loud bird in tree, maybe an osprey
- big mountain pass...big surprise...12ish miles of uphill, so tough and challenging, mentally and physically worn out
- 17.8 mph average this morning with Kevin through rolling hills
- helped dig out a canoe
- got in van for a hurting back, missed the 20 mile climb pass
- looking over grant applications tonight as a group
- everybody worn out and ready to be home, these last days are tough
- coffee club stop leaving Sandpoint, tasty yerba mate
- rainstorm...stopped to wait for lightning
- soaking wet and freezing
- McDonalds lunch stop, craving a burger and fries, warm coffee, dried off with hand dryers
- cool birds flying in formation, loud bird in tree, maybe an osprey
- big mountain pass...big surprise...12ish miles of uphill, so tough and challenging, mentally and physically worn out
- 17.8 mph average this morning with Kevin through rolling hills
- helped dig out a canoe
- got in van for a hurting back, missed the 20 mile climb pass
- looking over grant applications tonight as a group
- everybody worn out and ready to be home, these last days are tough
Monday, August 20, 2012
Picture Time (on our day off)
Today was our last day off and I spent it resting and walking around town. Then I got an incredible 1 hour massage (full body) and now I feel absolutely amazing. Now for some pics: (and yes they're out of order again).
 |
| Dog at lunch on reservation |
 |
| Can you find the cow elk? |
 |
| Descending in Glacier |
 |
| Notice the rainbow |
 |
| Do I need a caption for this? |
 |
| Glacier...east side |
 |
| 95 mile ride into Sandpoint |
 |
| Glacier from afar |
 |
| Going to the clouds |
 |
| Beautiful river with swinging bridge |
Montana to Idaho
On these super long days, 95 miles today, it feels like several days have passed between the morning and the evening. Many of us began our day at McDonalds to get some extra protein for the day. Then we started out along a road next to a beautiful river. There were rapids and rock formations everywhere. At one point we even saw a cool swinging bridge across the river. It was like a scene out of Indiana Jones.
It is so fun to be among the mountains. They never fail to amaze me. Our first lunch was at a lake by some incredible huge cliffs. After lunch things got pretty silly. I started my day with Diane, Ellen, Kate, Collin, and Rob. I left lunch with Rob and Kate because the others were waiting with Diane who left her helmet in the van which had left (they ended up hitchhiking). The road continued to be beautiful but the rolling hills were tough for me. My ability to bike uphill is diminishing.
I eventually fell behind my group and biked alone into Idaho. Crossing the stateline was epic as we have been in Montana for over a week. Idaho has more rocky features and does feel a bit different. When I finally got to second lunch I found out Rob and Kate had also hitchhiked and left me behind. Oh well.
After that lunch I joined with Katie K, Caity, Nate, and Erica. The road was under construction and the pavement had been striped so we found a great detour along a parallel road. We were riding along Lake Pend Oreille and it felt like we were on the coast of Italy. After a couple of miles we came upon a little hippie cafe where a bunch of our cyclists were hanging out. I honestly felt like I was in another country.
I departed with Nate for the final part but when he stopped to take a picture I got ahead and finished solo. A train came along and I watched it cross the water on the tracks. It was so neat. The road had to go around the lake.
Our host is great Dinner was made by a man who has been in the restaurant business for years. It's was unbelievable. I had beets, green beans, a sausage dish, quinoa, peas and corn, two kinds of soup (carrot with ginger and a Mexican soup with hominy), fancy bread with toppings...etc. It was literally like eating in a restaurant. Incredible! For dessert...huckleberry ice cream.
Our entertainment for the night was Frankie, a 95-year old woman of the congregation with more spunk and attitude and humor than anybody I know. She even participated in our game of slackjaw and had us all busting up with laughter.
Our night ended at a local microbrewery with some huckleberry ale.
It is so fun to be among the mountains. They never fail to amaze me. Our first lunch was at a lake by some incredible huge cliffs. After lunch things got pretty silly. I started my day with Diane, Ellen, Kate, Collin, and Rob. I left lunch with Rob and Kate because the others were waiting with Diane who left her helmet in the van which had left (they ended up hitchhiking). The road continued to be beautiful but the rolling hills were tough for me. My ability to bike uphill is diminishing.
I eventually fell behind my group and biked alone into Idaho. Crossing the stateline was epic as we have been in Montana for over a week. Idaho has more rocky features and does feel a bit different. When I finally got to second lunch I found out Rob and Kate had also hitchhiked and left me behind. Oh well.
After that lunch I joined with Katie K, Caity, Nate, and Erica. The road was under construction and the pavement had been striped so we found a great detour along a parallel road. We were riding along Lake Pend Oreille and it felt like we were on the coast of Italy. After a couple of miles we came upon a little hippie cafe where a bunch of our cyclists were hanging out. I honestly felt like I was in another country.
I departed with Nate for the final part but when he stopped to take a picture I got ahead and finished solo. A train came along and I watched it cross the water on the tracks. It was so neat. The road had to go around the lake.
Our host is great Dinner was made by a man who has been in the restaurant business for years. It's was unbelievable. I had beets, green beans, a sausage dish, quinoa, peas and corn, two kinds of soup (carrot with ginger and a Mexican soup with hominy), fancy bread with toppings...etc. It was literally like eating in a restaurant. Incredible! For dessert...huckleberry ice cream.
Our entertainment for the night was Frankie, a 95-year old woman of the congregation with more spunk and attitude and humor than anybody I know. She even participated in our game of slackjaw and had us all busting up with laughter.
Our night ended at a local microbrewery with some huckleberry ale.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Koocanusa Reservoir
Our host this morning gave us a great breakfast of pancakes and eggs to fuel us for the day. I started out the morning with the "coffee club" (Nate, Kelsey, Erin) and broke away for solo riding the rest of the day. We rode along the Koocanusa Reservoir today, which was incredible. All along the rode were huge rocky cliffs to our left and big rock formations to our right. We climbed atop some for a better view.
The ride was a bit tough for everybody. We think it was because of the thermal winds. Nobody could hold ther normal average. I took it slow and just enjoyed the riding. The air here is so crisp and smells of pine. It's wonderful. The last bit of the ride took us past the dam and along the river valley into Libby.
There was a car show in town which was fun to walk through. There were cars from every decade! It was neat. Once at the host Kelsey and I went over to McDonalds, since our group has to make dinner tonight. I enjoyed a tasty smoothie and fries. Yum! After a nap we ate pasta with peanut sauce and then got milkshakes down the street. It's all about food with us. I'm looking forward to resuming my normal-person eating habits when the trip is over.
The ride was a bit tough for everybody. We think it was because of the thermal winds. Nobody could hold ther normal average. I took it slow and just enjoyed the riding. The air here is so crisp and smells of pine. It's wonderful. The last bit of the ride took us past the dam and along the river valley into Libby.
There was a car show in town which was fun to walk through. There were cars from every decade! It was neat. Once at the host Kelsey and I went over to McDonalds, since our group has to make dinner tonight. I enjoyed a tasty smoothie and fries. Yum! After a nap we ate pasta with peanut sauce and then got milkshakes down the street. It's all about food with us. I'm looking forward to resuming my normal-person eating habits when the trip is over.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Blue Lake and Pine Trees
6:30 wake-up, then my team (the coffee club) went to breakfast across the street at the Buffalo Cafe. I got huckleberry pancakes, two eggs, and bacon. Yummy! Huckleberries can't be cultivated so they are all handpicked in the wild. And they only grow in the north and in the mountains. I want to get everything huckleberry while we're here.
Our route took us on some amazing roads through pine woods. It smelled like Christmas. The entire day we had an incredible view of the mountains. Lunch was at a lake, the color of clear blue. It was gorgeous. We spent a long time relaxing there as today we only had to bike 55 miles. Just as we were leaving we saw another bald eagle soaring above the lake.
The ride was relaxing but my body is tired and slowing down. We are in good shape, but as we start climbing hills again I can feel the wear of 9 weeks of biking.
When we got into town I put a new chain on my bike, with Kevin's help, and cleaned off all the dirt. Dinner was excellent and I had rice pudding for dessert. It was so tasty (not too sweet), I had to get the recipe. It is so easy!
Tonight we are in Eureka, about 7 miles from Canada. The big resevoir here is named for the river, Canada, and the United States: Koocanusa!
Our route took us on some amazing roads through pine woods. It smelled like Christmas. The entire day we had an incredible view of the mountains. Lunch was at a lake, the color of clear blue. It was gorgeous. We spent a long time relaxing there as today we only had to bike 55 miles. Just as we were leaving we saw another bald eagle soaring above the lake.
The ride was relaxing but my body is tired and slowing down. We are in good shape, but as we start climbing hills again I can feel the wear of 9 weeks of biking.
When we got into town I put a new chain on my bike, with Kevin's help, and cleaned off all the dirt. Dinner was excellent and I had rice pudding for dessert. It was so tasty (not too sweet), I had to get the recipe. It is so easy!
Tonight we are in Eureka, about 7 miles from Canada. The big resevoir here is named for the river, Canada, and the United States: Koocanusa!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)