Slept okay. My morning routine seems to be working pretty well. I like my little tent, sleeping bag packing system etc. Everyone’s mornig routine seems to be gelling. Often we are up at 5:00 a.m. I usually have slept in my riding clothes, but I still have to put on my sunscreen, chamois butter, put my bible and journal away so it takes a bit. Then the strategic packing of my bike bag, planning what I might need for the day in terms of food and clothes. Finally roll up the tent withthe fly and ground cloth layered inso so it rolls and unrolls all at once. Things are a bit damp sometimes, but it speeds up the setup and strike of camp. And I am so thankful to have a tent that sets up in less than 5 minutes. Watching everyone struggle with their tents I appreciate the ease of my tent all the more.
Anyway we have a hot breaktast again at the restaurant and then Stephen McCloskey and I head across the bridge across the Columbia River. It is a narrow bridge with traffic and it is good that we are taking it early in the morning. Once across the bridge we climb out of the river canyon. At the Wild Horse Stature Monument, we get a great view of the river valley, the bridge, the campsite, and the other riders coming up the hill.
The extra 1/8 of a mile to the viewpoint from the highway was definitely worth it. After that Steve and I got cruising. We pushed hard. Good conversation, talking about his overcoming cancer, my divorce, Faith and the balance fo life. It was pretty bleak ride without much to see. Occasionally we were chased by dogs which elicit a flurry of activity. First one of us sees the dog, mentally freaks out, calms down then yells “DOG!” At which point we sprint like crazy trying to get away fromt he dog, who currently is faster than us, has momentum and the element of surprise on us. When we think we are at least at comparable esacping speed one of us usually has the presense of mind ot turn around and bark back, very ferociously at the dog. Now of course all of this happens in the timeframe of about 1.5 and 2 seconds. After which we spend the next 2 miles settling our hearts back down.
About mile 35 we hit Ephrata. I was hungry and looking really wanting a slice of pizza and coke for lunch. This prove amazingly hard to find since at 9:15 in the morning. We made do with an organic produce shop. At which point Superman Bill Harm came screaming by.
Steve and I caught BIll and were working on a pace line with him. Our pace was too aggressive and Bill felt better running his own pace. Steve and I hammered it out. This was the same drive I was on last year when I caught up with last year’s Big Riders so it was an emotionally sort of decisional homecoming for me. I remember this last hill with Silos on it and kept looking forward it. Of course I told Steve of this Silo hoping ot provide inpisration. But that backfired as teh miles seemed to get further and furhter apart. Steve was starting to think that these Silos didn’t exist.
The weather was getting hot and all we saw were a few dead snakes. Water stops were few and far between.
Ultimately Steve and I were just trying to get through the hot, dry, boring countryside and be done. We got done first and made teh last turn. I was wanting to be “first in” since it was the place I had decided to ride this year. Just as we made the last turn, my chain jumped and Steve held up to let me in first. We were in at 12:50 so in just 6 short hours we had made our ride.
Shortly there after a few more riders came in and we quickly unloaded the truck and then rode back down into town for the pizza and (root) beer that I had dreamed about for 50 miles.
Camp these days really builds up fast and folks are getting into a groove. It was hot lot high school practice field that we were staying in. Lots of folks were resting and hanging out. Rodney really embodied this.
This night we were all starting to feel the miles on our bodies. The Massage train started a couple times with 6 or 7 folks all involved.
Us guys wound up sharing the locker room with the high school football camp that was in town for the week. I tell you it has been a long time since taking a communal high school shower.
Anyway that is about it for this post.
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