Day 2 – Newhalem to Twisp

Wow. Hard day on the bike. Climb, climb, climb. While I don't normally recommend it, I shoved in headphones and listened to music on the way up. From Newhalem (~500 ft) to Washington pass (5477 feet) was roughly 42 miles. On the surface if you spread it out it doesn't sound so bad, but as with most roads it's not just up, it's a big climb up, then a run down. While you appreciate the downhill, it just means you have to climb it again. Several other bikes on the road, mostly skinny people on racing bikes. They looked at me like I was from Mars. Some really amazing scenery and Tower of Power turned up to 11 did help the miles grind by.

Trip down the other side was great fun; first 7 miles were straight down. Didn't mean to, but the odometer says I maxed out at 47mph. Glad I didn't know that at the time. The touring bike loaded down with gear handles really well. Another 10 into Mazama where I grabbed a bite to eat and got some liquids on board.

From there it was another 15 mile slog to the far side of Winthrop near Twisp where the campground was. Nice RV/tent campground on the river, not a bad view from my tent.

Sunday is a rest day, then Monday off to Chelan and Tuesday to Leavenworth to start the festivities of the reunion.

Day 1 – Mt Vernon to Newhalem

Good day, although a bit warm. First part of the day was traversing out of Mt Vernon and getting on-route with the Adventure Cycling map. Stayed on the other side of the Skagit River and off of Highway 20 for the first half of the day. Crossed over the river and into Concrete, where I stopped for lunch. Rest of the day on Highway 20, nothing crazy scenic, but I did get the glimpse of things to come. Stayed at the Newhalem Creek campground.

Time Flies

Really intended to post more information during the Colorado ride, but for any number of reasons it didn't happen. Courtney gave a great synopsis on her blog, so I'll let that stand. Bottom line is I had a great time with Courtney and Paula. Don't know that I'd do the ride again, a LOT of people. About as well organized as it could possibly be, but I'd be a happier camper doing the routes with a small group or on my own.

It's time to hit the road

Leaving tomorrow for the Bicycle Tour of Colorado, www.bicycletourcolorado.com. Driving down, will spend a couple of days riding to try and adjust to the altitude. Not really enough time to fully acclimate, but it's better than nothing. This ride will be a challenge, but should be beautiful, which is a benefit when you're grinding up hills.

Finishing up packing, never seems like there's enough room for all the essentials.....

Fort Ebey SP to Anacortes

Short distance day today (31 miles) but lots of hills and some busy traffic on highway 20 through Deception Pass and in to Anacortes. As with Port Townsend, there is a bike trail that carries you in to town, so for the last few miles you get a nice cruise along the waterfront. In fact Anacortes has taken what I would assume is an old railroad bridge across Fidalgo Bay and turned it into a pathway; very nice.

Once I reached Anacortes I had one specific and all-consuming need. LAUNDRYMAT. You know how they say you generally don't smell yourself? Not true after a week on the road.

Through with personal hygiene chores I made my way up to the middle school where we were gathering for the start of American Lung Association's Trek-Tri Island, a 3 day ride through the San Juan Islands.

Kitsap Memorial Park to Fort Ebey SP, Whidbey Island

Today was the first day of anything other than perfect weather. Wouldn't call it rain, but enough mist to make for sloppy riding. Left turn out of camp, a few warm up miles then a cruise over the Hood Canal bridge. From there mostly back roads and rollers to Port Townsend. There's a great trail into town, keeps you off of Hwy 20 and is quite scenic. From there the Keystone ferry to Whidbey Island.

Stopped for lunch in Coupville and made my way up (and I do mean up) to the campground at Fort Ebey. Tomorrow is another hilly day on Whidbey, across Deception Pass and on to Anacortes to meet up with Trek Tri Island.

Greetings from Kitsap Memorial Park

Tour de Furlough rolls on. I'm behind in posting, but the last few days have been great. After leaving Ilwaco I worked my way up 101 to Raymond on Monday. No big highlights to the day, I've ridden that stretch a few times, but never in that direction.

Tuesday was Raymond to Shelton, using the Adventure Cycling route from Elma on. The route bypasses the primary highways, although doesn't bypass the hills! There were no convenient campgrounds around the mileage I had charted, so spent the night at the 'City Center Best Rates Hotel', a little slice of the 1950's.

Today was on back roads through Bremerton, Silverdale and Poulsbo, ending at Kitsap Memorial SP. Tomorrow off to Whidbey Island.

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Day 2 - Veronia, OR to Ilwaco

Good ride today. Morning was spent on Hwy 202, nice on the weekends, but I understand from the locals a bit loaded with log trucks during the week. Given the general lack of shoulder I can only imagine the fun. Beautiful scenery, one moderatly ugly climb and then a screaming downhill into Olney. From there to Astoria, and over the Astoria bridge and back into WA. I wish there was just a bit more shoulder on the bridge, there's no doubt the views are spectacular, but it's not a stretch of road you can do a lot of sightseeing on. Keep a straight line and watch your mirror for rental RV's. For the most part people are really good with bicycles, they either swing wide or wait, and I always try to give a thank you wave in either case.

Once on the WA side another 10 miles or so to Ilwaco where I met up with this year's Big Ride Pacific Coast group. Had a nice visit with David VanDoorne and Alan Fitton (ride director and wrench, and friends from 2004 Big Ride).
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On the Road

Half way through the day today, time for breakfast in Scappoose, Oregon. So far, so good on the riding. Fully loaded is definately a change. Oh sure, some might think it wise to try a short test ride with 40 pounds of crap strapped on. BAH! I say.

Tour de Furlough

The company I work for recently took a revenue hit, and to make ends meet has instructed employees to take two weeks of ‘vacation’ before the end of the year. So I’ve decided to load up the bike and hit the road next week, heading from Vancouver out to Ilwaco to see the BR Pacific Coast group, then continue up to Anacortes and ride Trek Tri-Island 9/20-9/22.

First, if anyone wants to come out and ride a portion of Tour de Furlough with me, I’d love the company. I’ll post a more complete route, but in general here’s where I’ll be:

9/13 – Big Eddy Park, Veronia, Or.
9/14 – Ilwaco (Cape Disappointment SP)
9/15 – Raymond
9/16 – Shelton
9/17 – Kitsap Memorial SP
9/18 – Fort Ebey SP
9/19 – Anacortes

Item two. If you’re looking for a tax deduction, I’d be happy to assist by taking a donation to the Trek Tri-Island ride. http://donate.brianrides.com/ Of course it’s not too late to sign up for Trek yourself, I understand the road crew this year will be first rate (now can I get a ride back from Anacortes, Scott?).

Thanks, and I hope to see some of you out on the road next week.

July 17th - Anchorage

Woke up early this morning, had some housekeeping to do; laundry and repacking. I had decided prior to the trip that I wanted to ship my bike and camping gear home, so we didn't have to lug it around on the cruise.

Courtney and I grabbed a taxi with all of our gear and headed out to a Mailboxes R US kind of place. Turned out the owners all biked, and were very helpful in getting the gear headed home. Not cheap, but it was nice to have it off my hands.

I shipped my camping gear and (unwashed) cycling clothes home parcel post, curious to see what kind of shape that bag will be in after a 4 week USPS trip.

July 16th – Valdez to Anchorage

We woke up to rain this morning, fortunately it stopped in time so we didn't have to take down our tents in it. Overall we've been very fortunate this trip, the only rain has come overnight.

Today's agenda is to take the ferry across from Valdez to Whittier, then a bus up to Anchorage. One last dinner as a group tonight then people start heading for the airport Thursday morning.

July 15th – Teikel River to Valdez – 61 Miles

A top ten day on the bike. After we rolled out of the Methland RV Park, it was 20 pleasant warm-up miles, then a start up the climb over Thompson Pass. While a relatively long climb (~6 miles) it wasn't all a grind; up a while, then flatten out, the up a while, and flatten out again. Once reaching the top of the pass (2678') we had an opportunity to walk up to a view point, which gave us some really amazing vistas. After lunch it was time to zip up the jacket and get ready for a decent starting us towards Valdez, 2500 feet in the first 8 miles. Our friend the headwinds joined us for the last 15 miles of the day, so even while going flat or somewhat downhill you still had to earn the miles.

Stayed at a large commercial RV park in Valdez, nice facilities with all the requisite cyclist amenities; showers and a place to buy salty snacks and beer. Valdez is the end of the line as far as the bike ride is concerned, so we spent the afternoon boxing up our bikes to be loaded on the gear truck. The RV Park sat just across from a marina in Valdez, and it appears many of the people were in town for the fishing. As such just outside the main shower and restroom area of the RV Park was a big fish cleaning station. The sight of gutting and filleting probably caused some of the PETA leaning cyclists in our group great consternation.

July 14th – Tolsana to Teikel River – 77 Miles

Pretty day of riding, a nice day all around. Weather is still chilly, but great for riding. The campground was unique; billed as an 'old roadhouse now run by young cycling enthusiasts', we soon found out that it was going to be shut down a couple of days after our stay. The cycling enthusiasts apparently lived in Minnesota, and we're pretty sure the staff running the place was cooking meth in the back room. All part of the adventure.

July 13th – Matanuska to Tolsana – 63 miles

Enough hills to keep us honest, but we finally got a tailwind and covered ground quickly today. Campground is nice, with a mercantile and enough showers so the queue wasn't too long. Scenery has changed quite a bit, more tundra-like as we came out of the mountains this morning. Two more riding days where we'll finish in Valdez. Wednesday we take a ferry across Prince William Sound to Whittier, then shuttled up to Anchorage.