Day 11, June 6, Saturday (2nd entry)

Flodelle Creek Campground just off the Little Pend Oreille River - temperature: cold.

Let me quickly put to rest three rumors you may have heard:

1) That there is such a thing as a training bounce

2) That there is an easy day to be had crossing Washington State on a
bicycle from west to east

3) That the prevailing winds are from the west

Today was a killer. Another continuously up - with a head wind all the way from the banks of the Columbia River. We arrived in extremis - couldn’t of gone another mile. Around every curve an unexpected incline. Thinking it was going to be easier now that we were through the Cascades made it worse.

Our level of exhaustion calls for a day off - so tomorrow, unless we and our unwarranted optimism return after a night’s sleep, we’ll lay up.

We fixed Dave’s shimmy - and have a new theory of causation: not harmonics but a loose head bearing where the front fork attaches. It is worth noting that my head bearing has not needed tightening. The evidence for best bike accumulates.

Supper tonight, multi-course: cheese and crackers (garlic Triscuit) with olives and wasabe peas, rice flavored with vegetable sausage protein and chicken broth, canned fruit. And if we have room, chicken noodle soup with white chicken meat. Upon arrival, we had one-half Hershey bar and earlier, a Snickers bar each.

Satiation does not occur regardless, at the rate those mountains burn fuel. Have forgotten the conversion of work done to energy and bicycles are efficient - but in terms of foot pounds of work today: 250 pounds for 35 miles horizontal, and with ups and downs at least one mile vertical maintaining average speed of five miles an hour. Slow but with wind and uphills - just proud to be here.

Our traveling companion for the last week left us today. Her friend and ex-husband returned, and we parted at Colville. She will resume riding in four or five days, and we may encounter her again as she intends to end up in Bar Harbor as well. She gives talks to kids about “Leave no trace.” Her dog companion, Mitch, is trained to pick up trash at these presentations. We still feel puny in comparison to her power to pull and climb and intend to continue our piano lessons because of the sand in our eye thing.


Pat Sewell