6/18-Day 6 of Colleen Rides Across the Country Slowly

If anyone is following Lael Wilcox, you will get today’s title. I just got caught up on her podcasts. 

Today was a short day from Ralston to Ritzville. Would have only been about 11 miles the shortest way (Hwy 261), but that’s not the way I went. Still only about 15 miles. 

Because it wasn’t going to be a long day, and I probably couldn’t check in to a hotel until the afternoon, I was in no hurry. Funny thing though, I was still pretty much ready to go by 7:30.

Fortunately, I had Eddie to talk to. Eddie rolled in yesterday afternoon. He’s riding from North Bend to Spokane on the P2CT. Unlike my route, which avoids any sketchy parts of the trail, he was riding almost solely on the trail. The poor boy was whipped. Remember the photo I posted of the trail yesterday? Yeah, imagine riding that all day. No thank you! He was really ready to find an exit strategy. It’s his first longer trip. I told him I totally understood, and that he could take the parallel roads. He also needed to eat and drink. He was feeling pretty demoralized. We hung out for the evening, and by the time we retired to our tents, he was feeling much better. I hate to see someone feeling bad, and I’m glad he had changed his mind. 

I left at about 8:00, wishing Eddie all the best. I gave him my number and told him he could always ask me anything about bikepacking. 

The route immediately turned onto a gravel road. 

A bit of washboard, but not bad. 

The route turned north, then west, then north…basically zigzagging my way to Ritzville. 

What’s up, Shadow!

Lots of rolling hills

Today’s deer sighting (actually, I saw 4 deer- makes up for not seeing one yesterday)

Abandoned barn and house

With about 3 miles to go, the road went back to pavement. I had to do a brief bit on 261 up to the big interchange for I-90. I saw a Days Inn right by the freeway (and close to where the route leaves Ritzville). The rate is okay, so I booked a room. I can’t check in until 1:00 at the earliest, maybe later. I needed to get some groceries, so I rode into Ritzville. It’s been a few decades or so since I’ve been here, but I thought there used to be more to it. There was only one small grocery store (but sufficient). I stopped at a coffee shop to kill time. 

This qualifies as second breakfast, right? Peach smoothie and Rice Krispie bar (it’s cereal!)

Now I’m at the city park. Lots of kids here. 

Soon I can return to the hotel. I took a short day for a few reasons. 1) I wanted a bit of a break. 2) I need to do laundry. 3) I needed groceries. And 4) I wanted to set myself up for the ride to Rosalia tomorrow. It’s about 64 miles, some pavement, some gravel. More importantly, the epic ride weather forecast shows a headwind. I’ll get an early start. 

Update: When I checked into the hotel, there was a sign saying no hot water, so they were giving me a 25% discount. That makes tonight’s stay the same price as the motel in Othello, but here there is breakfast!

6/17-Meeting Up With the Guys

This morning as I was rolling out, the hotel door two down from me opened up. It was Chris and Brody (Bill later said he didn’t come out because all he was wearing was a towel, and I might not like that). They said they had seen Welsh Chris yesterday just after the Beverly Bridge. Still don’t know if he made it to Othello. They saw him about 2:30. I went through there at 11:30.The “Salsa Boys”, as I like to call them because they are all riding Salsas, we’re headed to Ritzville today. I figured they would pass me because they are much faster riders. 

My friend, Ginny, when she saw I was in Othello, texted me about the Cow Path Bakery. It was just a couple blocks from the motel. Everyone knows how I love a bakery! I looked at their menu and decided it would be a good place for breakfast. I had the Bacon Egger Avocado Toast. 

It was delicious. I also had apple juice AND chocolate milk…starting out the day well hydrated! I also got a raspberry bar to go. 

I was on the road at 7:00. Today would be 100% paved road. My only concern was getting through the 9 mile section that headed north, before the wind got too strong (it was coming out of the west again). Crosswinds are brutal! 

Hmmm…can I draft?

Wheat (or barley???)

Mt. Rainier! To think, 5 days ago, I was on the other side!

Whew! Made it through the north section!

I stopped at the Country Market in Warden. I picked up a zucchini and an avocado for my dinner tonight. Since I was going to be on pavement all day, they wouldn’t get destroyed. As I was finishing up a drink, a woman came out with a small container of little oval fried things in her hand. She asked if I wanted to try one. I asked what they were. She said they were potato wrapped around a bit of jalapeño. I said, “Oh, no thank you!” I told her I was good until she said jalapeño!

I was back on the road when Paul from Australia caught up to me. He asked where I was going. I told him, and asked where he was going. He said the same! He was in the same group that started from the Space Needle! Side note: If I could go back in time, I would have asked for a round of names before we rolled out! 

We rode together for about 12 miles, then he headed on ahead while I stopped for a butt break. 

See ya, Paul!

The road was quite the rolling hills. The next town was Lind. As I rolled in, I could see Paul and a couple other guys  at the fire station. John came to the street. Paul had just pulled in. Gary was there too (met him in Snoqualmie).

John, Gary, and Paul

I pulled out my chair too. The three guys are mostly hanging together. John had met Paul on a Europe tour. John and Gary were about to leave. Paul had found some seats across the street at the grocery store. He asked me to come over there. 

John and Gary hadn’t left yet when the Salsa Boys rolled in. They parked their bikes next to Wanda as that was designated Salsa parking. 

Me, Paul, Brody, Chris, and Gary

I ate my raspberry bar, and Paul had some “chips” (we told him they are jojos, or potato wedges here). I told the guys, no offense to them, but I wish there were more women. Paul agreed. 

I was in no hurry because I only had about 15 miles to go. Eventually, it was time to get rolling. Paul asked if I wanted to ride together. We crossed over the Hwy from Pasco (drove that many times in college). We came to the turn onto Lind-Ralston Rd. Paul’s gps was telling him to continue on. I told him this was the road, but he thought he should stop and check. I continued. It wasn’t until I was just outside of Ralston that he caught up to me. He said he should have listened to me.

Memorial in Lind

The P2CT runs parallel to the paved road we were on. It does not look fun to ride!

The trees in the distance are Ralston. Sometimes it seems like you’ll never get there!

Just before Paul caught up to me, I caught sight of John and Gary (they must have taken a break at the park). I told Paul that was John and Gary right up ahead. We parted ways as I am staying tonight at Keppler Memorial Park here in Ralston. There’s not much to Ralston except the park, some houses, and a grange. I called the number listed at the park. The guy will come and open the grange so I can have a shower, and also use the kitchen, I think. If I wanted to camp on the grass, he would turn off the sprinklers. But, there is a tent pad that looks fine to me. 

There’s even a bike repair stand!

The grange across the street from the park.

Today was 53 miles. Even with the break in Lind, I still got here at 2:30. There was a tailwind, but not as strong as yesterday. Kind of grateful, actually. Yesterday was a bit much!

6/16-This Ride Made Possible by Wind!

Today I rode 68.5 miles from 6:50am to 3:30pm with an average speed of 9.7mph. The only reason I was able to do that many miles was because of the very strong tailwind. 

When I left Kittitas this morning, it wasn’t blowing that much. Chris, the Welsh guy who had also stayed at the “park” last night wasn’t quite ready to go. He had decided he would take the trail afterall (he had been planning to do the Vantage Hwy). He is carrying about twice as much gear as I am on narrower tires. There’s about 4 miles of sand after the Renslow Trestle. His bike doesn’t do so great in the soft stuff. I could have waited for him, but my plan on this ride is to go when I’m ready, and I knew I would actually be faster. He said, “I’ll catch you up…or I won’t.” He didn’t.

I started out on the trail. It was already pretty soft. I thought that Chris was not going to like it. I didn’t like it. I noticed the paved road running parallel. I looked on the route to see how far I could ride the pavement before the trail went away from it. Not far, but I did it anyway. 

The P2CT is just to the right.

Once I got back on the trail, it was better. The trail climbs for about 10 miles from Kittitas to the Boylston Tunnel. Since the wind wasn’t blowing that much yet, it was slower going getting to the Renslow Trestle. 

The sand started pretty soon after the trestle. For me, it was all rideable. I didn’t even let more air out of my tires. Once across the trestle, the much anticipated tailwind picked up. 

Not too bad, sand wise. 

The Boylston Tunnel is closed, and there is a bypass around it. It’s a pretty steep climb, and I was giving myself encouragement on the super steep part. I managed to make it up with walking!

The bypass to the right. Curiously, the road to the left would be much easier, and the bypass crosses it at the top. 

The high point of the trail from Kittitas to the Beverly Bridge.

Coming down the other side was a good time to utilize the dropper post. It was loose and chunky. I always like to stop and take a photo of the tunnel from the other side. 

It’s quite swampy down there. 

Even still with all this greenery. 

From here to the bridge it was all downhill. The wind wasn’t blowing pushing me right along. There were still a surprising amount of sandy spots, so I had to be a wee bit cautious. Still, at times I was going 15-16mph. There’s also several places where they cut through the rock for the rail line. You have to be extra cautious through those because of rock fall. For the most part, it looked like they had recently gone through and cleared the rocks…mostly. 

See the piles of rocks to the sides?

Long range view

The cut through also have more dirt, and less sand. But, they are bumpy. As I was riding through one, one of my fork bags came off. It was the same side as the one that I lost on the Fire and Ice bikepacking trip. I double check when I put them on. I guess I’ll have to really make sure it’s latched. 

This area from the Renslow Trestle to Huntzinger Rd (at the river) is the JBLM Yakima Training Area. You are supposed to check in, then drop the permit in the iron Ranger on the other end. There were no forms. I think they should just get rid of that signage, and just say that you are entering the Yakima Training area (and the subsequent rules). Another interesting thing is that the signage still says John Way e Iron Horse Trail. 

Home home on the range!

Wanapum Dam

Beverly Bridge in the distance

Sign for JBLM

Just a bit further to the bridge. 

By now, the wind was really whipping. Going across the bridge was going to be fun. At least you can’t possible get blown off. 

Beverly Bridge

The “western” part of the Palouse to Cascades is now complete. I knew, on the other side of the bridge there would be massive sand. Fortunately, the route deviated off after about .6 of a mile. Years ago, I guy told me he wouldn’t do that section on anything less than a 2.6” wide tire. Then there was this. 

Yep, not possible to ride that!

Fortunately, there were just two short sections before I turned off. By now I’d done 30 miles. It was about 10:30. I hadn’t eaten much. I saw this place just as I turned on to Lower Crab Creek Rd. 

There was a nice sheltered picnic table. 

I took a break and had some cheese, and a blueberry cheese danish. I had carried an extra liter of water, and I was glad I had it. Up until crossing the bridge, it had been fairly reasonable temps. Now it was heating up. Normally, I do pretty good in the heat, except lately, I’ve been having trouble with dry mouth. It’s not that I’m thirsty, it’s just that my mouth is very dry. One thing that helps a little is to wear my buff over my mouth and nose. For the remainder of the day I rode, looking like a bandit. At one point I even spit a mouth full of water into the buff to increase the moisture I was breathing in. You might think it would be hard to breathe, but it’s not, and if I forget to pull it back up after stopping to drink, my mouth is like cotton almost immediately!

The pavement was glorious, and with the tailwind, I was flying!

Then it became gravel. Some washboard, and some trying to find the best line.

Big rock!

Then back to glorious pavement!

The second section of pavement was rolling, and it was great! The wind would push me up most of the hills. Alas, there was another 10 mile section of gravel. 

Up through the rocks. 

Seemed like more than 10 miles, but I was still grateful for the tailwind.

I stopped in a bit of shade, and noticed these cattle being herded toward the road. I got a move on lest I get caught in the middle of it. 

After the cows, I was on pavement for the rest of the way to Othello. Actually, a fairly busy highway. At one point, a semi went by me and blew my Da Brim forward, and flipped my over shirt up my back. After that, I made sure to sit up tall and tilt my head back a bit to keep the Da Brim down. The wind was utterly massive! The highway was a gradual climb. At times, the wind was pushing me up the hill so much that I didn’t have to pedal! One issue was if I wanted to stop, it was nearly impossible to stand in the wind. I would just get a quick drink, pull the buff back up, and start going again.

I knew I was going to have to turn left on the outskirts of Othello. I was dreading it. The time came for the left. I could barely stay on the road. It reminded me of Argentina, when we had to ride, leaning into the wind at a 45 degree angle! At least it was only .5 of a mile before I turned back to the tailwind. 

I actually wanted to go to Warden today (there is a woman who lets you camp in her yard), but I just didn’t have another 15 miles in me (tailwind or not). I also knew there would be a significant crosswind section. There’s no camping in Othello (it might have been pretty dreadful anyway). I’m at the Othello Inn and Suites. Fancy name for a basic motel. But, the BEST shower ever!

The body is holding up okay (dry mouth notwithstanding). My legs look terrible with the heat induced vasculitis patches, and various bruises. All to be expected. 

I did find a Mexican grocery near the motel. They had my favorite things!

Snacks for tomorrow!