Northern Tier: West 2010

July 22, 2010 59 miles Fargo, ND 1790 total (more or less)

2010-07-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

One last bowl of oatmeal!

Dark and cloudy skies this AM failed to put a damper on the day. Everyone seemed excited about getting on with our last day's ride into Fargo. A cool start is always good, as it gives our muscles time to warm up before the temp rises. I think the rain arrived just before the 1st sag stop but wasn't hard enough to matter much. My windbreaker was the perfect jacket. After that, the headwind hit with avengence, making the last 40 miles really difficult for me. I was so spoiled by strong tailwinds throughout this tour, plus my body was/is just exhausted. The 59 miles took me 5 hours! Along the way I took one last photo for my grandchildren - horses this time. And, I got a good pic of the ubiquitous grain elevators.

Nevertheless, it's good to be in Fargo - a really nice town with a vibrant downtown which I plan to explore more on Saturday. Today, I only got as far as the Great Northern Bike Shop which has a small restaurant with a great lunch. Mary Palmberg (Group One) and my friend Ann Glass, who lives in Fargo, and I enjoyed lunch together and a good visit. The 3 of us rode together in '07 on Meandering Mississippi tour.

I have a lovely room tonight at the Radisson Hotel where the staff just bends over backwards to be accommodating. Our final banquet was a buffet feast (selected by our chef Linda) that included beautiful salads, smoked salmon (see pic), shrimp pasta, prime rib and several vegetable sides, a champagne toast and delicious cheesecake. Michelle and Linda made lovely toasts to all of us and to the SAG drivers and sous chef. Recognition also was given to Michelle and Linda to thank them for their excellent leadership as guide and chef. This tour truly had an outstanding group of women, staff and support staff. There are not enough words to adequately convey my thoughts on this. I wish everyone of us were meeting again next year. As it is, I think about a dozen of this group are signed up to finish the Northern Tier next year, plus some from Group One. We'll always remember our friend, Barbara, who was also signed up for '11. Her funeral is Saturday in Terre Haute, and four of our group will be there to extend love from her many friends in the WomanTours family.

Tonight there were many final pictures taken and hugs given. After dinner no one seemed ready to break up the fun, so the entire group gravitated back to the bar for final laughs, pictures, hugs, and perhaps a nightcap. Vicki sang her original words to the tune of "What A Difference A Day Makes" about taking a day off to sag - so funny. This group just had personality plus! And, so many were such encouragers to me. May God bless you all as you return to homes, children, grandchildren, jobs, etc., etc. My life is so much richer for knowing each one of you!

The greatest support staff!

My friend Jean and me

July 21, 2010 92 miles Mayville, ND

2010-07-21T18:37:00.000-07:00

Today was a delightful day of cycling. In spite of the distance, which originally was to be 108 miles, the day seemed to fly by. It certainly helped that the temp stayed around 77 and there was good cloud cover all day. We did the distance in just over 6 hrs., so we were moving and grooving. Cheryl, our SAG driver for the day, was parked at every 20 miles, breaking up the day in doable intervals. Several went on and completed 100 miles because of the good conditions. This part of southern North Dakota is pure farmland - wheat fields, corn that's as tall as the 4th of July, and luscious soybeans. ??

Mayville has huge grain elevators. One of the original, large grain landowners donated money in 1900 for a library that is still open today - 21 hrs./wk. It's never been open more than that. The stacks are semi-closed, the books are checked out with a check-out card (remember those?), and rarely are fines charged (2 cents a day). According to Margaret, the librarian, "Who wants to fool with adding it up!" She was just delightful. Margaret gave me a gift that I will treasure always. She wouldn't let me take her pic, but I did get a few pics of the library.

On the way into town, Jona and I stopped at the Rainbow Gardens. Located at a wooded campground, the gardens were started by a local citizen and are maintained by volunteers. There's an English Garden, a White Garden, an Herb Garden, and a Children's Garden. All the areas are filled with beautiful specimens of gorgeous flowers and herbs. There's also a wonderful assortment of sculptures. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there.

Linda cooked her final trailer dinner - Morocan Chicken served over couscous w/green peas and fresh cilantro, five bean salad, green salad and watermelon. It was all delicious!

July 20, 2010

2010-07-20T18:37:00.000-07:00

Today was an easy, enjoyable 50 mile ride to Carrington. We left Spirit Lake around 8:30; the weather was beautiful including a slight wind, sometimes from the west and sometimes a cross wind. We arrived at noon, and, of course, found a cafe for lunch. Other diners enjoyed hearing the story of our adventure. There were not many opportunities for pictures today, but I take a few. We rode through the community of Sheyenne which seemed straight out of a wild west movie. There's a pic of the local bar and one of grain being blown into a truck (for Daniel). I'll also add a picture of the group's four SAG drivers and the Sous Chef - our great support staff that has done a fabulous job; and, a picture of my riding partners this week.

July 19, 2010 82 miles Spirit Lake Casino & Resort

2010-07-19T15:48:00.000-07:00

I couldn't sleep last night and got off to a slow start this morning. Rain threatened for the first 20 miles but stayed ahead of us. We rode on cool, wet roads but never felt a drop. At the first sag stop I hooked up with my friend Kit whom I've dubbed Cap'n Kit. As a former racer, she's one of the faster riders in the group. Today, she indulged me I'm sure, as I was able to stay with her. We did the 82 miles in 15.8 mph which for that distance was pretty good! It was a lot of fun. Jona and Debbie were also part of the group. There were no photo opps, but I did stop and take pictures of farm equipment for Sarah Catherine and Daniel. Goodness knows, we've seen a lot of that on this trip.

Today's route finally got us off of Rt. 2 and back to the backroads. The roads were good farm roads along absolutely beautiful farmland. We had one or two long hills to pull but nothing significant enough to show on our elevation chart. The last 10 miles were along Spring Lake which is a huge blue spot on the road map! We're on another Indian Reservation which I think is home to the Sioux tribe. My room tonight overlooks a large indoor swimming pool with a very tall water slide which I have no intention of using. I probably couldn't even climb to the top without freaking out! :))

A lot of us have made really good friends and are sad to have the tour coming to an end. But, then, all good things must come to an end. So, we'll enjoy our last three days of cycling in North Dakota, but missing our friend, Barbara, and look forward to next year's adventure which takes us from Fargo to Bar Harbor, ME.

July 18, 2010 69 miles Rugby, ND

2010-07-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

Last Friday my friend, Barbara Minnick, was doing what she loved to do - riding her recumbent on a long, flat stretch on a beautiful day with a light tailwind. Around noon our worst nightmare happened, as she was struck by a pickup truck that hit her back wheel. The following link will explain.

http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=41595

The accident was inexcusable and should never have happened. She has been my friend since 2007 when we did our first (of four) WomanTours trip together along the Mississippi River. The reality of her death has been devastating for all of us on this tour. Three of our group of 28 ladies who are from all over the country decided to return to their homes and families. The remainder of the group wants to complete the ride, believing that's what Barbara would choose to do. Her spirit is with us, and she is without a doubt in heaven with the Lord she loved.

We gathered this morning all dressed in our WT jerseys, and rode out together in silence for the first 20 miles. One of our group bought strands of black beads that we also wore. It was a beautiful morning with a 5-10 mph NW wind - just the kind of day any cyclist would love.

Ride on, Barbara, ride on with joy. . .

July 16, 2010 54 miles Minot, ND

2010-07-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

The bright spots today were the fields of beautiful canola and flax. Again, because of the heavy tanker truck traffic on a road with no shoulder, we were shuttled in two groups back to Stanley and off loaded for the 54 mile ride into Minot on Rt. 2. Will this road ever end? It's a divided 4 lane highway with wide shoulders. However, where there's no paved shoulder, it's a gravel shoulder. Therefore, we are back and forth between the shoulder and the white line and rumbles that are along the left side of the shoulder. Does that make sense? Almost without exception every truck and car moved to the left lane today to go around the bikes. There were two that did not. As we had opportunity to do so, we thanked truck drivers and asked them to spread the word of our appreciation for their tolerance and kindness. One truck driver at a truck stop told me that, "It's all about safety. We want you ladies to have a safe trip." I thought that was so kind of him. He, of course, wanted to hear about our adventure, and I was happy to tell him.

We're staying in Minot for two nights. I must say that everyone is ready for a rest day. Today was a tough day.

July 15, 2010 71 miles New Town, ND

2010-07-15T15:59:00.000-07:00

Another day to blow to the next stop!! Because of an oil slick highway with heavy oil tanker traffic and no shoulder, our route was altered for today to keep us on Rt. 2 to Stanley. From there we were taken by van for the final 35 miles to New Town and the Four Bear Casino Lodge which is located on the Ft. Berthold Indian Reservation. Therefore, we had another exquisite tailwind day that is just so much fun. My odometer worked and tells me I averaged 17 mph; I loved every minute of it, too. :)) Below is a photo of a field of flax. Then, there's Jean doing her job as SAG driver today.

The terrain changed somewhat today to include more woods and undulating rolling hills. Also, we passed lots of oil rigs and drills. Who would have known that oil would be found in N. Dakota? I think I read, though, that ND has the lowest unemployment rate due to the oil business. When I stopped to get a picture of a rig with an American flag, the owner (VIP type), pulled in the driveway, hopped out and started talking to me. I thought he might confiscate my picture, similarly to what happend down in LA in '07 when Georgia was snapping pics of an American oil refinery. No, he just wanted me to notice the beautiful location where he placed his operation. He seemed pleased that I noticed the American flags. Also, he was curious about all the women cyclists that he'd seen on the highway. It's always fun to tell folk what we're about and get their reaction to our adventure.

Due to the heavy wind outside, I've heard that we'll have dinner tonight from the casino buffet line.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 46 miles Williston, ND

2010-07-14T19:17:00.000-07:00

This was the most unusual day of cycling. With winds blowing 20-30 mph and gusting sometimes even higher, we just blew to Williston. There was one point where I never turned the pedals for several miles. We encountered road construction just before entering North Dakota and had to wait in line for the pilot car to escort us. I think the lane had new asphalt that was laid just yesterday because the group before us talked of gravel. For all the warnings that we received, the construction turned out to be a non-issue.

Just past the Welcome to North Dakota sign, eleven of our group turned south on county rd. 5 for a ten mile ride to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and pretty views of the Missouri River. I made the turn, too, but after 1.5 miles decided to turn around and return to US 2. My lightweight bike was so unstable that I actually was frightened by the strong cross wind. I decided no view was worth such discomfort. Besides, I rode along the Missouri River years ago on the Katy Trail in Missouri.

We were told that we couldn't get in our hotel rooms until 4:00, and I arrived about 11:45 CST. When I rode past a library, I pulled in. The librarians were extremely cordial, told me to enjoy my water and pb&j (despite the no food allowed sign), offered to help me find something to read, allowed me to use their cell phone to report in, and encouraged me to make myself at home. And, so I did. I found a chair with a footrest, and the hardback copy of the Stuart Woods paperback book I'm reading, and a couple of magazines, and camped out for several hours! Libraries! You gotta' love 'em. :))

It was too windy tonight for Linda to cook and serve from the trailer. WT treated us to dinner at the restaurant next door. So, it's early to bed tonight to continue with FRESH DISASTERS.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 57 miles Culbertson, MT

2010-07-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

The days just get better and better! 52 degrees this AM, clear MT sky and a TAILWIND all the way to Culbertson! Leaving Wolf Point about 8, we were here by noon. Everyone had fun today just ambling along or flying - whatever felt good. I think we only had 2 hills which were close to the finish. . . We began seeing the Missouri River more often over in the distance. I stopped to take a photo of a Presbyterian Church sign and the church (churches are few and far between), and got an added bonus for my 1/4 mile walk down a gravel road. Behind the church was a sign announcing a Lewis & Clark landing at that river site in 1805! Neat. . . The entire route today was on the Ft. Peck Indian Reservation. Some of us stopped at a crossroads grocery for bottled Starbucks and met Jamie who is full blooded Assiniboine Indian. He works for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Fire Department and really enjoyed talking to the ladies who thought he was quit handsome. After he drove away, two guys on Harleys pulled in and enjoyed the commaraderie no less.

Again today we were back and forth on Rt. 1 and Rt. 2. The backroad (Rt. 1) was lovely and had no traffic - a few gravel spots but that was OK. I just stopped and brushed off my fragile tires after crossing each patch. Altogether, today was a perfect cycling day. . . I rolled down Main St. (Broadway) and found the library in Culbertson. Answered a few emails (no wi-fi tonight) and visited with the librarian. After 35 years in a one room facility, she now has a very nice 2500 sq. ft. shared building and is loving the improvement. I found her signage to be quite amusing.

Well, our info must be a little out-of-date, as we do seem to have wi-fi. I usually type in WordPad and cut/paste to the blog. :))

Carolyn did a good job today with SAG support.

Monday, July 12, 2010 53 miles Wolf Point, MT

2010-07-12T19:23:00.000-07:00

A cool start again today I think because of the wind. We thought it might even rain but that never happened. My wind breaker felt good until about 11:00. After 20 miles on US 2, we were routed south to a lovely backroad that ran perpendicular to US 2 - a real back road with no traffic, just wheat fields, wild flowers along the roadside, and occasional farm houses. I think it was the purple clover that smelled so sweet. From time to time, I could see the Missouri River on the south horizon. This enjoyable road took us to within 2.5 miles of Wolf Point. Since several in our group were here before when they road the Lewis & Clark tour in 2006, they knew how to get to downtown and a local cafe where we enjoyed root beer floats (not me) and grilled cheese sandwiches. Since our rooms weren't quite ready anyway, this was a pleasant way for six of us to kill some time. . . . The rotation on roommates has started over. Nancy and I even guessed that we would be roommates tonight and we are. She's from NC and is a veteran of WT tours.

The picture below may give some idea of the soft, mound like hills that we've seen so much of. The statute above was in the middle of main street but had no plaque. We've been following the Lewis & Clark Trail now for several days and today had our first glimpse of the Missouri River. This river used to be much further north but was pushed further south by glaciers long ago. It's difficult for me to fathom that the river is this far away from Missouri! In the last two days, I've crossed Bear Creek, Wolf Creek, Beaver Creek, and Porcupine Creek, as well as the Milk River.

July 11, 2010 71 miles Glasgow, MT

2010-07-11T20:10:00.000-07:00

Rain this morning kept us from having breakfast outside which turned out to be rather nice. We were invited to have breakfast from the menu in the hotel restaurant - quite a pleasant change (nothing against steelcut oatmeal!). I dawdled over coffee, bacon and eggs and forgot all about making the ritual pb&j for my lunch. Actually, I never saw the snack table so guess Linda had it in the back of the trailor.

The only reason I started out in rain was because the temp was 58 and would only get warmer. I guess it rained on us for a couple of hours but never very hard. My paper rain jacket proved to be just fine. I kept it on all day, as the day remained a little cool with heavy overcast of clouds. If you're wondering why I'm spending so much time on weather, well, that was the most exciting happening all day. We passed again through miles and miles of wheat fields, with not even a combine driver to wave to. It's Sunday and even the traffic was very light. I don't think I took but two pictures. I arrived in Glasgow about 2:30 and stopped at DQ, not ice cream but a hot dog and Diet Coke. I was starving. . .

Coming into Glasgow I noticed sculptures of dinosaurs over on the hillside. I haven't visited the local museums, but, evidently this was big dinosaur country millions of years ago.

As soon as I checked in I found a hose and washed off my bike. That, of course, led to cleaning the cassette, the chain, and lubricating. I had to fix a flat today on the front. After examining the tire, I found a good size gash to which I applied Goop. Michelle says to apply it every day as it wears off. I also have a gash in the back tire. . . not too happy with my new tires. But, I'm getting good at changing flats!

Dinner tonight was really good - chicken and green beans and gravy over brown rice, broccoli salad, fresh fruit salad AND tiramisu (camp version) which was divine!

July 10, 2010 90 miles Malta, MT

2010-07-10T16:41:00.000-07:00

Goodness gracious! For a 90 mile day, the ride was terrific. A tailwind sped us along for the first 60+ miles which was just so much fun! Thinking that we'd need substantial food to get us thru the long day, Linda parked at 46 miles and provided a very tasty lunch . I think everyone was at that stop by 10 or 10:30 because we all pulled out at 6 am to beat the heat. True to form, as the day wore on, the wind picked up. Just before reaching Malta, I saw a sign advertising DQ in 3.4 miles. Sue and I rode in together and went out of our way to get ice cream and lemonade. The day had gotten so hot that the extra distance was well worth the effort.

The sites today were mostly of wheat fields and lots of combines working the fields. We seemed to ride in a wide valley between two flat ridges or bluffs that probably were a mile away on each side. For awhile we could see Bear's Paw Mountains. There were many more homes along the road today and trees. Passed one field of hay bales. These were brown and looked like toasted marshmallows rather than plain marshmallows as pictured earlier. Also saw the occasional wildflowers.

About 25 miles of today's route was thru the Belknap Indian Reservation. It was in this area close to Chinook, MT, that Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe finally surrendered to Col. Nelson Miles afer four days of fighting. In retrospect, according to our Adventure Cycling field notes, the Nez Perce could have survived if they had traveled less than a day's march into Canada where they would have found refuge.

The railroad was ever present today, also. With stops like Zurich, Harlem, Malta and yesterday's towns of Joplin, Inverness, Rudyard, Gilford and Kremlin, one can just imagine the many countries represented in settling the wild west. It was an extremely difficult existence. James J. Hill of Havre, Mt, was responsible for getting the railroad built across the Northern Plains. At $2.50 an acre and exagerated claims as to its fertility and productitivity, Hill encouraged migration from across the U.S. and even from Europe. It is reported that "low rates were established for the movement of household goods and farming equipment into the state; return rates on these same articles were so high that it was impossible for the farmer who became discouraged to leave and return to his native state." (AC Field Notes)

Just outside of Havre, Mt, we began criss crossing the Milk River. I remember cycling alongside this river last summer but can't remember exactly where. It seems that Meriwether Lewis described this river as "being about the color of tea with the admixture of milk," hence the name Milk River. It's definitely not as beautiful as the glacier rivers we saw earlier in the trip.

July 8, 2010 60 miles Havre, MT

2010-07-09T09:08:00.000-07:00

Last night in Chester was quite unusual. Our motel was straight out of the 40's and reminded me of places my family used to stay on summer vacations. As I mentioned earlier, I was upstairs. So, Jane and I had the windows wide open to let in the breeze. The birds woke up about 4 am and the trains never went to sleep. Despite all, I managed to sleep well. Earplugs help. I misread my watch, though, and got up at 5:38. Since b'fast wasn't until 7:30, I dressed and crawled back in bed for a nap.

The ride today was another 60 miler along straight/flat US 2. I think we follow this all the way to ND and maybe all the way to Fargo! The country side, though, is lovely even if it is flat. Today, we continued to see the Sawgrass Mountains to the north and picked up the Bear's Paw Mtns on the south, so there are mountains to see on the far horizons. The wheat fields go forever alnd from the air must look like a checker board. There are huge areas of green followed by huge areas of brown which are fields that have been left fallow. The prairie dogs were out early this AM - chasing one another or being chased by hawks. They dig huge holes in the ground - much bigger than the chipmonk holes back home. More farmhouses and wheat silos were noticed today and the houses actually all seemed surrounded by trees. Otherwise, there are NO trees - just fields and silos. I have yet to see a missile silo; not sure what I'm looking for anyway, but others have seen them.

My pics today consisted mostly of the wrought iron town signs. Some salesman/artisan made a living selling signs. . . . About 10 miles from a SAG stop my back tire went down. I had the bike upside down and was about to remove the wheel when two angels rode up - both competent SAG drivers. Lynn, Jean and I (probably mostly them) changed it fairly quickly. Since neither of them could locate the culprit inside the tire, I took it all apart later this aft and still couldn't find a reason for the flat. I do have two good size cuts in the back tire to which I applied a dot of super glue. Tomorrow, I'm going to check the old tube and patch it. . . . This nice man stopped to offer his assistance. He's from Ottawa and riding across America.

My good friends Mary and Joann (Group #1) had supper with us again tonight and also Gloria, founder of WomanTours. It was fun to hear from Gloria about how she came to start the company twelve years ago. Joann was on the 1st XC tour and Mary was on the first transam tour.

Wednesday, July 8, 2010 65 miles Chester, MT

2010-07-07T15:45:00.000-07:00

Today's ride was like a nice Sunday afternoon ride - straight east on US 2 along a basically flat but also rolling hills through pasture land, meadows, fields of wheat, and perhaps potatoes. Along the side of the highway we passed lots of grain elevators, abandoned farm houses and out buildings and total wide open spaces. The highway ran along side the railroad track that seems to go from Chicago to the west coast. Several long cargo trains passed by. At some point I couldn't help but start singing "Home On the Range". . . . Some of us stopped for coffee at a very nice expresso shop about 20 miles out. I'm including a pic of one of the white crosses that are all along MT highways. They represent highway fatalities and are quite sobering. Also, there's a picture of me that's supposed to show off my GTTS jersey.

In 63 miles, I only saw one large and very nice home. So, I wonder who owns all the land. . . A nice tailwind kept us moving along a good rate of speed. Almost without trying I averaged almost 15 mph. Believe me, we weren't hurrying to get to Chester. With a population of about 800 (info from the librarian), there isn't much here, but the main street has all the usual businesses - cafe (Spuds), drugstore, feed store, hardware AND a very nice library with the usual very friendly staff. Since the MX Motel doesn't have wi-fi, several of us are here using the library's computers or our own. Speaking of the latter, I sure am enjoying my little Acer - except for the over sensitive mouse. . . . The MX might be considered as 'shabby chic' with lovely owners. My room is up an outside and very steep staircase, down the hall and on the right. It's a suite of 2 bedrooms with bath and full kitchen facilities. Fortunately, Linda is preparing a delicious supper. We're even having margaritas tonight to celebrate the halfway point of the trip, and (I think), halfway across Montana (think Texas on the ST). Will close now and try to add a few pics.

July 6, 2010 60 miles Cut Bank, MT

2010-07-06T20:09:00.000-07:00

Rain sprinkled on breakfast this AM, but it never affected our ride today. Partly cloudy skies followed us all the way to Cut Bank. Immediately leaving St. Mary, we climbed (6% - 8%) for 6 miles, then down, then up again. The next downhill left us in the flats and out of the Rockies. :(( The ride thus far has been so beautiful; I'll miss the mountains. I'm sure there's more pretty country in store for us, but today, the last 30 miles were flat. We turned into a road beside Cut Bank Creek that was lovely. Or, maybe it was the strong tailwind.

I took several pics of wildflowers which I'll post. Also posting a picture showing the devastating effect of a wildfire that was three years ago. One can see the beautiful white wildflowers all over the ground. Coming into Browning, we turned onto US 2 and rode the next 30 miles thru Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The road had a wide shoulder that included rumbles. The truck traffic was heavy on the two lane road. And, the crosswinds! Wow! So, the last 20 miles were long. . . Coming into Cut Bank, guess what? - a long uphill, just to keep our climbing muscles awake! Fortunately, I spotted McDonalds and stopped for a double chocolate dip.

July 5, 2010 21.4 mi. Going to the Sun St. Mary, MT

2010-07-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

Today was the day that we've all been anxiously awaiting - the Going to the Sun ride (GTTS). Most of bought the jersey in Whitefish, so we've GOT to do the ride. This is the route that goes over Logan Pass from approx. 3200 ft. to 6664 ft. The top is also a spot on the Continental Divide. Our clocks were set for 5 am; some heard it raining at 4:30. Thankfully, the rain stopped and we enjoyed a good breakfast of hard cooked eggs and hot oatmeal and coffee. Barbara Minnick, our one recumbant cyclist left camp at 5:45, determined to get to the top before 11:00 (she made it at 10:45 - yea!). Bicycles are not allowed between 11 am and 4 pm. So, actually, everyone felt "under the gun" to start out early. I think I left close to 6:30 and made it to the top at 9:30. We were encouraged to wear as much warm gear as we owned plus raingear and to take a change of clothes or extra dry shirt to put on at the top for the ride down. Since the morning was not too cold, I had to stop early on and put on fingerless gloves and remove two windbreakers and arm warmers. I still had on leg warmers and my rain jacket. The beginning 10 miles were relatively flat and easy. At mile 11, we began a steady, round and round climb for 10 long miles. The entire route was two narrow lanes with no shoulder; sometimes the road was dirt in the spots where crews were working. Personally, I didn't find the climb too difficult - just very long. I got in my granny gear and just stayed there - even left myself one gear on the rear for an emergency that didn't happen. I stopped at most of the turnouts to drink water, stand down, and take a photo. These quick breaks really helped me preserve my energy. The wind picked up a little at the top and the temperature seemed to plummet. I nearly froze during the photo session. Then I hurried into the unheated Visitor Center, ate my sandwich, added back the windbreakers plus my fleece, glove liners and warm biking gloves. By then, though, I was thoroughly chilled and shaking (no heat in the VC). It had started to rain, and I could hardly see my hand in front of my face due to the heavy cloud cover. Under those circumstances, and also because I really don't relish steep downhills, I made the decision to take the park bus down the mountain to St. Mary's Visitor Center. I watched my friend Jean disappear into the cloud as she began the descent. Although the sun came out when we got below the clouds, the air was still quite cold, and the road was full of potholes (winter ice and snow are not kind to these roads). My bike road on the front of the bus and I thawed out inside. There actually were 3 of us, but everyone else braved it and got down on their bikes. My hat is off to them!

Once at St. Mary's Lodge (about noon), we all had to wait until 4 o'clock to get our rooms. Fortunately, the reception rooms were filled with comfortable furniture. I napped on a rawhide sofa in front of a warm fire. . . . Linda prepared the perfect cold night supper - split pea soup, a fantastic salad and several delicious pies. Since it doesn't get dark until after 10 pm and we are getting a late start tomorrow, I'm getting in bed now to read some more of FEARLESS FOURTEEN, one of Evanovich's humorous stories.

July 4, 2010 Kalispell and Lake McDonald, MT

2010-07-06T18:07:00.000-07:00

Patsy, Kalli, and Toth brought me p to Glacier today after lunch - arriving about 2:15. This morning we went to P's church - Bethlehem Lutheran and enjoyed a lovely, warm and friendly service. P fixed us Eggs Benedict for lunch. Yummmm

The day was drippy at Glacier National Park and showers are expected for our ride tomorrow. I arrived in time to clean my bike real good from the rain on Friday.

McDonald Lodge where we're staying is quite lovely. Built in 1913-14 even before a road existed. Guests arrived by boat or horseback. Several of us have rooms in a motel style building. Others have rooms in a cabin style building. The lodge is furnished with rustic, comfortable furniture and lots of animal heads. An inviting fire was roaring in the lobby where folks were milling about or enjoying the chairs and people watching.

I met Tyler Doss from Germantown in the gift shop. He's working here for two months this summer. He graduated from Houston High and is a sophomore at Ole Miss where's he's a Sigma Nu - a really neat young man. I took his pic outside the country store when he was on his break. I also got a few pictures of the lodge and McDonald Lake. One thing I missed was a pic of the large red car busses that are used for guided tours of the park. They've used this mode of transportation since the road was built.

July 3, 2010 Kalispell, MT

2010-07-06T16:51:00.000-07:00

Up at 7 and made coffee. Patsy cooked us a great breakfast of omelet, turkey sausage biscuit. Before she got up, tho, I enjoyed a quiet time and read my emails. There's a school behind P's house and I'm linked to the school's sytem. We picked up P's mom and took her with us the Farmer's Market. P was looking for herbs to plant. Later, P and I shopped at the Sportsman's Ski Haus where I found a pair of quick drying shorts, a pretty t-shirt and a pair of warm gloves. At Hergerger's we found a t-shirt to match the shorts and a pair of white cut-offs - all on sale. Bought our lunch at the Blue Cow - delicious red lentil soup with coconut, rice and curry, etc. After lunch, P drove me to Big Rock on the northern end of Flathead Lake (27 miles long) and then up along Swan Lake. It rained hard almost all morning. I would love to know how my friends faired biking to Lake McDonald and hoping Jean can call me back with a report. She probably doesn't have cell service, tho. . . . We picked up Cathlynn and Troy's children (Toth 12 and Kalli 6) at a friend's home. They are staying with Gran while their parents vacation in Canada for a week. After lunch tomorrow they'll drive me to Lake McDonald. I enjoyed seeing Troy this morning and regret not getting to see Cathlynn. The children are beautiful and so smart. Toth looks exacctly like his mother and Kalli looks just like Troy.

I had a phone message which I couldn't retrieve because I didn't have a password. I've never been asked for a password for messages. Called Catherine who gave me the 888# for ATT and finally got a new password.

Tomorrow is the day all the bike group has been anticipating - the Going To The Sun ride. This scenic landmark crossing of Glacier National Park is a 50 mile paved road that was completed in the 1930's. In 1983 it was designated a National Civil Engineering Landmark, placed on the national Register of Historical Places, and in 1996 was designated a National Historical Landmark, the only road in the U.S. with all three designations.

Forgive all the personal info from my days off; family reads this, too. :))

July 2, 2010 0 miles of 59 Whitefish, MT

2010-07-06T16:44:00.000-07:00

As predicted rain came last night and continued on and off all day. I left the room ready to ride, but when I saw that most of the group was dressed in regular clothes, I changed my mind. As it turned out 14 of us rode to Whitefish in the van with our bikes anchored on top. Arriving about 10:30 at the Best Western, we were allowed to store our bikes and bags in a large conference room because our rooms would not be ready before 1:00 pm. Several of us then got a lift back to town where we went first to Glacier Cyclery for one item - a Going To The Sun jersey. I also bought a pair of matching socks. I'm sure we'll ride on Monday whether it's raining or snowing. Everyone wants to do this special and challenging climb. We then found a good place for lunch called LouLa's, and then it was time for a stroll on Main Street. Fortunately, this is the weekend for a large arts festival. Jean, Judy and I each made small purchases and enjoyed talking to the vendors. Also, we could stand in one of the tents when the rain came. Walking back through the residential area, we enjoyed many of the old cottage homes that have been rehabed into charming homes. As we got closer to our hotel, the bikers began passing us. They were wet and cold having been in several downpores during the 59 mile ride. I was so glad I hadn't ridden!

My friend Patsy Cloud picked me up about 3 pm, drove me around Whitefish and by beautiful Whitefish Lake where her children and grandchilden enjoy swimming and playing. I love where Patsy lives in Kalispell and she's so happy here. We enjoyed one of her delicious meals for dinner and a good visit. Patsy and I have been friends since about 1969 when our husbands both worked in downtown Memphis and ran into each other on an elevator in the building where they worked. They hadn't seen each other since they were in high school together in Oxford, MS. Small world... . Patsy and I are Delta Gamma sisters from different schools.

On Saturday Patsy took me shopping for warm glove liners. I haven't been able to find mine, but, of course, I did finally find them after I bought another pair. Fortunately, the new ones were on sale and only cost $1.99. I also found a few clothing items on sale. Since I brought minimal clothes on this trip, I'm looking forward to having a change during the next few weeks. :)) After lunch we drove to Big Fork which is on the North side of Flathead Lake which is 27 miles long. Unfortunately, today produced some hard rain and lots of low clouds, making the mountains almost impossible to see. I'm concerned that my friends got plenty wet biking from Whitefish to Lake McDonald Lodge. Patsy and I picked up her grandchildren late this afternoon. They will be with her for a week, and I'm really glad that I had a chance to spend time with Toth and Kalli.

July 1, 2010 69 miles Eureka, MT

2010-07-06T16:33:00.000-07:00

I forgot to mention that yesterday we changed over to Mountain Time. I am now one hour different from Memphis. . . At 45 degrees the day began real chilly, especially with a heavily overcast sky. The sun didn't break thru until early afternoon. Riding from Libby to Eureka along SR 37 and going north all day proved to be quite challenging. There seemed to be one long climb after another. I got off to a show start by dropping the chain at .5 miles out and getting it lodged so tight that I couldn't get it to budge. A nice man was walking and offered to help. When I said that he'd probaby get his hands black with grease (mine were) he said, "Do I look like the kind of guy who cares?" We laughed and he proceeded to dislodge my chain and help me get it in the proper gear. So, for all of you who offer prayers for my safety, etc., please join me in giving thanks for this "angel." Then, at 15 miles I began a long climb and noticed my rear tire going soft. I turned around and rode .5 mile back to the SAG car where Jean, Jona and I completed the tire changing process is record time. (My friend Jean is a fantastic SAG driver.) The MHBC tire changing clinic really came in handy. We knew just what to do. The culprit was a piece of tire wire that stuck thru to the inside of the tire. During the course of the day I managed to drop the chain again, but this time I was able to put it back in place.

The good news of the day is that I stopped twice to watch a deer and just hope I got a good picture. I really needed more 'zoom' than my Nikon has. I also observed osprey on their nests. They make the sweetest sound.

For the entire day we road along he Kookanusa Lake. As we climbed higher and higher, we still could see this beautiful body of water nestled at the bottom of the mountains. There were no services along the way today since we spent the entire day going thru a National Park, at least until the last 10 miles. Then, there were pretty farms and naughty rolling hills that took us to this facinating place where we're staying. The Ksanka Inn is a combination gas station, mini-mart, fireworks stand and truckstop motel right on Hwy. 93. We checked in at the mini-mart, got our room key, picked up a towel to clean off the bike and got an ice cream cone.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010 76 of 98 miles Libby, MT

2010-06-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

This just has to be the very best day of cycling I have ever experienced!! Following US 95 for a few miles, then onto SR 200 and later SR 56 - the scenery today

was simply breathtaking all day long. Although we had lots of rollers and even some long climbs, the route was never very difficult and the shoulders seemed always to be good. Therefore, it was easy to just look all around and up the mountains as I peddled. For long distances we seemed to ride between steep inclines of dark green forests with higher snowcapped peaks in the distance. I did myself a favor and cut my ride short which may be one reason why I feel so good tonight. Toward the end of the afternoon I stopped at Kootenai Falls. We'd been following the Kootenai River for some distance. The rivers out here are just beautiful - like one big MS R after another, except the water is so beautiful, not muddy. Getting to the falls was tricky. The path was about 1/2 mile long (maybe not quite), paved and then dirt and then up a steel staircase and then another dirt path. I'll include a picture of the staircase and steps. It was so far off the ground that I was terrified. When my eyes weren't closed, I was looking straight out. Kept saying to myself, "I road across America. I can do this." I took one slow step at a time and hung onto the rail. The terrain turned out to be worth the effort as the falls were truly beautiful. The little excursion took me about 30 minutes. I declined to walk to the swinging bridge as I KNEW I wouldn't be walking across that. A tailwind took me in the last 10 miles; I felt like I was flying. It was just a glorious day of cycling.

Almost forgot to mention that we crossed another state line today. We're now in the beautiful state of Montana. I'm looking forward to seeing my good friend Patsy Cloud soon and spending a couple of days with her in Kalispell.
Happy Birthday to Danny. . .

A little more yard art. . .BTW, all the vegetable gardens are enclosed with high fences which I'msure is to keep out the deer. A deer actually paced me today for a minute or so. He was slightly hidden in the trees but I saw him clearly. Another gal got a picture of a baby bear and another saw an elk amble across the road. It was an eventful day.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010 zero miles Sandpoint, ID

2010-06-29T19:24:00.000-07:00

We're staying at LaQuinta for our day off, and it's proven to be just great - wonderful beds and pillows and good towels. We've got a microwave and refrigerator which have been useful. For a hotel, breakfast was bountiful. I had my first hotel waffle (this year). I took my bike outside to clean it good and where I could get a van chair and sit in the sun. Took off the back wheel and really cleaned my new cassette and chain. My riding companions will have to put on sunglasses tomorrow when they pass me! I was determined to stay off my feet, but I did walk to Safeway for a few items - Eating Right microwavable dish, an apple and greeting cards for friends back home. I really meant to walk downtown, but decided that resting was more important. We are walking to somewhere called Spuds for an early supper.

Last night Mary and Joann from the Meandering MS tour ate dinner with us. They are both in the group that preceeds us by one day. Mary said that she needed to get her 'drawl' fix. . . . My friends in '07 loved to tease me about my pronunciation of 'pie'. It sure was fun to see them again.

Tomorrow is a 98 mile day. Several of us have decided to give ourselves a break and get a bump up for 20-30 miles. That means that we'll ride in the van at the beginning of the day, thereby cutting our miles short for the day.

Monday, June 28, 2010 46 miles Sandpoint, ID

2010-06-29T15:54:00.000-07:00

Due to such a short ride today (I know, that's a relative comment), we could be slow starting and a little lazy. The ride, again, was beautiful along the Pend Oreille River and, except for two or three good climbs, the route was rolling hills and flats along huge fields of wild flowers, usually daisies or some kind of small yellow flower. Leaving Bear Paw Camp, we had a cool, delightful 10 miles to Newport where we crossed over into Idaho. That, as many of you know, means Margaritas tonight! Then, one steep climb to acquaint us with our new state. While pulling that hill I received a phone call and message. When I stopped to listen, I was privileged to witness a deer cross someone's driveway and begin grazing on the side of the road. I know that deer can be a nuisance, but no one can deny that they are a beautiful nuisance. . .Later on, an 8 % downhill proved to be easy because it was short and straight; I sure wouldn't want to do it in reverse!

As we approached Sandpoint, we had a 5.5 mile bike path that ran along side U.S. 95 which was extremely busy. The path seemed to run out at the bridge crossing the P-O River. At that point I merged onto 95 and rode across the bridge on the shoulder when I should have taken the old bridge road which is now a walking/bike path over the river. Oh, well. . . I was by myself and not paying close attention. Getting into Sandpoint about 11:30, it wasn't until 3:30 that I could get into the hotel room. So, I located a bike shop that turned out to have an excellent mechanic who took care of a shifting issue which I've dealt with for 2 days. Penny, Peg and I found a very good Mexican lunch which included a 'cold one' for me. This has been a very hot day - unseasonably so for Sandpoint. We're here for two nights before crossing another state line into Montana. Sandpoint is in that very narrow part of northern Idaho. 474 miles thus far and having a wonderful time!

Here's a few more pics from Bear Paw Camp, including some of us demonstrating The Beaver Song. That's Jane S. pulling her bags from the cabin, and Jean and Juani entering Idaho. Enjoy. . . BTW, thanks so much for the sweet comments about my blog.

Sunday, June 27, 2010 81 miles Bear Paw Camp, WA

2010-06-29T14:59:00.000-07:00

Another pristine day and wonderful day of cycling. After climbing out of the town of Colville, we encountered a few doable but long climbs before riding 40 miles or so along the gorgeous Pend Oreille River (pronounced pon-der-ray). It’s quite wide and meanders for miles. Lots of summer cabins and motor homes along the river bank; also lots of cabins and homes were sale. Considering the climbing we’ve been doing, today almost seemed like a day off. Most of the route was relatively flat or rolling, good road and no traffic – perfect cycling conditions. A beautiful portion of the ride was through a green, meadowland that is part of the Kalispel Indian Reservation. We saw a herd of bison and a llama and I got a few pictures of interesting yard art. I drafted the last 40 miles with Peg and Penny. In my book, Penny is Wonder Woman, for she has overcome serious health issues to be here. This is our third trip together, and I’m so glad she’s here for this tour. . . . Just about all the group stopped for lunch at The Cabin Grill, the only services on the entire 80 mile was. For me, coffee hit the spot w/my pb&j. We’d been riding since 7 am; was good to have such a pleasant place to stop. . . . Seventeen miles into the route, our SAG wagon was parked at Chrystal Falls – a really beautiful water fall just off the road. I hope my pics turns out; just wish I could record the sound to go with it. The noise was thunderous. Tonight we’re staying at Bear Paw Camp, a beautiful, 4 H camp that seems to be far away from civilization, but probably isn’t. Think Camp Pratt, Gwynn Valley, Bratton-Green. We’re surrounded by heavily wooded semi-mountains and a huge lake which may be an off shoot of the Pend Oreille River. Soon after arriving at Bear Paw, each lady was given a 36 gal. leaf bag that contained bed linens, pillow and towel. We brought our own soap. Then, we each had to find a bunk in one of the many eight bunk cabins. I settled into a small room in a large cabin and have bath facilities just across the hall – luxury in the midst of rustic. I’ve hung out my bike clothes to dry on a rail fence. Linda has put out snacks and Michelle (WT) is treating us to free sodas, beer or wine to make up for the rustic lodging. Dinner is to be camp food – hot dogs, hamburgers, Linda’s famous Mac ‘n Cheese (see May ’09 issue of Bicycling Magazine). This beautiful place has got to be one of the loveliest stops of any WT trip. Well, I hope ya'll enjoy the pics. Be glad when I learn to place them where I want them and not where blogspot wants them. :))

Saturday, June 26, 2010 60 miles Colville, WA

2010-06-26T21:07:00.000-07:00

What a day! It began again cool and crisp at 50 degrees. After the 1st 2.5 miles, I was shedding jackets and arm warmers. At that point, we began a marathon climb of 17 miles up and over the Sherman Pass (5575 ft.) That stucker just went up and up and round and round. It took me 3 hrs. to reach the top and I was probably in the middle of the pack. The downhill was 6 % grade for 6 miles; naturally, I took my time getting down. Somewhere along the final 39 miles, I stopped to explore the Log Flume Heritage Site. In the early 20's a lumber company was located there and probably destroyed a lot of the surrounding forest. A fire destroyed the business in 1928 and the Depression finished them off. Now, though, there is a beautiful woodland, paved path down to the river where the logs were floated. I walked for quite a ways and took pics of some of the wildflowers. ASAP I will add some of the pics to this page. The process is too slow tonight, so stay tuned. The sweet smelling flowers included wild roses, lupine and an orange flower that I can't identify. . .. There were still plenty of hills to climb and the temp was up in the 80's. Laura and I stopped in Colville (Main St. naturally is at the top of a hill) and got a snack at an expresso/sandwich shop. I enjoyed a good cup of iced coffee with my pb&j that was still not eaten. . . . I rode today with several different ladies. This will surprise my biking friends, but I actually can climb around a lot of the ladies. But, they fly past me on the downhill side and leave me in their dust! Speaking of dust, my odometer seems to have bitten the dust. I've installed new batteries, but it refuses to reset. Since we have excellent que sheets, I can get along without it and still keep up with the trip miles. It is helpful, though, in knowing when I've reached a point where I need to turn. I'll be in Sandpoint, ID, soon where there are three bike shops, so will do something about it then. I may also get a massage. The body is hurting tonight after today's climb. :))
Check back later for pictures.

Friday, June 25, 2010 69.7 miles Republic, WA

2010-06-26T20:34:00.000-07:00

Today was beautiful in every respect – weather, route, scenery. Jean and I pulled out at 6:50 am to try and beat the heat, but that didn’t happen. By noon it was really hot (maybe not by Memphis standards). We rolled into the quirky little town of Riverside and took a few pictures. . . The scenery was lovely all day – rounded hills, woods on the hillsides, green valleys, ranches, rushing creeks roadside – quite idyllic. Jean said once that someone should be yodeling! At mile 29 we began a steady climb up to mile 55.7 and the top of Wauconda Pass (4310 ft.). From there it was pretty much downhill for 13 miles. Except for being a little bumpy (winter road damage), I really enjoyed the ride down. I braked some at the beginning and then just sat back and enjoyed the ride, especially since the switchbacks were broad. . . . Early in the morning, I had a sweet incident happen. A deer walked to the edge of the highway on my right and after looking both ways and assessing the traffic, she hopped across the road right in front of me. I had slowed to a near stop as had the approaching car. The driver and I smiled and waved. Then, in the early afternoon as we were in 3 mile climb, a herd of about 50 horses wandered across the road looking for water on the other side. We flagged motorists to slow down and crawl through the herd. The horses had broken thru their fence. There were several foals, too. Long story short – the owner arrived, the horses ran back up the hill and the rancher repaired the fence. Exciting day. . . Getting into Republic, WA, I couldn’t wait to find ice cream. Bought a double dip of vanilla and black cherry. Garmin Jane reports 4559 ft. of climbing today and 3,144 calories burned! I may add more pics later. They're taking too long to upload!

Thursday, Jun 24, 2010 50 miles Omak, WA

2010-06-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

The sun shone brightly this morning and even at 53 degrees, it was a beautiful morning – cool and crisp. Before climbing Loup Loup Pass (4020 ft.), most stopped in Twisp for a sweet at the Cinnamon Twist Bakery. It took us about 1.5 miles off the route, but was well worth seeing the community and enjoying the cinnamon twist. I will say that probably all of us shared one. . . . Today’s ride on the east slopes of the Cascades took us thru a real change in scenery and topography. The forests are not as dense and the land in the valleys seems more arid. Since it's cattle, sheep and horse country, there was a lot of irrigation going on in the hay fields. Then, on the hillside of the road, the hills were covered with sagebrush. So, after one long climb up Loup Loup, with corresponding long and twisty downhills, we rode thru lovely high plains and valleys in the Okanogan Highlands. . . . Around 1 pm one could see about 15 bikes parked outside Wallwebber Restaurant in Okanogan where the ladies were enjoying good sandwiches, soup and salads. Altogether, it was just a beautiful ride, and, as always, challenging. :)) Linda’s good dinner tonight was turkey tacos, corn salad, rice and tomatoes – all delicious. I’ve got to remember to ask for the corn salad recipe. Some of the ingredients were lima beans, corn, red onion, avocado and Italian dre ssing, but there was more. . .Jane's Garmin is the one that works the best and she tells us that we climbed 3235 ft., descended 4081 ft., and consumed 2,269 calories. Is it any wonder that supper was so good?

Wednesday, June 23, 2010 Winthrop, WA - day off

2010-06-23T16:45:00.000-07:00

A few more pictures from Monday and Tuesday, including Linda and the picnic lunch from yesterday.

I lucked into having a single room for two nights. Unfortunately, my would be roomie had to return home with a very bad back ache. I hope she gets to rejoin us later down the rode. In the meantime, I got a really good night's sleep and have 'rested' all day except for the struggle with Blogspot and Acer! I don't know what I keep doing that deletes my work, enlarges the type, reduces the type, etc., etc. And, I'm still not comfortable inserting pictures. But, I think it's all getting easier. Lynn has an Acer and helped me solve the jumping cursor problem. That's been a huge improvement. . . . We're at the Cascade Inn, the rooms are very nice and clean, and the staff is very accomodating. Have talked to friends back home and know that I'm only misising 100 degree temps! It's beautiful here in Winthrop. In fact, so far, we've been blessed with great weather.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 Winthrop, WA 92 miles

2010-06-23T16:00:00.000-07:00

May the 3rd time be the charm. . . I've lost this entry twice!

Up early today to share a pot of Nancy's good Starbuck's coffee before walking over to the trailer for a hearty breakfast of steelcut oats. Linda soaks the oats overnight which makes them creamy and delicious. Prepared snacks of scrambled egg sandwich, banana and enery bars. Due to the long day and anticipated difficulty, everyone was on the road by 7 am. The first 18 miles were beautiful as we constantly looked up at heavily forested slopes leading to snow-capped peaks. Then, we began the long climb up into those slopes! For 36 miles we climbed and climbed. Reached Rainey Pass at 4855 ft. and then, finally, Washington Pass at 5477 ft. Altogether we climbed 7000 ft. I rode up a little further at W'ton Pass to the Overlook

and was rewarded by a spectacular view not seen from the road. Having been warned that the ride down might be quite chilly, I put my windbreakers and warm gloves back on. This proved to be unnecessary as the sun was out by then and only the first few miles of descent were chilly. Steep descents are not my favorite riding, but by feathering the breaks and paying closs attention to the road, I made it just fine. Actually, about half way down (past the 8-10% grades), I began to really enjoy the descent. Vicki came whizzing by yelling "Geronimo" with her fist is the air. I would never have let go of the handlebars. What a woman! After the long descent, the final 15 miles were awful, because I only had a few sips of water and the headwind was quite strong. I finally rolled in at 6:30 pm - after some and before some others. Fortunately, Linda didn't serve her good spaghetti until 7:30 which gave me time to shower and relax. I believe this was the most difficult day of cycling I've ever experienced. Emery Pass (Texas) and McKinsey Pass (Oregon) don't compare with today's climb. The beauty of God's creation today was just spectacular.

Monday, June 21, 2010 Marblemount, WA 52 miles

2010-06-23T13:06:00.000-07:00

Rooming with Sue tonight -a delightful former air traffic controller. She commiserated with me over the difficulty of using this new Acer. The learning curve has been awful. Enough about that! . . . Today's ride began in a light mist changing later to partly cloudy. . The route was gorgeous - thick woods, overhanging trees and always riding along the beautiful, green Skagit River. The river is fed by glaciers and is milky green in color. We criss-crossed it several times. I also saw many waterfalls near the road and beautiful wildflowers - yellow buttercups, floxgloves, pinks. The trees were pine, aspen, fir, cedar. I noticed a lot of evidence of the pine bark beetle destruction and am told we'll see a lot more as we go along.

We're staying tonight at Clark's Skagit River Cabins, otherwise known as the "bunny" cabins because of the large population of semi-tamed bunnies all over the place. The owners have placed huge containers of food all around. They encourage feeding but not touching. Mrs. Clark (Tootsie) is 91 and the 5th generation owner of this large piece of property along the river. People come here to fish for steelhead, trout and salmon, also to raft. . . . On the way into town (before getting to Clark's), I stopped at one of the Express coffee kiosks that seem ubiquitous in WA. Had a great cup of coffee to enjoy with my pb&j that I had not yet eaten. . . . Rode thru the town of Concrete today and also thru Sauk National Park and thru the Sauk (sock)-Suiattle Indian Reservation. Before dinner Sue and I walked across the road and down the path to the river. There's a convenient log bench and a swing. Several others showed up so it was a good time to visit and get acquainted. At the start of the path, we visited a quaint, very small little chapel - Wildwood Chapel. Inside there are 6 very short pews. It was moved in 1975 from another location. . . . Today's ride was mostly flat with a few good hills to prepare us for tomorrow and Washington Pass. Nancy and I are in Cabin 5 where a family could easily stay for a week or more. I cleaned my bike good today and removed all the road grit from the rain. BikesPlus did a great job of overhauling it, and I want to keep it in good condition.

Sunday, June 20, 2010 Sedro-Wooley, WA

2010-06-21T06:48:00.000-07:00

Everyone was ready to roll early today. After breakfast in the motel and preparing the day's snacks (pb&j sandwiches, gorp, fruit, etc.), we pulled out at 8 am for the 5 mile ride to Washington State Park and the official group picture with the back tires facing the ocean. Then, it was 5 miles back to town to get on a combination of bike paths, highways and backroads to Sedro-Wooley (pronounced 'See-dro'). One 2.5 mile section was the Padillo Bay Shore Trail - crushed limestone just along the Bay. Since it was VERY low tide, it looked like mud flats for miles and miles. We met several other bikers as well as walkers and joggers. About 15 miles out we rode thru an Indian reservation - a tribe I've never heard of and can't remember the name now. . . . Since this was such a short day, most of us just ambled along, visited an aquarium, took pictures, etc.. Rode thru a beautiful valley of bountiful cropland - potatoes, beets, maybe soybeans and lots of dairy cows. One field had an interesting display of hay bales that looked like marshmallows. . . .

Arrived at Three Rivers Inn around 12:30, checked in , found Main St. and a very nice cafe filled with local people. I had their special which was coconut pancakes! Only had one, but it filled the plate and was delicious.

Saturday, June 19, 2010 Anacortes, WA 0 Miles

2010-06-20T20:23:00.000-07:00

The day finally arrived for this tour to begin, but first, before we had our initial meeting at 1 PM, several of us walked across the street at 7 am to visit with friends in the first group. WomanTours is running two groups one day apart. I also wanted to meet Gloria who founded the company about 12 years ago. She no longer has an interest in the company and is doing this tour for fun. I thanked her for providing me the opportunity for such challenging fun that has added so much to my life. After seeing Group One off, Jean, Barb, Nancy and I walked downtown to the bike shop. I needed to discuss an odometer problem. For some reason the ODO miles do not accumulate. I've changed the sensor battery but that didn't solve the problem. Will change the computer battery next. I still know the day's mileage, so it's not too big a deal. . . . At our initial meeting this afternoon, it was interesting to hear the various occupations of the ladies, i.e. air traffic controller, middle school math teacher, teacher of severely handicapped children, landscaper, etc., and then, of course, there are us retirees. Including Michelle and Linda (chef), our two guides, there are 28 ladies. Most have been on multiple WT trips, but for some this is their very first. Our beginning banquet tonight was at Flounder Bay Restuarant near the ferry dock and Washington State Park. I missed having my friends Lou Ellyn and Gerry, since they saw me off on both the Southern Tier and the Northwest Loop trips. Barb, the sous chef, entertained us tonight with the first, of what may be many, of her original songs on this trip.

Everyone really is looking forward to getting on the road tomorrow.

Friday, June 18, 2010 Anacortes, WA 30 miles

2010-06-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

Nick from Bikespot brought our bikes to the motel yesterday - a very nice gesture. He also brought us a map of Lopez Island, which is part of the San Juan Islands, showing what proved to be a beautiful ride. This is Jean (my Memphis friend) and me as we leave the hotel. Along with Nancy and Barb, we biked to old town Anacortes and had breakfast at Gere-Deli before going to the ferry dock. I evisioned the ferry crossing the Mississippi river, but, no, this ferry is HUGE. It can hold up to 150 cars including 18 wheelers, so the 40 minute ride to Lopez was an adventure in itself. The day was exquisite - could not have been more beautiful for our warm up ride. There were enough hills for us to get revved up. Found a good lunch in the village where we sat on the deck in the sunshine to eat. Being somewhat anxious about catching the 4:55 ferry, we decided to cut the ride short and head back to the dock. The ferry was late but, being the sociable folks that we are, we struck up a conversation with a mother/daughter twosome that had also biked around the island.

Well, I have a learning curve here concerning adding pictures. The good thing is that I've learned how to donwload the pics and how to find them again to insert. Now, if I can insert them in the proper place rather than always at the top. . . I'm enjoying having my own little computer.

Thursday, June 17, 2010 Anacortes, WA

2010-06-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

Jean and I enjoyed an uneventful flight today from Memphis to Anacortes. Getting up at 4:15 am was for me the hardest part of the day. So, it's been a long day but nice. Many thanks to Betty and Smarty for getting us to the airport before 6 am. I owe you! . . . Many thanks, too, to my children for their help and to Todd for taking care of Cinnamon and the yard. It takes a lot of friends to do a trip like this. . . I've got a new netbook for this trip and the keyboard takes a LOT of getting used to. Hence, typing the blog is not as easy as it might be. So, I'm rambling here just to practice typing! Will get cranked up tomorrow.

2010-05-17T20:12:00.000-07:00

I think I've finally figured out (with Susan's help) how to set up this year's blog.