Day 10

Century Part Deux--We took off from Missoula shortly after 6 am in a drizzle.  The weather stayed with us for most of the morning, but there was not a lot of moisture.  We followed SR200 for most of the way following the Blackfoot River, and later, Poorman Creek.  There is not much between Missoula and Avon this way, mostly farms and cattle.

The ride was a mix of up and down rollers.  Missoula's elevation is about 3200' and we ended up at roughly 4800' at the campground were are staying at.  The peak elevation for the ride was over 5100'.  I feel pretty good about completing a century at this elevation.  I logged exactly 100 miles.  Actually, I rode a little farther up the road past the campground an came back to ensure that I'd get the full century in.  Today's scheduled ride was 98.6 miles.

The campground consists of a number of triangle 2 story buildings with cinder block foundations and sheet metal sides.  We hit a little rain at the end of the ride and thunderstorms are predicted, so it will be nice to sleep inside.  Dinner and tomorrow's breakfast are catered by the Avon Family Cafe.

Day 9

Ahhhh!  A day off and a hotel bed to sleep in.  I slept for 9.5 hours last night.  I can't remember the last time I slept that long.  I fell asleep at 9 pm--terrible company for my friend and son who had drove out to see me.

I woke up  before them and was able to get my laundry done in the hotel.  When everyone got up we went out in search of a new bike chain (as recommended by Allen, the mechanic).  I put a new chain and rear cassette on the bike less than 1000 miles ago, but apparently, it had streched to the limit.  The cassette appeared to still be good, but the 10-speed gear is so thin that it wore out already.  Part of the problem is that I'm a big rider, plus I'm standing (mashing) the pedals because my butt is sore. 

We bought a new chain and a backup mirror (plus more chamois butter) at the REI in Missoula.  We found Allen, the ride mechanic, at the University and he replaced the chain.  Allen is a great guy and I really appreciated him working on our rest day.

Tony, Dana, and I took a hike up part of the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area.  We only went up about mile to a saddle with a great view of Missoula.   My legs weren't completely wore out and the hike felt good.  We got caught in a rain/hail/thunderstorm on the ridge and spent some time huddled under a big fir.

We finished the day in a Mexican restaurant housed in a log cabin.  Many restaurants in Montana display lots of dead animal heads on the walls.  We joked that you didn't need a menu--just point.

Day 8

Welcome to the Bitterroots.  This day started out very badly.  We camped at Thompson Falls Middle School. Supposedly another ride group was at the High School and we were moved to the Middle School to make room.  We had the choice of sleeping in the gym or outside on the lawn.  I chose outside for two reasons, I snore and I like to sleep outside.  I give the other riders a break from my log-sawing whenever possible.

I camped in a niche by the stairs to the gym.  It was a nice isolated spot with a nice lawn.  At midnght I discovered why the lawn was so nice and green.  I was woke up to blast of water from all directions as the sprinklers came on.  Fortunately, because there was a chance of thundershowers, I'd put up my tent rain fly and buttoned up pretty well.  Before I fully realized what was happening I was out of the tent pulling up stakes and dragging my tent and gear out of the deluge.  The biggest problem was that my bike was locked to a tree in the middle of the lawn and getting blasted by the spray.

I jumped back the mix and did my best to open the combination lock in the dark and with no glasses.  There were a couple of exterior lights outside the gym and after several attempts I got the bike free.  I was soaked head to toe and just a little bit cold.

I grabbed one of my clothes bags, went into the gym bathroom, and donned dry clothes.  I hung my wet clothes, rain fly, and ground tarp on the fence outside the gym and moved my tent over to the main field.  Obviously, they'd only turned the sprinkers off over there.  I wasn't the only one to get blasted.  Mike, my rididng friend from Utica, NY has the same experience as me.  The benefit of carrying nylon and lycra clothes on this trip was that everything was pretty dry in the morning.  Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep.

Following that ordeal I was able to ride my first century ever.  It was hot and we put in 105 miles to Missoula.  The first half of the ride went quickly and was really beautiful.  We followed the Clark Fork river through valleys in the Bitterroots.  Montana is truly gorgeous.

The final quarter of the trip included a multi-mile pull up to a 4000' pass in 90+ degree weather.  It was hard to keep enough water on the bike.  I ran out about half-way up the grade and was really happy to see Larry and the water jug at the top.  After that it was a fast decent into the Missoula valley we a long ride through town to the University of Montana.  I met up with my buddy Tony and my son Dana at the school and went out for a big steak dinner.  I stayed at a motel for the next two nights.

Day 7

Eat, sleep, ride. I'm losing track of the days. I called Callene at work yesterday and left a long, detailed message. About a half-hour later I remembered it was Saturday. Eat, sleep, ride..it seems like it is all we do.

We had a great breakfast this moring at the Sandpoint High School cafeteria and was on the road before 7 am. We rode around Lake Pend Oreille for nearly 10 miles then turned upriver toward. Thompson Falls. It was a beautiful day in the mid-70's and no wind.

The ride was great, winding along the river the entire way and passing through cities of Hope and Clark Fork. There were several up and downs, the total mileage was roughly 88 miles. We covered the trip at an average speed of 14.2 mph.

We lost 2 riders yesterday. Noel, one of my riding buddies, had to return to Seattle to help his wife with an illness. I will miss him. Another woman rider has a muscle strain and had to be picked up near the end of yesterday's ride. She'll ride in the SAG wagon for a couple of days try to resume after the day off in Missoula.

We ride our first century tomorrow. I'm excited but my hiney is not. It supposed to be in the low 90's. I also meet up with Tony and Dana. I'm going to stay in a hotel in Missoula with them.

Day 6

What a difference a day makes. Today was just a great day riding. Breakfast was delayed until 7 am, but we were served up quickly and on the Centennial Trail out of Spokane by 7:30.

It wasn't long until we were on Hwy. 2 headed for Sandpoint. The temperature warmed up to the low 70's and we even had a little tailwind. We quickly passed through the little towns of Chatteroy, Riverside, and eventually, Newport. Newport is right on the Washington/Idaho border.

We hit Newport just in time for their annual rodeo parade. I grabbed a root beer float at a real soda shop, donned my clown nose and the Grand Marshall invited me to walk awhile in the parade. I already was wearing my helmet horns so I'm sure I just looked like a biker rube from Seattle, but the people on the side of the road had a good laugh. I walked awhile with the bagpipers and then went back to finish my root beer float.

Mike, Noel and I left Newport when the parade was about half finished. Many riders stayed for the whole thing. We took pictures at the Idaho border and then took off for Sandpoint. There was only one pit stop over the next 28 miles and we were first at Sandpoint Highschool by 1:30 (see truck unloading in previous posts). We covered the 76 miles at an average speed of 15.2 mph.

I found out that I can't charge my camera battery by just plugging it in. I have to remove the battery and put it in the charger. However, I didn't bring the charger with me. My buddy Tony and my son Dana are visiting me in two days at Missoula.

Day 5

I really enjoyed the day off.  First I updated my blog (actually, I taught myself how to blog).  After that I was able to do a little work and meet with a friend from Spokane County (thanks to Steve for lunch). 

My dirty ol' bike, Emilia, got a much needed wipe down, degrease and chain lube.  Shortly after 2 pm Casey showed up.  It was funny to give Casey a tour of my dorm for a change.  Casey and I went out for pizza and talked about both of our short term futures.  Casey just graduated as a mechanical engineer from Washington State Univ. but now he's not sure that is what he wants to do.

Breakfast at 6:30 am and off  to Sandpoint.  Oh boy, a new state!

Day 4

The fourth day was a total opposite of the first day.  Maybe it was I knew we had a rest day coming.  We started around 7 am and I felt tired and sluggish for the first 30 miles.  We passed through Harrington early and by the the time we got to Davenport I was feeling stronger.  I think I got a little dehydrated yesterday although I drank about 7 liters of water.

In Davenport we met up with another cross-country riding group.  There were 3 groups leaving Seattle about the same time.  I think we'll pass them all because we have a little more aggresive schedule than the rest.  This group was going farther than us and would end up in Vermont.

After Davenport we caught a little tailwind and flew up a 9 mile incline at 18 mph.  I'd really been tanking the fluids and I was starting to recover.  When we got to Reardon we had a quick lunch of leftover from last night's dinner.  The final leg to Spokane was fast except I slowed to help another rider with a slow tire leak.  He didn't wanted to change tubes and I pumped him up 3 times over the last 10 miles.  We got to Spokane just in time to help unload the truck again.  I'm sensing a pattern here.

We're staying in a brand new dorm at Gonzaga University.  These dorms are a lot nicer than anything I had in college.  They hold a number of youth athletic summer camps here and we had dinner in a cafeteria with many volleyball, track, and soccer kids.  Mmmm! can you say cheese pizza!

Today's ride was 77 miles and I averaged 14.5 mph.  It's hard to believe that we're 10 percent done with the ride and we haven't left Washington yet.  Tomorrow is a rest day and my son Casey is coming to visit.  I'm really looking forward to seeing him.

Day 3

The third day did not start off well and that was an omen of things to come.  We were scheduled for a 7 am breakfast in the same cafe where we had dinner.  All 24 riders (one more to join us in Montana) and 3 crew members showed up and the same time and overwhelmed the staff of one waitress and one cook.  I didn't get riding until 8:45 am.

We started with a hair-raising crossing on I90 over the Columbia River.  There is no bike lane on the bridge and the cars and trucks buzzed us at high speeds.  Once we crossed the bridge we had a 2 mile climb out of the gorge.  The climb actually went easier than expected and I was feeling pretty good.

After a brief stop in George (I used to love to come to Martha's Inn for cherry pie--no lie!) we turned north toward Ephata.  This day turned into the most boring, tedious ride I have ever been in.  I rode with Mike and Noel all day.  Noel kept us entertained with sailing songs--he actually sounds OK, but I'd never tell him that.  I asked him if he could sing, "Over the hill and far away"?  He didn't know that one.

The day turned hot and the ride was brutal.  The headwinds increased all day and by the last 10 miles my butt, feet, and back were killing me.  We rolled into Odessa about 5 pm, just in time to help unload the truck again.  Noel's wife (who has been shadowing us with a little truck and trailer) had Coronas for Mike, Noel, and I.  The last group didn't get in until about 8 pm.  Everyone, including the young pups, were tired and beat.

Dinner was provided by the high school business leaders club and we slept in the gym.  After the wind-blown 83 miles (average speed was 12.2 mph) everyone was off to sleep by 9. 

Day 2

The second day started with breakfast in camp.  We had cereal, fruit and thick coffee. We took a pleasant route south of I90 from Easton to Ellensburg.  The weather was in the mid-70's --perfect!  We had a short climb early in the ride and I really felt it in the legs.  After that, the road to Ellensburg was pretty mellow as it followed the Yakima River.

In Ellensburg I had my first chocolate shake for the trip.  I've been told that chocolate milk is a great recovery drink.  I assume that goes for chocolate shakes, too.  My coach, Larry, would tell me to drink them 'cause its for my own good!

The second half of the day included a long grind up a hill through the windfarm northeast of Ellensburg.  Ride crewmember Frank was a welcome sight (notice the cat statue with a boa) at the top of the hill.  The rest of the day feature a long, windy descent into Vantage past several petrified wood museums (boring!).

I was in the first group to make it to Vantage.  We help unload the truck.  There were so many bags it seemed like the clown car at the circus.  The bags just kept coming!  I'm betting many riders ignored the two bag rule.  No complaints, I ignored the 70 lb per bag rule myself.

Today was a great riding day.  I averaged 14.4 mph for the 74 miles.  Tonight dinner in a cafe--no camp food.

Day 1

Our day starting out with a little introduction and celebration over the $175,000 raised by the 25 riders. The donations are still coming in and we may be near $200,000 by October when the donation window closes. I appreciate all the donations provided by my friends and family. I'll be at $7,000 by the end of the ride.

We began the ride at Seattle Pacific University and rode the Burke Gilman trail to Marymoor Park. The group stayed together for the majority of this segment. My wife and friends saw me off and appeared out of nowhere along several spots along the ride. It was very inspiring. The ride passed Snoqualmie Falls on the way to North bend. The best sight was spotting Larry, Marie, Tony, and Callene as I topped the 3200' Snoqualmie Pass. Larry even had a cold Red Stripe for me. It was the best beer I ever tasted.

After hugs, kisses, and goodbyes we were shuttled 8 miles around construction on I90. I rode the final miles to the Easton campground alone realizing what I'd gotten myself into, and missing my wife and buddies just a bit.

The when I got off the bike my computer registered 93 miles (minus the 8 mile shuttle) at an average speed of 13.3 mph. At camp we were met by veterans of past rides. They fed us fajitas and told us about their experiences. Every one of them wanted to do the Big Ride again.

Day 0

I'm heading out tomorrow. We start the ride about 7:30 am after some celebration. It is sinking in that I'll miss my family and friends for nearly two months. My great wife, Callene, will be visiting me in Madison, WI and DC. I'll have those dates to look forward to.

I had a tough time fitting all of my crap in two bags.  I packed once, then threw out about 15 pounds of gear.  I hope I chose well.

I really appreciate all the support everyone has given me. I'll try to keep the blog update with pictures often. Please feel free to send me notes on this site. I'd love to keep in touch on this journey.

Happy pedaling-

Mark