Day 7 - Thompson Falls, MT

We are still waiting on updates for Day 6 and Day 7.

They went though thin cell phone coverage areas.

Thompson Falls Weather Forecast, MT

They will be in Missoula, MT by tomorrow evening followed by a rest day.

More to follow...

Day #7

I started out the day with a wonderful breakfast made by Vicki and got to see a glorious sunrise over the lake. Bill made me a lunch of a PB & J bagel, while Vicki did the dishes. All that I had to do was stuff my face and watch the sunrise. They treated me like a queen. Thanks you guys!!

Vicki drove me back to the high school where everyone else was breaking camp. James and Steph said that they froze during the night, but I wouldn't know because I slept in a real bed in a palace. Ha! By the way Vicki and Bill, they all thank you for letting me do my and their laundry at your house. Kevin started out the day with two flats before we even got out of the parking lot. He fixed both of them and we were on our way.

We spent the whole day riding on SR 200 around Lake Pend Orielle and then along the Clark Fork river. James and I felt good so we pushed ourselves to try to beat the heat (110 degrees Fahrenheit on a bank sign as we rode into Thompson Falls), but unfortunately the heat did catch up with us, and we slowed way down in the afternoon. Sometime during the day we crossed over into Montana and took pictures by the Welcome Sign.

When we got to the Thompson Falls High School, we were told that we would be sleeping in the school due to the heat. Steph did some reconnaissance and found a portable classroom at the back of the school that was air conditioned for us to sleep in. Steph, Kevin, James and I were joined by Douglas in the portable. He was as glad as we were to have a cool, mosquito free place to sleep in.

Thompson Fall's High School

Just to let you know how hot it was, at least two bike tires blew up from the expanding air in them due to the heat (James bike was one of them). After we changed his flat we rode in one of the vehicle into town to eat dinner at a restaurant. We were joined at dinner by a school teacher from Fairbanks, Alaska, who is solo biking with his dog, Squirrel from Fairbanks to Colorado Springs for a wedding. Daniel had met him on the road earlier that day and invited him to come and stay with us at the school that night. He said that he had not had a shower in 10 days. John said that Squirrel (who is an Alaskan Husky) runs beside him for about 50 of the 70 miles that he was biking a day. John said, "She just loves to run."

Day 6 - Sandpoint, ID

No news on Day 6 from Patty yet.

She told me today would be a busy day. She was also planning to work on postcards to all the sponsors today.

Sandpoint was 88°F.

Stay tuned...

DAY #6

I woke up today with a very scratchy throat. I hope that it is just the dry weather or allergies. The ride today after getting out of spokane, wasall on hwy 2. We had breakfast in the cafeteria at the University and were on the road by a little after 7am. Getting out of Spokane was kind of tricky, but once on hwy 2 the biking was smooth sailing (at least the navigation portion of it).

We pedaled by farm land and entered Ponderosa Pine Forest Land. James said that the landscape was very much like upper Michigan state. One of our water stop/check points was at Newport, WA. They were having their annual Rodeo Day's parade, so we stopped to watch a bit of it. The traffic was heavy going out of Newport towards the Idaho border because the parade ended just shortly after we left the water stop.

It was excitin crossing over the Idaho border as this was our first State Sign (9 more plus DC to go). We will be spending only half of two days in Idaho, as our route takes us through the Pan Handle.

We rode most of the day along a pretty river. I'm not sure of its name, if anyone knows it, please post a comment. It is the river along hwy 2 between Newport and Sandpoint. I have learned that I need to start jotting down notes during the day, as there will sometimes be many days inbetween my blog posts.

When we got to Sand Point, I was so tired that I lay down on my thermarest and took a nap under the trees at Sand Point High School( where the group was camping for the night). When I woke up, I called Vicki Buska, a fellow CRNA at Madigan. She and her husband Bill have a cabin on Lake Pend Orielle, where they plan to retire. She was in Sand Point this weekend for a family reunion. She came and picked me up and took me to her family reunion in Coeru D' Alene. I got to meet her cousions and eat a great meal.

I drove back to their cabin separately, so that they could stay longer to visit with their relatives. Vicki knew that I wanted to do laundry and get to bed early. They got home only about a half hour after me, as I kind of got lost on the way back to their cabin. (long story that I don't want to elaborate on right now) I did save Sam their dog from a scolding though, as I cleaned up a piddle spot before they got home. I went to bed shortly after they got back, after taking some cold medicine (my sore throat is now a cold).

Day 5 - Pictures

Pictures from Day 5 are posted here (more to come).
You'll also see additional pictures from Day 2 - 4 there.

Pictures taken by Pam and Erich's on the Day 1 are added as well (Many thanks).

Approximate location of where pictures are taken is shown on a map in the album.

Day 5: Rest day in Spokane

Day #5:

I woke up at about 5:30 this morning even if I could have slept in later. I guess my body has a hard time sleeping in later. I went out to the common room in our dorm and saw that the 20 something riders had a party the night before. I hope that their hangovers arn't to bad today.

I was making out post cards to my sponsors when I was joined by several of the other riders (Joe, Chuck, Ed, and Barb) . It was nice to talk to and to get to know some of the other riders. Joe, Kevin, Ed, Barb, Liz, Janet, Steph, and I went out for breakfast. We lucked out and found a restaurant with an all you can eat buffet (boy can bikers eat). I am eating so much, but already after 4 days of riding my body is beginning to change. I feel myself getting stronger every day, and my lungs are at at least 98%. YEA!!!!

Here I am now after breakfast at the library again updating my blog and catching up with my email. Later today Akira will be here to take us out for dinner and bring us somethings that all of us need. (sun block for me).

Tomorrow we ride to Sand Point, ID. I will be met there by Vicki Buska (a fellow CRNA at Madigan Army Medical Center). She is hosting me at her house for the night. I am getting so spoiled. That will be three nights in a row in a bed, instead of a tent.

Please look back over my previous blog posts as I have updated those too, and take a look at Stephanie's blog for more pictures and her thoughts on the ride. I will continue to keep up with a least something on the blog every day with Akira's help, but for full updates that will come on my rest days.

Pictures from day 2-4

DAY #2 PHOTOS

This is me at the top of our first big hill on day #2 after leaving camp at Easton State Park. You can kind of make out the Cascade mountains at Snoqualmie Pass in the distance.

Kevin (on his recumbent) and James conversing as they go down a hill on highway #10 in the Yakima River Valley.

Scenery in the Yakima River Valley. I took this picture from my bike seat, while I was going down hill. Pretty good for someone who Steph has had to keep showing how to use her phone camera and cool pix camera (I am so totally mechanically and electronically un-inclined).

More Yakima River Valley Scenery

Ranch in the Yakima River Valley

Sheep Grazing in a field Near Thorp, WA.

This is Chad at our first sag stop on Day #2

Getting food and water at the sag stop on Day #2

I was trying to take a picture of Mount Stewart from this bridge, but my camera didn't have a good enough telephoto lens.

Other riders trying to get the same shot of Mount Stewart as me.

Stephanie got the shot I tried for with her excellent camera. Cool!!

Stephanie checking out the Yakima River near a river rafting put in point that had Porto potties that we all put to use.

I love this picture: This is Cliff and Stephanie near Thorp, Washington. Cliff, who is from Arkansas, is the oldest and tallest member on the ride. Stephanie is the youngest and shortest member on the ride.

Setting up camp at Vantage, Washington.

Kevin outside of his tent at Vantage.

"Home Sweet Home"

"Where's the showers, I can smell myself?"

DAY#3 PHOTOS

The I-90 Bridge over the Columbia River. I wish someone could have gotten a picture of all of us going across the bridge in mass. We stopped traffic!! to go across

Wild Horses Sculpture above the I-90 Bridge near George, Washington.

This is Daniel (our ride leader) and Sharon (ALAW Big Ride Adminsitrator). We are saying goodbye to Sharon, she is going to rejoin the group in Indiana.

Pauline and Ash, from Vancouver, Canada. This is Ash's second Big Ride Across America.

This is the beautiful sunset from our camp in the field at the Odessa, Washington K-12 School.

Day #4 Pictures

"Oh, the waving wheat, it sure smells sweet." This was taken near Davenport, Washington, I think it looks like the Windows desktop picture.

Up close picture of wheat in a field, near Davenport, Wa.

James, on Highway #2 going into Spokane. "Boy, gotta love that tail wind!"

I thought that this was a pretty farm off Highway 2.

James, me and Stephanie taking a break to Pee (in James case anyway). While Stephanie and I took pictures. Kevin just stopped because the rest of us did.

A pond off Hwy #2, between Davenport and Spokane. I saw a huge group of swallows near here that were dive bombing a mosquito ball. Also, I saw several coots out on the pond.

At first these cattle came down to the fence to check us out. Steph got a great close up of a bull running away. They checked us out and then ran away as if to say,"Don't take our picture."

Well, this is where we are staying on our first rest day (DAY #5). The University gave us a warm welcome. I haven't slept in the top bunk bed since I was in the Army. I told Janet (my roommate) to call 911 if I fall out of bed.

Day 4 - Early Report

Hello everyone,

Patty just called me.
They are already in Spokane, WA, the Day 4 stop.
Patty, Stephanie, and Kevin are all doing well.
She says they'll clean up, rest, and give us an update later.

Stay tuned...

Day #4

Day #4 started off with breakfast made by the same ladies who made us dinner the night before. Daniel then gave us a little lecture on how some of the riders were riding way too fast. (There were some issues the night before that I won't elaborate on between the fast riders and the slow riders). Daniel told people that this is not a race but a ride and people should slow down and look around instead of seeing just the 6 inchs in front of their tires. Plus it is hard for the support us all if we get spread out over so many miles.

I think that people took the lecture to heart because I saw riders at the back of the pack who I had never seen before. I think all and all people had a better day. Our little family (Steph, Kevin, James and I) did. We had a tail wind the whole day and loved every minute of it. The scenery was mostly wheat fields all day until we came into Spokane. We got to Gonzaga at a little after two. We are staying in a dorm at the University. We had dinner at the University Cafeteria. There is another bike group (Bike Ride Across America, BAA) who are staying in our same dorm. This group does about 60 miles a day, and takes 3 months to go across the country, and is made up mostly of retirees.

After dinner, Steph and I finally had computer access at the library on campus. WE updated our blogs with pictures, but then got so tired we called it a night. I hit my head only once on the ceiling getting out of bed from the top bunk during the night to go to the bathroom. Pretty good I think, and Janet didn't have to call 911 because I didn't fall out of bed.

Day 3 - 82.8 miles / 7 hours 02 min - Odessa, WA

hey, i'm exhausted, so i am off to bed. we will be staying at gonzaga tomorrow.

it was a long hot day today, my comfy air mattress is calling my name

max 31.8 mph, dist 82.8 miles, time 7 hours 2 min, ave 11.7 mph, pbj, 0 flats, i cant send pictures internet not avail (from my cell phone)

Day #3

We started day 3 off well. I rode again with James, Kevin and Steph( were like a family within a family). No one's tent blew away during the night. We broke down camp, loaded our gear and had a catered breakfast at Blustery's again. Eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, fruit, toast, and muffins. (Steph and Kevin said that it was the best meal yet)

We got our cue sheets from Daniel and then as a group went out onto Interstate 90 to do across as a group (there are no shoulders on the bridge across the Columbia). Our support vehicles went in front and in back of us. We were quite a sight. Vehicles going west on the bridge slowed and many of them honked and waved their hands. It brought tears to my eyes because I think I finally realized that we had become a large family with a similar goal.

On the climb up I-90 towards George, Steph said, "I don't mind hills anymore." Strong work coming from a flat lander from North Carolina. We went by a lot of different kinds of fields on our way towards and out of George. They post signs now on the road telling people passing by what is in the fields. I didn't know what carrots for seed looked like until I read the sign. The town of George has a sense of humor. They have Valley Forge Fruit Company, Martha's Inn, and a picture (like on the dollar bill) of George Washington on their Water Tower. I stared laughing when I saw the Valley Forge Fruit Company. Steph said, "I don't get it." I explained and she laughed too. "You know I don't like to read books, don't you," she said.

We went from George to Ephrata North 283 and then caught SR-28 from Ephrata to Odessa. This was the most miserable 42 miles I have ever rode on. It was hot and the scenery was just sage brush, and some rock formations. The most exciting part of this whole stretch of highway was when Nick (Our Mechanic) wrote WATER Fall on the pavement. It pointed to an irrigation ditch with a small man made water fall. I took a picture of it with my cell phone camera.

After leaving the water stop/check point at 22 miles into this last slog towards Odessa, I got so burnt out of being on my bike that I took off and rode between 18-23 mph for the last 20 miles. Anyone who has ever hiked with know this mentality that I get ( the mule heading towards the barn one).

At the Odessa School I grabbed my bags, Steph's and Kevins. I would have grabbed Jame's bags too, but didn't know what they looked like. I set up my tent and waited for the others to get into town. Everyone was exhausted (all 37 riders). Steph and I went to the public pool for a swim and shower. Dinner that night was made by the cooks at the school. It was very good. I later took a great picture of the sunset. (see pictures from day 2-4)

Local cyclists embark on Big Ride Across America

07:03 PM PDT on Monday, June 23, 2008

By CHARLOTTE STARCK / KING 5 News


Video: Cyclists leave Seattle for Big Ride Across America

SEATTLE - Several dozen cyclists are about to embark on an extraordinary cross-country adventure Monday morning from Seattle... <to read more, click here>

Permission to re-post from Travis Pittman/Content Producer/KING5.com

Big Thank You To Spoke & Sprocket

I would like to thank Jim Couch and all the staff at Spoke and Sprocket, Tacoma, WA. I took a bike maintenance class from them this last winter and learned so much. I wish that I had taken the course prior to buying my last bike at another bike shop in the area (which I will not name). They sold me a carbon fiber bike two years ago by having me stand over the bike and seeing how much clearance that I had from the bar. Needless to say that when Jim (a master fitter, who I highly recommend to anyone in the area) fitted me on one of the last day of the class, told me that my bike was way to big for me. He didn't try to sell me a frame, but gave me my options (I had an older diamond back bike that I could ride, or I could maybe change my handle bars, but neither of these options were optimal). I decided to buy a Torelli frame from him and have him put all of my components from my other bike on the Torelli. I was able to sell my other frame to my friend Erich Bockelie (which fits him perfectly). I am so glad that I made the change, because my training rides and the last four days on my bike for the Big Ride have been so much more comfortable then if I had used my other bike.

Jim also helped me equip myself for the Big Ride with parts that I may need on the way, and taught me about cleaning my biking clothes and bike (Dawn Dish Detergent). Also, he did two tune ups on my bike prior to me leaving. Another thing that he did was put Stephanie's bike together (she shipped it to my house), and did a tune up on it when he put it together.

I cannot thank Jim and his crew enough. If you live in the area give the shop a try. http://spokeandsprocket.com/

Day 2 - 70.5 miles / 5 hours 36 min - Vantage, WA

i'm just checking in. i'm in vantage, WA. ride yesterday was rough. ride today was great. in odessa tomorrow. (This was a text from my cell phone)

Day # 2

Day #2 at Easton State Park started off with breaking down camp and loading the trucks with our gear for the first time. We were running late as a group so our support crew loaded the trucks instead of us riders.

We had a breakfast of instant oatmeal, hard boiled eggs, and bananas. We got our cue sheets from Daniel and then we were off. I road with Kevin, James, and Stephanie. We traveled some back roads from Easton to Cle Elum. This was a nice ride with some views of the mountains at Snoqualmie Pass from the top of a hill (see picture on pictures from day 2-4 post). In Cle Elum we stopped at a gas station for Gatorade, a Lunchable for me (I'm not overly fond of PBJ sandwhiches), and chocolate milk for Kevin.

Next we got onto Highway 10. We stopped to take pictures of Mount Stewart on our way out of Cle Elum. The ride through the Yakima River Valley was awesome. I have lived in the area for over 20 years off and on and have never been on this road. Wow, I have missed on of the prettiest roads that I have ever seen. We stopped multiple times to take pictures and the had a water stop/check point half way through the Valley. I enjoyed watching some red tailed hawks catching the thermals. When we got down to Thorp, WA. we stopped at a river rafting put in/take out area to use the Porto potties and took more pictures of the river. In the town of Thorp we stopped at the Post Office to check to see if they had a library in town in-order to stop and down load pictures and update our blogs. Oh Course they didn't have one, but something funny happened outside of the library. A woman drove about 30-50 feet out of her driveway over to the Post Office and then drove back the 30-50 feet to her house. We just laughed because here we were riding our bikes cross country and she had to drive that short distance to the library.

Next we came into Ellensburg. We stopped at the last water stop/checkpoint before Vantage, but since there was a Mc Donalds right there we went in and got burgers instead (boy do you get hungry when you are biking so many miles). Right before getting to Ellensburg we went through some farm land, the day was getting hot, so when the irrigation systems were near the road and spraying out into it we had to ride through in order to cool off.

After Leaving Ellensburg we had about a 9 mile climb east of town towards Vantage, and then a 11 mile descent to the camp ground. Kevin said that he has never gone down that long of a hill before. He and James said that they would like to have a whole day of down hill sometime. I told them that they wouldn't feel that way if they have ever done the Tour De Blast up Mount Saint Helens.

That night we staked our tents down tight due to the high winds up the Columbia River Gorge. Supper was catered by the owner of Blustery's Restuarant. He made a huge salad, bread, and three kinds of pasta. For dinner we had birthday cake. Steven Chu turned twenty. Again, most of us were in bed before dark.

only pic i took on camera phone.

max: 38.5 mph, dist: 70.5 miles, time: 5:36, avg: 12.5 mph, PBJ: 1/2, flats: 0, yakima river valley on highway 10 was awesome. felt great today

Day 1 - 89.7 miles / 8 hrs 08 min - Easton, WA

DAY # 1: Seattle to Easton, WA.

Day # 1 started out with a breakfast of egg, cheese, and ham tortillas (Kevin made them). We loaded my Honda Element with the bikes, and Em's car with our gear. The day started on a little bit of a sour note because I had to yell at Em to get moving so that we wouldn't be late to the start. We lucked out and got there early because the traffic was pretty light. Em and I made up before I left.

My sister, Pam, and my brother-in-law, Vlad were able to make it down to the start. Nathalie and Erich, two of my good friends also made it. So I had Nick, Em, Vlad, Pam, Nathalie, and Erich to see me off. It was nice to have all of them to see me off (and so early too). I love you guys.

The ride route changed this year from last. Last year they went over the I90 bridge over Lake Washington, this year we went around the north end of the lake on the Burke Gilman Trail. Then we caught the Sammamish River trail, and then on to Fall City on Highway 202. We climbed to the falls, took some pictures and then went on to the towns of Snoqualmie and North Bend. We had some of the ex-big riders join us on the ride over the pass. After North Bend we climbed, climbed, climbed, and then climbed some more over up I-90 and then on to Denny Creek Road. We stopped at the summit to refuel and then took the plunge down I-90 and around the reservoir to Lake Easton State Park, our first camping spot.

Akira met us at the campsite that night and took pictures and interviewed Kevin, Steph and I. It was nice to have him there. He even went and got aspirin for Steph, and tea and sugar for her to make sweet tea the next morning. Dinner was grilled Sausages (spicy beef, vegetarian, or chicken), pasta salad, and mixed lettuce salad. The dinner made by former Big Riders, some who came from as far away as Phoenix and Maryland.

We were all in bed before dark. My Coleman air mattress was very comfy.





UPDTATE 2 - Erich's pictures (more in Slideshow section):




UPDTATE - Patty's pictures (more in Slideshow section):


Em, Patty, and Pam at mile post 0


Snoqualmie Falls (268 ft)


Kevin and Stephanie on Denny Creek Road


Steph says this climbing sucks. she has never climbed a hill in her life


Snoqualmie Pass (3022 ft)

Patty and other riders have completed Day 1 successfully and are resting in Easton, WA.


Patty

Highlight of the day: Drinking cold Mountain Dew at the end of day, and meeting Amy (our great volunteer) in the shower room. Amy had extra coins for the shower, so she got to take a 6 minute shower, instead of a 3 minute one.

Lowlight of the day: Her pack (Patty, Kevin, and Steph et al.) got lost on the Burke-Gilman Trail. (For those of you who don't know what it is, this is the trail she has been riding practically everyday for her training... for years...). Also, having to get her daughter up in the morning to drive her to the ride start at the University of Washington.

No flat tires, no peanut butter and jerry (a rescue food), uphill around Denny Creek was tough.

Kevin

Highlight of the day: The campsite.

Lowlight of the day: 2-3 miles of uphill before the Snoqualmie Pass.












Stephanie

Lowlight of the day: At 68 miles, someone told her it is 90 miles run today (as opposed to 70's).

Highlight of the day: Sitting in her cozy tent and talking to me (how sweet!).

Day 0 - A Night Before

Well, tomorrow we head out on our big adventure. I can't believe that it is finally here. My weekend started two days ago when I picked Stephanie and Kevin up from the airport. Stephanie is a 19 year old from Goldsboro, North Carolina. Kevin is a 51 year old from Michigan City, Indiana. I opened up my home to them to stay with me this weekend before starting the trip tomorrow.

On Saturday we went up to Seattle to see the Fremont Summer Solstice Parade. We saw some naked, body painted, people riding by on bikes, and other crazy stuff. I was telling Stephanie about King County's helmet law. She looked at me like I was crazy. She said, "So its okay to ride around Seattle naked, but you get a ticket for not wearing a helmet? Too funny!!! I just laughed.

Later that night Addy, Em, Stephanie, Kevin, Nick (Em's boyfriend), Jack (a family friend), Akira and I had a BBQ at my house. We had Chicken marinated in teriyaki sauce, pena pasta with sun dried tomatoes, and fresh fruit. The kids roasted marshmallows over my fire pit and made smores.

Today, Kevin, Stephanie, and I went for a 12 mile bike ride to get any kinks out of our bikes before tomorrow, and the only thing that we had to do was lower Stephanie's seat. Then we went up to Seattle and picked up James, another Big Ride Rider at the house where he was staying. I took them to REI to get some last minute things, then we went up in the Space needle. After that we had an orientation meeting, where we got to meet the other Big Riders, and got our Rider #'s (I'm #42). It was good to meet the other riders and the support staff. I sat there and looked around and thought, "these people are all strangers to me, but in 48 days we will be like one big family."

Tomorrow we leave at 7am from the UW Campus. Our first day will be going around the North End of Lake Washington over to Marymoor Park, and then on to East Lake Sammamish. We then climb up to the Issaquah Plateau, and drop down to Fall City, and then go on to North Bend. From North Bend we go over Snoqualmie Pass and down into Easton, where we will spend our first night.

Well that's all for now.. more tomorrow hopefully on DAY #1