To start with Part 1 of Day 2, click here
Day 2, Part 2-
My day warms up with the up and down rolling road, despite the continuing tailwinds, and at times my heart rate exceeds 140 beats per minute which I really wanted to avoid on what I am considering a “recovery ride” from yesterday’s workout over Snoqualmie Pass. After turning off of Hwy. 10, I end up winding past many small farms and old homes. An old rusted out Chevy pickup, maybe circa 1960, sat idle beside an equally weathered old red barn with slats missing and a few stray cats wandering about nearby.
One farm or worn home blended into the next until I came upon a home that rather than be called the “A OK ranch,” like some of its neighbors, deserved the title of “Home Sweet Home.” A drainage ditch out front had been cleaned up and appeared more as a gentle stream with a whimsical bridge walkway entrance and white wrought iron gate to a very old-fashioned looking farmhouse porch (in need of the stereotypical rocker), a white gazebo nearby and a series of weeping willows surrounding the setting gave it all an ethereal, dreamlike quality…well cared-for. Yes, home sweet home; exactly what I am leaving on this journey to Grand Rapids.
With the winds still at my back, I hurried through unincorporated Thorp, a town with a larger school than appeared necessary and larger school board meeting signs plastered in the windows, a large lumber mill or wood finishing facility and, on one street that arrived at the railroad tracks, signs reading “RR Crossing,” “Stop” and “Dead End” all right next to one another. Make your mind! Or maybe they just don’t want anyone going there.
I pulled into Ellensburg around 11:30 a.m. in time for lunch instead of the early breakfast that I missed with all of my dawdling. In Ellensburg I met up with a dear friend, Susan Foley, and her two precious daughters, Jessica and Stephanie. I hadn’t seen Susan in about ten years and managed to only “know” her daughters from the annual Christmas cards she’d sent. How does that happen that ten years can pass with such limited contact with people who mean so much?
After a veggie burger, potato salad and a small chocolate milkshake, I got to see Susan’s girls make funny faces with their tongues in vanilla and chocolate swirled ice cream cones. They shared stories of their girl scout sleep-over last night, learning ho to start a fire, eating s’mores and camping out in a tent with six other girls. Then, the topic turned to favorite sports (golf & swimming) and subjects in school (science and P.E.—“Is P.E. a subject, Jessica asked?”)
Susan and the girls followed me in their van as I rode out of town and onto my dreaded “come to Jesus” road from the Big Ride (Seattle to D.C.) that I did in 2007: the Vantage Highway. In 2007, this road filled my head and face with and soul with nasty headwinds. I grew heavy at 9 mph staring down at the white stripe at the side of the road in the heat: back then. Today, I had tailwinds that, despite my intention to smile, left me quiet and contemplative. I thought of the cancer that raged in my body in 2005-2006 and how far I’ve come.
Just then, I passed “Strange Road.” Yes, Strange Road. And, this was a perfect stop for a photo op. I am alone on the road, alone with the asphalt and growing heat of the day. I stop again to shed clothing and have little room left in my jersey pockets for anything more.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Steve's Journal: Day 2, June 20 (Part 1 of 3)
PLEASE NOTE: Due to limited internet access in many of the Western states that I have biked thus far, this blog is being updated as access allows. Sorry for the delay.
Day 2, Cle Elum, WA to Vantage, WA; 57.6 miles
Part 1
At 2:00 a.m. I woke up with a very sore right hip and my left shoulder was throbbing. So, Pollie gave me three ibuprofens and I managed to go back to sleep.
Today was intended to be an easier day. I knew that the ride would be much shorter than yesterday and that it would be the last day that I would see Pollie for about three and a half weeks so I was in no hurry to get up or leave. After dawdling, showering, packing, getting the bike ready, eating a bagel with peanut butter and honey, and then dawdling some more, I said goodbye to my pouting wife and pedaled off to Ellensburg. The weather report was a 40% chance of scattered showers, 65-66 degrees and 10-16 mph winds out of the Northwest.
The joy of a road cyclist is one simple word: tailwinds. Winds out of the Northwest meant just that and a brimming smile came to my face a I pedaled out of town at an “easy” clip of just over 20 mph while my heart rate sat comfortably at around 108 beats per minute. Yippee!! I hope these winds hold up.
After leaving Cle Elum I rode on Highway 20 (towards Ellensburg) which is a two lane road with the white stripe for a shoulder—always a little scary but when I can see cars and trucks approaching well into the distance in my rear view mirror mounted to my sunglasses, it enables me to prepare for the worst. But today, those cars, RV’s and trucks that did pass gave me lots of room, something that I can’t often say about Seattle traffic.
This road is just plain beautiful. As I cycled up a few rolling hills to my right and well below me a rapidly flowing river caught my eye as it meandered and curved along, mimicking each bend in the road as both were cut form the very rock faces of this valley. Between me and the river far below is an equally meandering set of railroad tracks that seem most often to be far too close to the river’s edge for my comfort but some civil engineers years ago obviously decided that this was best.
The view got me thinking back to when the railroad was first built coast-to-coast in the U.S. and when the railroad barons ruled the day. Two parallel tracks with such a weight carried….
Day 2, Cle Elum, WA to Vantage, WA; 57.6 miles
Part 1
At 2:00 a.m. I woke up with a very sore right hip and my left shoulder was throbbing. So, Pollie gave me three ibuprofens and I managed to go back to sleep.
Today was intended to be an easier day. I knew that the ride would be much shorter than yesterday and that it would be the last day that I would see Pollie for about three and a half weeks so I was in no hurry to get up or leave. After dawdling, showering, packing, getting the bike ready, eating a bagel with peanut butter and honey, and then dawdling some more, I said goodbye to my pouting wife and pedaled off to Ellensburg. The weather report was a 40% chance of scattered showers, 65-66 degrees and 10-16 mph winds out of the Northwest.
The joy of a road cyclist is one simple word: tailwinds. Winds out of the Northwest meant just that and a brimming smile came to my face a I pedaled out of town at an “easy” clip of just over 20 mph while my heart rate sat comfortably at around 108 beats per minute. Yippee!! I hope these winds hold up.
After leaving Cle Elum I rode on Highway 20 (towards Ellensburg) which is a two lane road with the white stripe for a shoulder—always a little scary but when I can see cars and trucks approaching well into the distance in my rear view mirror mounted to my sunglasses, it enables me to prepare for the worst. But today, those cars, RV’s and trucks that did pass gave me lots of room, something that I can’t often say about Seattle traffic.
This road is just plain beautiful. As I cycled up a few rolling hills to my right and well below me a rapidly flowing river caught my eye as it meandered and curved along, mimicking each bend in the road as both were cut form the very rock faces of this valley. Between me and the river far below is an equally meandering set of railroad tracks that seem most often to be far too close to the river’s edge for my comfort but some civil engineers years ago obviously decided that this was best.
The view got me thinking back to when the railroad was first built coast-to-coast in the U.S. and when the railroad barons ruled the day. Two parallel tracks with such a weight carried….
End of Day 12
An update from Pollie (Steve's Wife)
The end of day 12 brought Steve safely into Harlowton, MT. He has crossed the continental divide (day 11) and is surviving being blown about by Montana winds. He has completed about 830 miles according to the map. When I talk with Steve next I will make sure though to get an official and accurate mileage count from him- I don't imagine that estimates are very fair, when every inch counts out there on the road when you are the one pedaling.
Steve has had very limited internet access, and tonight neither Steve or my parents have have cell phone coverage. Steve called me briefly from a gas station where a generous women lent him her cell phone to call me. He was telling me all about his day (he had had a great day!) and I could hear the woman in the background reassuring him to take his time talking with me. Thanks mystery woman!
Steve was able to send me a few excerpts from his journal from all the way back at Day 2- I'll post them shortly.
Tomorrow (Thursday) will be a 92 mile ride to Billings, MT and then Friday is a well earned rest day.
The end of day 12 brought Steve safely into Harlowton, MT. He has crossed the continental divide (day 11) and is surviving being blown about by Montana winds. He has completed about 830 miles according to the map. When I talk with Steve next I will make sure though to get an official and accurate mileage count from him- I don't imagine that estimates are very fair, when every inch counts out there on the road when you are the one pedaling.
Steve has had very limited internet access, and tonight neither Steve or my parents have have cell phone coverage. Steve called me briefly from a gas station where a generous women lent him her cell phone to call me. He was telling me all about his day (he had had a great day!) and I could hear the woman in the background reassuring him to take his time talking with me. Thanks mystery woman!
Steve was able to send me a few excerpts from his journal from all the way back at Day 2- I'll post them shortly.
Tomorrow (Thursday) will be a 92 mile ride to Billings, MT and then Friday is a well earned rest day.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Photos from the first day of the ride.
Pollie sent us some pictures of Steve and the crew getting ready on their first day of the ride (Saturday, June 19). Click here to see a full gallery of the photos.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Reunited
An update from Steve's Wife, Pollie:
Reunited and it feels so good! My parents, the fifth wheel, and the Dodge truck (complete with new transmission- ouch!), reunited with Steve in Sandpoint, ID last night just before 10pm.
Prior to their arrival, Steve enjoyed an afternoon in beautiful Sandpoint. When I first called him yesterday afternoon, he answered the phone, completely skipping over "hello, how are you?" and jumping right to, "Wifey, we are going to retire here." He strolled through downtown, eating ice cream shakes (Should that be plural? I am not sure, but I wouldn't doubt it) and running some errands. He stopped in the local bike shop, and the three shop employees immediately recognized Steve from his interview that aired on the local news just the night prior! They had a great time talking about his ride and the cause he believes so much in.
My inbox and facebook page have been flooded with comments of support cheering Steve on. And mixed in with the cheers has been a certain amount of awe at what he is doing. I pass all of these comments along to Steve and I think it somewhat baffles him. Because from Steve's perspective, this just is what he does, it is just who he is. He is a cyclist, and he rides. And sure, it is a bigger challenge then just his daily commute to work, or long distance weekend training rides. But he just keeps saying over and over, "I just wanted to find a way that I could make a difference." For him, the logical answer was to just start peddling. And so he did.
Cheering you on all the way Hon!
Reunited and it feels so good! My parents, the fifth wheel, and the Dodge truck (complete with new transmission- ouch!), reunited with Steve in Sandpoint, ID last night just before 10pm.
Prior to their arrival, Steve enjoyed an afternoon in beautiful Sandpoint. When I first called him yesterday afternoon, he answered the phone, completely skipping over "hello, how are you?" and jumping right to, "Wifey, we are going to retire here." He strolled through downtown, eating ice cream shakes (Should that be plural? I am not sure, but I wouldn't doubt it) and running some errands. He stopped in the local bike shop, and the three shop employees immediately recognized Steve from his interview that aired on the local news just the night prior! They had a great time talking about his ride and the cause he believes so much in.
My inbox and facebook page have been flooded with comments of support cheering Steve on. And mixed in with the cheers has been a certain amount of awe at what he is doing. I pass all of these comments along to Steve and I think it somewhat baffles him. Because from Steve's perspective, this just is what he does, it is just who he is. He is a cyclist, and he rides. And sure, it is a bigger challenge then just his daily commute to work, or long distance weekend training rides. But he just keeps saying over and over, "I just wanted to find a way that I could make a difference." For him, the logical answer was to just start peddling. And so he did.
Cheering you on all the way Hon!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Spreading the word in Wilbur; on the homestretch into Spokane
Here's another update via Diane:
She and Mark are still camped out in Vantage, WA, waiting to get their truck transmission fixed, but they are in contact with a mechanic who should be able to fix it in the next couple of days.
Meanwhile, Steve is pushing on. Yesterday (Monday) he biked about 80 miles from Vantage to Wilbur, carrying all the food and water he needed for the day on his bike. In Wilbur he was hosted by the Hanson family, parents of friends of Steve and Pollie, and spoke to a group of 20 people gathered at the Hanson home about his passion for justice in Honduras and for AJS's work.
Today Steve saddled up and rode towards Spokane; at the time of this post he was 1-2 hours from arrival. He'll have a rest day in Spokane tomorrow, and then Thursday will hit the road again.
She and Mark are still camped out in Vantage, WA, waiting to get their truck transmission fixed, but they are in contact with a mechanic who should be able to fix it in the next couple of days.
Meanwhile, Steve is pushing on. Yesterday (Monday) he biked about 80 miles from Vantage to Wilbur, carrying all the food and water he needed for the day on his bike. In Wilbur he was hosted by the Hanson family, parents of friends of Steve and Pollie, and spoke to a group of 20 people gathered at the Hanson home about his passion for justice in Honduras and for AJS's work.
Today Steve saddled up and rode towards Spokane; at the time of this post he was 1-2 hours from arrival. He'll have a rest day in Spokane tomorrow, and then Thursday will hit the road again.
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