Day 3

Given my learnings from the previous two days (being careful on I-90 and avoiding the heat), I approached today like a soldier, ready for action, with a plan of attack.  I streamlined my morning routine to enable me to leave camp by 6.30.  Well, turns out that (again!) mother nature had a little surprise in store for me - today was not hot at all!  Although this dry part of Washington State rarely gets rain in the summer, we had wonderful overcast and drizzly weather.  It was GREAT for biking!  The real unexpected surprise today was the headwind... 

Up until today, most of the riders have been riding on their own, at their own pace - it's not as lonely as it sounds.  I constantly pass or am passed by other riders.  The solitude also gives me time to look around and let my brain take in all that I am seeing, which I enjoy. 

However, today as I struggled along an otherwise easy route, going only 8 miles/hour into the headwind (while doing basic algebra... 8miles/hour*X hours=80miles -> X=10 hours), I was very happy to be passed by Zack another rider on the ride.  I clung onto to his back wheel with my dear life! Slowly our little team to two developed into a paceline of about 10 riders, helping each other out through the day - kind of cool. 

By Erwin:

Today was a little easier than expected. First, we were more experienced in our daily routine. That meant we hit the road on time, we were comfortable with the long distance and the long time on the bike. Second, the weather was great! We had some light showers and overcast skies. Finally, as a group we had become more comfortable with each other and started to work together (not just by forming pace lines, but also by giving each other advice and help on the road). Today was really good fun!

The day started out a little dicey, though; we had to cross a bridge using I-90 and then climb out of the Columbia Valley. Although I was pretty scared by riding across the bridge and up the hill, it all was very manageable. The top of the climb also gave a nice view of a monument to wild horses. The memorial consists of metal silhouettes of wild horses on top of a sandstone ridge - awesome.

The day was also special because one of the guys in our pace line managed to get 4 flats in one day! This slowed us down, but we bonded as a group and kept going in good spirits.

The most telling sign that we are getting good as this is that we managed to squeeze in a cold beer at the end of the day in the local tavern. That was a very nice end to the day!

Tomorrow, we first bike through more of the same landscape - dry sandy desert - and then reach the Spokane Plateau of western Washington, where trees will again start to appear. It should be a nice route.

One worry: I am developing a bit of saddle soreness and chafing on my upper legs. I asked one of the ride organizers and will follow her advice: use lots of saddle lube, preferably the same stuff they use to keep leather bags supple. Sounds a little industrial, but she should know what she's talking about.

Photos:

Erwin with Mathew on top of our morning climb

Tent City - we camped at a local high school and waited for the approaching storm