String of Friends

Static Map: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/222393194?privacy_code=lTsZoeHtNpplY5tCNgLpCqAUq88XMQMH Animated map:  https://www.relive.cc/view/v8qVEGAmr36 I woke up in a real bed after three night in the tent at exactly the same time I woke up in the tent. Admittedly, it was nice to sleep after a shower made me feel clean and unsticky. I enjoyed my morning Wordle and generally felt civilized. It was going to be a shorter day at 50 miles half of which would be in familiar territory. There was no need to rush.  After more lounging and a bowl of cereal at the complimentary breakfast, I walked onto Cole Street for a cup of coffee at 8am. The woman running the place was nice, but the open door lured a platoon of flies in. I was distracted and soon left. I was on the road before 9am. On the way out of town, I saw a funny row of garbage cans perfectly in a line like soldiers and a “Sidewalk ends” sign exactly where the sidewalk ended in a wall. I really hope that was a joke. 

Static Map:  https://ridewithgps.com/trips/221946968?privacy_code=aTH4WeM34CqBhFvNZd6lEyVHiJs7L9nd Animated Map: https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqDNeg12LO   The drizzle passed in the night leaving a wet fly but a dry tent. I lounged a bit inside the tent knowing I had fewer miles (58) than the previous two days. I was starting to feel it in the legs and the gray sky didn’t motivate me. I was pleased no critters came to investigate the spilled Mike’s during the night. I used a generous three packs of instant oatmeal and raisins. I was on the road at 8:47.  The road followed the river closely. I passed three campgrounds full of RVs, trucks, and ORVs along with several occupied pull outs. Clearly, this is a much loved place for the motorized crowd. The road was paved longer than I expected. You have to have a good road to move those RVs in.  After a few miles I passed a fish ladder. It's even marked on Google. What wasn't on Google was a slab of ba

Static Map:  https://ridewithgps.com/trips/221899884?privacy_code=Hrw5hypqs7SqCpXgaV4qYVyJRR6aVWVB Animated Map:  https://www.relive.cc/view/v1vjY87M8Jq I woke up after six. The sky was blue but the sun hadn't reached the canyon floor. I listened to the morning birds while I contemplated the day ahead. The Waffle Caffe in Yakima two hours away beckoned. With just a mini breakfast of bars and dried fruit, I set off down the road. Beaufiful views abounded. I found myself stopping to snap pictures almost every mile. Traffic was light. Most of the time I had the road to myself. Despite the number of times I have driven the canyon, the experience was new. My mom drove the canyon almost daily to attend classes at CWU to finish her BA while being a new mom and managing a marriage that was heading toward the rocks. The canyon walls seem to enclose us on our own personal journeys. The canyon is more developed than I remembered or maybe it’s happened recently. While s

Static map: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/221188106?privacy_code=aq0uBAb1YD3hG0VxuuIfF4J5F4JOE5iy Animated map:  https://www.relive.cc/view/vXOnkz8kn56 The day began great and gray at Carter Creek. I slept well despite a visit by a small critter outside my tent. In the morning I found a stroupwaffel in my handlebar bag. I all made sense. The morning prep was easy paced and steady. I was on the trail by 8:17 on the nose. The morning was overcast. The campsite felt gloomy even in the morning. The sound of the creek pervaded the camp but as soon as you reached the trail you could hear I-90. It was a strange feeling being so physically cut off with the sounds of the modern world still present.  The trail continued up past the Lake Annette trail where I spent time with college friends, Kisho as a baby, and Jesse's family. This was a different perspective having taken so long to reach it. I'd find that a lot of this trip. New perspective on familiar places.