March 27, 2015  Peg's 2 cents

Gosh, we had forgotten about this blog until someone recently asked us for the web address.  Life sometimes happens so fast it's hard to keep up with it.  For those remotely interested, we are planning another ride this summer.  First we will get on the road in June by doing a week-long practice loop around the eastern area of Nebraska.  It's a pretty state, fairly flat, the people are super friendly and we enjoy riding in that state. (Peggi lived there for four years recently and is fairly acquainted with the area, which helps.)

Then we plan to shuttle back to Twin Falls, Idaho, where we left off in 2013 and finish the remaining 1,500 miles back to Kansas. We've altered the route slightly-- to avoid the desert areas of Utah and Salt Lake City-- for a more favorable path which includes many more towns along the way.  One of our problems in 2013 was a lack of places to buy food or get water.  There were some instances where it became (or felt like) life or death. (Not dead, just "mostly dead.")(A Princess Bride reference, of course). Went to bed hungry more times than I care to remember.  I guess if I want to look for the silver lining,  I DID lose 22 pounds on that ride.

That's it for now, but we'll be posting regular updates as our dear Kansas weather becomes more conducive to bicycle riding. (In my humble opinion, anything under 60 degrees is just too cold!!) :-)

The End

We ended the ride at Twin Falls Idaho with 2941 miles.  Peggi became sick.  We talked about continueing but considering we were going to have to pedal through about 400 miles of mostly desert and the traffic clusterfudge of Salt Lake City we decided against it.  It would have been difficult under the best of conditions.  Peggi is OK now but was not OK enough at the time for that.  After we left Twin Falls we drove on the road that we would have biked on had we continued and it was very intimidating.  Not impossible, but extemely difficult.  There was limited access to water, it was very hot and there were long distances between towns.
More details later.
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We are in Mountain Home Idaho.  Gonna take the day off. It's been 9 days since we had one and we need it bad. Got here yesterday about 4 and got a campsite at a KOA campground.  Washed clothes, patched tubes blah, blah, blah.  Today we're gonna find a motel when we get done here because it's been a long time since we slept in a bed, hit Walmart for essentials, buy tubes and tires at a local bike shop, work on the damn stove again and clean the chains.
After we left the Presbyterian Church in Dayville we rode to Dixie Pass campground (no water), got a cheap camp site ($7.50) in Brogan Ore., entered Idaho at about Ontario Ore. and rode to Caldwell Idaho where we spent the nite and then came here to Mountain Home.  After we left Dixie Pass we did over 70 miles a day every day thanks to a tailwind and downhill/flat terrain.  We timed our route around getting through Boise Idaho on Interstate 84 on a Sunday thinking there would be less traffic and I'm glad we did because I don't think we coulda made it on a work day.  The traffic was fairly heavy on a Sunday. 
Traveling on Interstates is not that enjoyable because of the noise generated by truck traffic but it is legal in this state and many others and it's usually the most direct route, if not the only, to where you want to go.  It's much safer than it looks because of the ultra wide shoulders and if you pay attention to what's going on around you.
It's been over 100 degrees the last few days at the end of the day.  That's a good thing because it'll help us adapt to the heat coming up in Utah.  It's not as bad as it sounds though because, and I hate to say this because everyone does about the  heat in the desert states, "it's a dry heat."  100 degrees here is not like 100 degrees in Kansas.  In Kansas at anything over 90 degrees you can't decide whether you'll drown in your own sweat or go up in flames. The problem with "dry heat" is it takes so much water to keep moving.  On one of the awful climbs in Oregon I went through two Camelback bladders of water.  I think that's 80 ounces.  The heat is supposed to continue as well.  A guy at the campground said it was 112 here last week.
I knew this part of the world was arid but the environment since leaving Dixie Pass Oregon reminds me of New Mexico.  The difference between this environment and New Mexico's is there is more water here, believe it or not, and less trash beside the road.
Speaking of water there are conflicts here about water use.  I couldn't believe it but they actually water pastures here. I don't think I've ever seen that in Kansas or any other state.  I asked one of the locals about it and they said it was considered irresponsible by many people and they're trying to put restrictions on some water use.  There are other legal complications to the issue for sure but I don't have time to get into that now.
From here we're ride into Utah and we're trying to time our riding through Salt Lake City so it'll happen on a Sunday.  If we don't go through Salt Lake City we'll have a take a longer mountainous way around it.  We rode through the city in '06 and it wasn't that pleasant. Plus, I never really knew exactly where I was.  We were headed north and that was all that mattered at the time.
This won't surprise the people who know me well but I've already got a list going about things I want to do when I get home.  Among other things I'm going to audit a geology and an anthropology class at Washburn, make black bean/mushroom burritos based on a new recipe I came up with after reading about the health benefits of mushrooms somewhere, do more stair climbing at the expo center, get back to weight lifting so I won't need to worry so much about hurting my wrist, paint the south and west side of the house and many other responsible things.
By the way it hasn't rained on us since somewhere in Washington state.  Nice.
More about the Presbyterian Church in Dayville.  The lady who managed it for the church was a real sweetheart named Rose.  One of the stories she told us about Dayville is that the skinheads wanted to buy some property there and the local folks got together and stopped them from doing it.  I'm not sure  how you can legally do that but they did.  I don't understand why the locals had a problem with them. I mean, don't meth addicted Nazi whack jobs with a history of violence and Swastikas tattooed on their boney bodies have first amendment rights too?
I gotta go

     We left Corvallis last Saturday the 13th.  The first day was great.  A little busy on the highway but we did find a fruit stand right away and loaded up there with goodies.  We did about 58 miles and camped at a nice quiet county campground whose name I can't pronounce. Yastauktawannaick or something like that.  We knew we had a serious climb coming the next day so we retired early.
    The climb was the worse I've ever done.  There were actually 3 climbs and the first pass was called Tombstone Pass.  That'll give you an idea about what the day was like. The next two passes were equally challenging.  Not only were they steep and long but the traffic was godawful and it was hot.  Neither of us were in much of a loving mood by the end of the day and most of our conversations amounted to hissing and growling through clenched teeth and an occasional outburst of obscenities.  Where is the good couples counselor when you really need one?  We found this turn off at the top of the last pass and tried to hide ourselves in the bushes.  It was not an ideal situation to say the least.  I hate to admit it but we only made 32 miles that day.
     The next day was fairly easy and mostly downhill so I think we got in 64 miles.  It was a really nice day too.  We camped at the county campground in Prineville.  It cost $10.95.  I can't figure that one out either.
    Te next day we made it to Mitchel and camped in the city park for $9.56.  No, I'm just kidding about the price.  It was free.
     Today we rode to Dayville and decided to stay here even though it was only a 40 mile day.  Other bikers had told us about this Presbyterian church  where bikers have been staying for years.  We got here early of course so we did grocery shopping, washed clothes and I did work on the bikes.  Another biker showed up later so we're sharing the building with him.
     All the towns we've rode through or stayed at since Sisters Oregon have been really cool, clean and quiet little towns.
    I gotta go.  Not sure where we'll end up tomorrow.  

Peg's post -- Wednesday, July 17

I thought I was going to have a long, quiet, uninterupted evening to post another blog.  As it turns out, we have been joined by another cyclist who also needs to use this computer, so my time is going to be cut short (yet again).

As Russell pointed out in the last posting, "serendipity rules."  We met a very nice couple from England who are riding a tandum recumbent bicycle they purchased in Germany.  (R has a photo of them but this computer has no ports.  In fact, it's still on dial-up for the connection, but we're thankful that the church members are letting us use it for free.  So, no complaints.) In fact, they are letting us sleep, eat, wash clothes and shower here in the church, all free of charge.  The church is evidently listed on the Adventure Cycling map and that is how all these bikers (from England, Ireland, East Coast, etc) are finding this place.  We found it because the bikers we met on the road told us about it.  Most of the bikers we've run into so far are riding for some sort of charity organization.  Julie and Mark from England are doing it just because it's been a life-long dream of theirs.  We're doing it just because we can :-)

A brief pause for a commercial announcement:  Do you have plastic/rubber tubs that have somehow through the years lost their lids?  Are you frustrated to pack your tub and then find out that the lid is missing?  If that's the case, this could be your lucky day!  America the Beautiful is offering tub or cooler lids for free (yes, FREE)!  They come in all shapes, sizes and colors and they are yours for the picking.  Just drive along any major highway or interstate in the good ole US of A to find hundreds of these lids available at no charge.  You must hurry, though.  This offer will be ending soon (like the next mowing?)  Sorry, ballcaps and sunglasses don't seem to be available this year. (We've been looking).  And along this same train of thought......Too bad R didn't bring his Ipad.  I think we could have financed our entire trip by selling on Craig's List the items we find along the road. For instance: a ski jacket, life preserver, clothing of all sorts, a lap top, dozens of cell phones, dishes, pots and pans, a complete tent, tools, car parts, swim wear, shoes, and an assortment of electronic wiring for phones, autos, computers, etc.

We are in Dayville, Oregon, heading toward John Day and then Ontario.  We'll be crossing over into Idaho by the weekend.  There have been many, many UPs and very few downs this route.  Last weekend we climbed a pass called "Tombstone Pass."  Very appropriately named.  They bury all the bikers that don't make it!!  Should probably bury some of them that do.  I was DEAD tired by the end of that day.

We had a very enjoyable week off when we drove to Sacramento to see my sons (Jason, Steven and Nathan). Thanks, boys, for letting us visit and for putting up with us and for being such wonderful hosts and hostesses.  We met Nathan's new wife, Kari, for the first time.

Guess I'd better sign out for now and jump into the shower before I have to share that too  (LOL).

Til later.....................................

Russell's comments;
     We're in Roseville California at Peggi's son Nathan's place.
     I don't know where to start so I'll just pick a place.
     Washington traffic in the back country was denser than you'd think it would be.  We were traveling west on highway 26 (I think), which for this part of the country is considered a back road,  and the traffic was continuous going both ways.  So, when we got a camping spot behind a convenience store in Dusty Washington I asked the clerk the reason for it. She said the interstate highways were so crowded people headed for Spokane or Seattle were trying to access the interstate at an easier location for their ride home or taking a short cut around the interstates.  Plus I've talked to many Washingtonians and Seattleites and invariably the subject of traffic jams in Seattle comes up in the conversation.  So much so in fact that I wonder why anyone would bother to live there.  At this point I'm sure somebody is saying and/or thinking "Yes, but there's so much to do there." Like what?  Look out the window of your SUV at the Space Needle for a few minutes as you drive slowly by?  Drive to the coast in bumper to bumper traffic so you can stand in line to catch a quick glimpse of the Pacific Ocean?  Then there's always the great shopping malls I've heard so much about and have tried to avoid my whole life.  So, here's the conclusion I came to about Washington State traffic.  A third of the people in autos are driving east from Seattle to get away from it all.  A third of them are going west from Spokane to get away from it all.  And the other third are stuck in a traffic jam somewhere in between.  On a positive note we did stay in some great little towns in Washington state.  I've already mentioned Dusty but another one was Packwood Washington.  Elk were actually hanging out in the city park and walking in the streets and the town seemed exceptionally quiet.  Maybe we just caught it on a good night.  Also, some of the scenery was spectacular.  I mean, you could see Mt Rainer from half way across the state.
      Peggi has already mentioned our experiences riding down the Pacific coast on highway 101 so I won't add anything to that but between the tourist attractions there and what we saw in Washington state I think both of us have had enough of touristy areas and the consequences of it.  You know, traffic   density, crowds, high prices, a shortage of camping locations and so forth.  Misanthrope that I am, I'm now suggesting finding another route that does not go  through Flaming Gorge Canyon in Wyoming and Utah as was in the planned route.  Plus I discovered there are 9 % climbs in the park.  But I would love to see it so we may come back later in a car or van and check it out.
   Here's a positive story and then I have to check out.  We had camped in a city park in Troy Idaho and as we were leaving in the morning we came across a paved trail that we were told went all the way to Moscow Idaho, which was the next big town about 20 miles away.  I wasn't in favor of taking it until someone told us it was a rails to trails project which means it was mostly flat or at least not too much climbing.  It was beautiful and after we'd been riding a way another local biker came up on us and we got to talking. I asked him the same question I always ask the locals about how the town got it's name and surprisingly he said he didn't know even though he's lived there for over 40 years.  He did tell us that the towns original name was Hog Heaven but they changed that early in the towns development for obvious reasons.  In the conversation I asked him about bike shops in Moscow and he asked what we needed.  I told him that Peggi's front wheel was failing fast and that I'd worked on it a couple times already but the bearing races were rusted and rough as were the bearings.  He then told us that in the last few years he's been collecting old bikes and parts and had started working for free out of his garage for his neighbors and anyone else who he happened to run into.  Like us for instance.  So he gave us his address and directions to his place and took off.  He fixed us up with a wheel when we got to his place and more than that we had a great time talking to him and exchanging stories.  This experience supports Russell's Great Cosmic Crapshoot Of Life Theory.  If we'd decided to take the highway instead of the trail it wouldn't have happened.  If we had got on the trail 5 minutes later than we did we'd have never encountered him.  And we almost didn't go through Moscow at all but changed our mind at the day before.  Serendipity Rules!
    More later.

Peg's Post (July 10, 2013)

We are celebrating with Jason & Jen tonight--lots of reasons, but mostly because he has not had a cigarette for one whole year :-)

Russell and I made it to Corvalis, Oregon, last Sunday. How we survived the 4th of July traffic on Hwy 101 along the Oregon coast is beyond me!!  The coast was as beautiful as everyone had told us it would be, but it wasn't as I had imagined at all.  I envisioned us riding along a flat highway along side the ocean with the waves rolling onto the beach and it being soooo warm that I'd jump into my swim suit and splash in the ocean between peddling.  Wrong!!!!  Highway 101 has some of the steepest climbs we've done so far.  We got to see the ocean but it was from mountain peaks looking down.

                                                                           

I now have my photos on a flash drive so I can share with all of our followers some of the spectacular (and maybe some not so spectacular) places and things we've been experiencing :-) We'll be heading back to Oregon and continuing the ride by Saturday.  We'll be heading east (and hoping that the prevailing westerly winds continue to be prevailing) through Oregon, Idaho, small portion of Wyoming, then Utah, Colorado and Kansas. Russell says we're still on schedule so with luck we'll be through the Rockies before the snow and cold set in.

A couple scary bridges we had to cross.  No shoulders.(Left is the bridge from Washington to Oregon. Bottom right is a bridge over the Columbia River on I-80. Bikes were allowed on the interstate, but it was a classic case of "why??????" Sure took our life in our hands crossing that one!)

A Nebraska Rest Stop :-)

"Hangin' out" with sisters at Chris & Ron's cabin near Cascade, MT.

Til later..................................