Picture of Bill at Hurricane Ridge. Spectacular day - thank you, Gordon Tiffany for sending us up there. It's been a while since we posted because of the lack of availability of an Internet connection. This comes from the library at Gonzaga University in Spokane on our first rest day.
We got to Seattle, settled up on the repairs to the air conditioning at the Audi dealer, went around Lake Washington, and arrived at the home of our hosts, Steve and Pollie McCloskey. On Friday, Bill and Steve were off on their bikes while Pollie and Kathy went downton to the American Lung Association office to get crew orientation. On the way into the city, the Audi started acting up, and it was back to the dealership. They were terrific and diagnosed and fixed the ignition coil very quickly. The orientation included the answers to big and small questions, the installation of a ham radio, and acquiring a ton of gear for the car (water containers, table, first aid kit, gear kit. etc.)
We spent most of Saturday with Eric Prager, son of Carol and Rich from Holden, MA. Great time.
Sunday was rider orientation at the home of Ali Spain, a former Big Rider. First chance to meet the other riders, ranging in age from 20 to 76. Wonderful people, coming together as a group very quickly.
There was a lot of anxiety on the part of the riders before the first day's ride through Seattle and then up to Snoqualmie Pass. Lots of climbing, traveling on Interstate 90 (only road over the pass), through some city traffic. 77 miles later, all were in the state park by 6:30, only three not totally under their own power. Bill? Into camp five hours before Kathy, who handled two water stops. This from Kathy: Bill is consistently one of the strongest riders (Tim - you'd be proud) - getting into camp way before me and most of the youngsters. His training has really paid off. The next three days were 71, 81, and 75 miles. The riding has been very good, with lots of hills that have been difficult primarily when there were severe headwinds the third day. The tailwinds yesterday had the riders feeling that they were floating up the hills!
We have stayed in a state park, a commercial campground (very nice), on an athletic field, and now in the dorms. No rain, so tenting has been pleasant. Because the rhythm of the days is so different, Bill has set up the tent every day, for which Kathy is quite grateful. The food has been catered dinners so far, with breakfast and lunch mostly prepared by the riders.
We're happy to be spending a couple of nights in the same spot and have the day planned to do laundry, get our camera attended to or buy an inexpensive digital camera, and get a pedicure (Kathy, not Bill).
We'd love to hear from any of you and won't likely post again until July 3rd in Missoula.
e shtunë, 23 qershor 2007
Seattle to Spokane
Picture of Bill at Hurricane Ridge. Spectacular day - thank you, Gordon Tiffany for sending us up there. It's been a while since we posted because of the lack of availability of an Internet connection. This comes from the library at Gonzaga University in Spokane on our first rest day.
We got to Seattle, settled up on the repairs to the air conditioning at the Audi dealer, went around Lake Washington, and arrived at the home of our hosts, Steve and Pollie McCloskey. On Friday, Bill and Steve were off on their bikes while Pollie and Kathy went downton to the American Lung Association office to get crew orientation. On the way into the city, the Audi started acting up, and it was back to the dealership. They were terrific and diagnosed and fixed the ignition coil very quickly. The orientation included the answers to big and small questions, the installation of a ham radio, and acquiring a ton of gear for the car (water containers, table, first aid kit, gear kit. etc.)
We spent most of Saturday with Eric Prager, son of Carol and Rich from Holden, MA. Great time.
Sunday was rider orientation at the home of Ali Spain, a former Big Rider. First chance to meet the other riders, ranging in age from 20 to 76. Wonderful people, coming together as a group very quickly.
There was a lot of anxiety on the part of the riders before the first day's ride through Seattle and then up to Snoqualmie Pass. Lots of climbing, traveling on Interstate 90 (only road over the pass), through some city traffic. 77 miles later, all were in the state park by 6:30, only three not totally under their own power. Bill? Into camp five hours before Kathy, who handled two water stops. This from Kathy: Bill is consistently one of the strongest riders (Tim - you'd be proud) - getting into camp way before me and most of the youngsters. His training has really paid off. The next three days were 71, 81, and 75 miles. The riding has been very good, with lots of hills that have been difficult primarily when there were severe headwinds the third day. The tailwinds yesterday had the riders feeling that they were floating up the hills!
We have stayed in a state park, a commercial campground (very nice), on an athletic field, and now in the dorms. No rain, so tenting has been pleasant. Because the rhythm of the days is so different, Bill has set up the tent every day, for which Kathy is quite grateful. The food has been catered dinners so far, with breakfast and lunch mostly prepared by the riders.
We're happy to be spending a couple of nights in the same spot and have the day planned to do laundry, get our camera attended to or buy an inexpensive digital camera, and get a pedicure (Kathy, not Bill).
We'd love to hear from any of you and won't likely post again until July 3rd in Missoula.
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