Bicycling Coast to Coast

Stats:   Today's miles :   0 miles Today's feet of elevation gain:   0  feet Total miles traveled:   500 .0 miles Total feet climbed:   19,916 feet Dead Rattlesnake count:   16 After reviewing the options with my support team we agreed that the best plan was to just wait out the heat wave which breaks on Monday. I did anticipate having to stay in hotels for bad weather, I just didn’t anticipate bad weather would be a heat wave (thunderstorms/severe weather, sure). So, until Monday morning I’ll be hanging out at the Super8 in Lewiston.

  Stats:   Today's miles :   35 miles Today's feet of elevation gain:   945  feet Total miles traveled:   500 .0 miles Total feet climbed:   19,916 feet Dead Rattlesnake count:   16 The plan today was to make a ‘quick’ 35 mile run over Alpowa Summit (2785’) early in the day and get to a hotel for the day. The 10 mi climb was gradual, but consistent for the first 8 mi, but was a grind for the last 2mi. In places the shoulder was only 18”….you trust the logging trucks and semi’s to pull over and pass, which most do, but it still raises the pucker factor. The descent into Clarkston WA/ Lewiston ID is initially steep, 1500’ in 6 miles and tapers off the rest of the way. I arrived in Clarkston @ 9:30 AM. As I was locking up my bike to have breakfast at Mae’s Café , an older gentleman stopped by to ask about the ride. At 78 and just 3 weeks past a hip replacement, he talked about his cycling experience (he had over 15,000 miles on his bikes). George ask...

  Stats:   Today's miles :   63.5 miles Today's feet of elevation gain:   3,228  feet Total miles traveled:   465 .0 miles Total feet climbed:   18,971 feet Dead Rattlesnake count:   9 I was leaving the hotel before 6:00AM on Monday and ran into a grain truck driver on the way out. He asked about the trip/bike/…etc. When I told him I lived 50 miles west of Mpls in Dassel, he lit up and asked jokingly if I knew where Hutchinson was. He had grown up in the area and headed west in ‘69. Having worked and driven in the mountain west area he claimed it to be the most beautiful area of the country. I found it hard to disagree. The ride from Walla Walla to Waitsburg was along a lonely country road cutting through the Palouse. The Palouse is characterized by huge, steeply rolling hills with stretches of wheat and edible bean fields as far as you can see. Unfortunately for a cyclist that means dozens of ups and downs. The ‘stretch goal’ for the day was to m...

Stats:   Today's miles :   0 miles Today's feet of elevation gain:   0  feet Total miles traveled:   40 1.5 miles Total feet climbed:   15,743 feet I’m taking a rest day in Walla Walla. Two 90 mile days back to back is a push at this stage. While my legs feel pretty good, its the other parts (butt, shoulders, hands) that often take the punishment of longer rides. I also need to do some bike maintenance. I have 3 tubes that need patches and a chain that hasn’t been cleaned or lubed for 375 miles. And besides, its damn hot today and getting worse (97F).

  Stats:   Today's miles :   90 miles Today's feet of elevation gain:   2,306  feet Total miles traveled:   40 1.5 miles Total feet climbed:   15,743 feet Emboldened by the previous day and hoping to shave off another day from the ‘conservative plan’ (and the prospect of a bed and AC) I decided to push to go all the way to Walla Walla. While I’d hoped for a repeat of the good conditions on Friday, I was disappointed by a 10 mph tailwind that diminished throughout the day and a more challenging set of climbs throughout the day (even though less total gain than on Fri.). I made good progress to Umatilla and crossed back to Oregon from Washington. Stopped for breakfast at Rae’s Dayz café . Great food and nice folks. I had a guy pull up a chair and ask about my ride. He had done a west coast-to Mexico ride about 10 yrs ago and wanted to know about my trek. After we had finished, the gal at the next table offered her best wishes for the trip and sugges...

  Stats:   Today's miles :   93 miles Today's feet of elevation gain:   3,145 feet Total miles traveled:   311.5 miles Total feet climbed:   13,437 feet It was a really good day of cycling. I was on the road from The Dalles by 6 AM, the forecast high temp had dropped from 94 to 88F (hey little victories) and a 25 mph wind was blowing up-river (tailwind). The ride to Biggs was crazy. There was a section of 3 miles on I84 where I never pedaled, since the wind was strong enough to sustain my normal speed. When I reached Biggs I stopped at the truck stop for a quick breakfast sandwich and coffee before crossing the bridge and beginning the 83 mi “limited services area” run on the Washington side of the river.  Perhaps I was a bit too cocky at that point, because when I came out of the truck stop, my rear tire had relieved itself. Damn those shredded steel belts on the roadside! At least it was in a parking lot and it only took two tubes ( note be extra ca...

Stats:   Today's miles :   48.2 miles Today's feet of elevation gain:   3,137 feet Total miles traveled:   218.5 miles Total feet climbed:   10,292 feet After finding the construction detour and getting back on the route out of Cascade Locks the first challenge of the day was the climb up Herman Creek road. The Adventure Cycling map warns that it is steep, they just didn’t say how STEEP. After less than a qtr mile in granny gear, I realized I could walk faster and did so for the next mile!! The last 6 miles going into Hood River is normally routed on I84. However due to construction, ironically, of the last section of the bicycle trail, the lanes are reduced (no shoulder) and cyclists are routed through the construction zone ! After 2 miles over rubble and dozer tracks, I hit the active construction zone, lost traction and promptly did a ‘Joe Biden’, however no Secret Service guys helped me up! (Check out the video on YouTube including the fall https://youtu.be/...

Stats:   Today's miles :   45.3 miles Today's feet of elevation gain:   2,448 feet Total miles traveled:   170.3 miles Total feet climbed:   7,155 feet Started from Portland around 8:30. The route continued along the Columbia and then followed Historic 30 up and down on the “Falls Trail”A beautiful route but a lot of climbs and descents. I made it to Cascade Locks and planned another 10 mi to Viento State Park, however 3 mi out of town the bridge is closed. Since it was already 5:00 and I didn’t know the alternate bike route (thanks locals for the info) I opted to camp at the nearby KOA Overlooking the Columbia Horsetail Falls Camp for the Day Dinner

Stats:   Today's miles : 63 miles Today's feet of elevation gain: 1,507 feet Total miles traveled:   125 miles Total feet climbed: 4,707 feet With a late arrival and a limited evening meal the night before, I intentionally was slow to break camp and ended up leaving at 9:30. Today was planned to be a shorter ride since it involved a complicated route through Portland and getting to the next campground would have required 90+ miles. The ride was largely uneventful and getting through Portland while challenging was not that bad. The last leg took the Columbia river bike trail and airport service road. As humbling reminder that it isn’t always a smooth road, I ended up with a rear flat about 2 miles short of my destination. Walking the bike down to a flat spot off the road, taking all the gear off and replacing a tube is a great way to spend the late afternoon with a view of Mt. Hood Just a note…The terrain, narrow roads and limited services will make the climb out of the Colu...

Quick stats: 62 miles, 3200 feet of elevation gain We drove to Sunset Beach south of Astoria. By the time we drove there, packed the bike and made several returns to the car for forgotten items, quick repairs (loose fender) I finally took off at 11:30 am. No traditional dipping the tire in the Pacific. It was low tide with about 200 yards of sand/mud to the ocean and breaking 6’ waves. I rode PC 101 and business 101 into Astoria. What no one tells you is that this route climbs to the highest point and immediately drops into the main part of town on the other side. The route followed Hwy 30 with several climbs and descents as it headed back to Portland. The scenery is beautiful old growth timber in several spots. However, most of my concentration was on the road, with a steady stream of cars and RVs heading back from the weekend and no or limited shoulders in several stretches. I stopped to rest in Clatskanie after a long climb and dropping, hoping to camp there for the night. With no c...

The Plan: This will be a self-supported, solo ride. Meaning that I will carry my gear and leverage resources along the route. I will be camping most of the time with a hotel and rest day every 7-10 days depending on weather and the route. I plan on averaging 70 miles/day and expect that it will take about 10 weeks to cover the 4290 miles. Based on other rider’s experiences, that seems pretty reasonable. And just like your car, the mileage may vary depending on elevation and weather. So it will take as long as it takes. I plan to eat mostly on the road…restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores, etc. and plan on cooking/carrying food only as a back-up. I’m getting a ride out to Oregon with my bike and gear. The return trip from Maine is too far out to plan at this point, but if you’re interested, I hear Maine is beautiful in late September. The Route: I am combining two routes from Adventure Cycling. I’ll be starting from Astoria (technically Seaside) and following the Lewis &...

What prompted this crazy idea for an adventure? Way back in 1980-81 a buddy and I talked about making a cross-country bicycle ride after we graduated from college in May 1981. There was a resurgence in US cycling at the time and famously a number of riders did a cross-country ride for the US bicentennial in 1976 (today that ride is taken by hundreds every year on what is known as the TransAmerica Route). Sadly, our plans crossed paths with reality after graduation. Both of us were $$ broke by then and Gary had been accepted into seminary school to start that summer. It just wasn’t going to happen, but the thought of someday making the ride never left. As I approached retirement I committed to making it happen. From buying a touring bike, collecting solo camping gear, putting together a route (Thanks Adventure Cycling !!), working out and getting into cycling shape, it's all come together to begin my cross-country ride this Sunday.