Me at Steven's Pass. Toasting victory with a Surge.
Me at Steven's Pass. Toasting victory with a Surge.
Last Modified on 9/23/97 at 17:04:58
Day's Narrative: While having breakfast in the restaurant by the motel before I left, I happened to speak with a man about the bike trip. It seems he sells vitamin supplements and he left me a brochure to read when I have time. He says they work great for his brother who's a marathon runner. He was very enthusiastic about the supplements. After breakfast I got Connie up to take a couple of photos. She was shivering in the 50 degree F (10 deg. C) morning trying to hold the camera steady enough to take a picture to record the momentous event. I got off towards Steven's pass and Leavenworth from Monroe, WA about 06:50. It was a beautiful, sunny morning. I had my first flat 20 miles down the road. I had read about how terrifying the northwestern logging trucks can be. There were many on the road now, barreling down the highway at me. So I decided to undertake a preemptive strike, and started waving at the drivers as they passed. Maybe they would give me a break when coming up behind me later. Most waved back, which encouraged me. The road runs almost flat, gaining only about 1000 feet in altitude until Skykomish, which is just 16 miles from Steven's pass. Stopping for a snack in Skykomish, I realized that in the remaining 16 miles I would have to climb to 4000 feet to cross Steven's Pass. As it turns out, the road remains flat another 6 miles and then begins the 3000 foot accent. That means that I had to climb 3000 feet in 10 miles, which is a non-trival climb. It wasn't so bad. I got to the summit at 12:30 where Connie was waiting with a cold Surge -- a new citrus drink from Coca Cola. My son Jonathan was right when he said "Dad, you don't have to worry about Steven's Pass." Actually it would have been very difficult without the new, low gear, third sprocket on the bike. What I'm thinking about now was the rest of Jonathan's remark: "What you should worry about are the Rockies in Idaho and Montana." After a rest I started down the eastern side of Steven's Pass. I love to go down hills. This is the one of the few times I've used my brakes on a hill. Going down that side of the mountain gave me about all the thrills I can handle in a day. The road dropped 1000 feet in a mile or so. It was the next best thing to freefall. Wow! What a ride! The descent from Steven's Pass on the eastern side is a succession of these rapid drops. On the second or third I was flying down again at about 40 mph (60km/h), trying hard to keep control of the bike, when a bee stung me on the neck. Zow! It hurt! I almost lost it. Fortunately I was riding well into the traffic lane, and the swerve I made didn't land me on the shoulder. What seemed like an eternity later, I was able to take my hand off the handlebars and up to my neck to make sure the bee wasn't still there. About 2:00 pm I got to the first restaurant since Skykomish and had a bacon cheeseburger and a bottomless Coke at the 59er Diner. Some customers with four kids and the owner struck up a conversation about the bike ride. After a few minutes of discussing the trip, they turned to leave. As the customers were getting into their car, their nine year old yelled back "Hope you make it." Thanks, I needed that. It was all downhill into Leavenworth. [Connie- a way overly kitschy Bavarian wannabe town.] I found the truck and Connie at the Rodeway Inn at 3:10. Time for a shower and a nap. © Ray & Connie Poore, 1997
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