We Made It!

(From Denise)

3,000.3 miles to The Pacific Coast!!!

Sunset Bay State Park

Charleston, Oregon, USA

The Long and Winding Road.....

(From Denise)

Leaving Lewiston, Idaho we continued on the Lewis & Clark Trail, crossing the river into our 11th state, Washington.  (Keep in mind - these photos have no filter.)

Smoke.  Layers and layers of smoke.  

Wildfires in Washington sent hundreds from their homes 

and smoke covered the eastern half of the state. 

It wasn't long before we were in the scablands (appropriately named), a desert like environment where the wind blows, and blows, and blows and the road signs continue to remind you, "No Services the next 86 miles." We've been on many roads carrying the same warning, but on these roads, heed the warning while cycling.  

The scablands led to the Columbia River Gorge, where the winds raged.   

While the gorge was beautiful, the winds were now commanding our attention. We began to see windmill farms along the ridges....for miles and miles and miles.    

In eastern Oregon, wildfires spread through the area, including sections of the Trans America Trail.  With 20-30 mph headwinds in the Columbia River gorge, rainy weather & thunderstorms moving in to cover western Oregon and wildfires scattered in Washington and Oregon, I pulled out our Oregon map, got online and we left the Lewis & Clark trail behind heading south.  Through Mt. Hood National Forest...

To Sisters, Oregon and the Cascade Mt. Range

South of Springfield/Eugene to Cottage Grove.  What a blessing to spend today waiting out the rain with family!  Thank you Uncle Alton and Aunt Shelby for sharing your RV with us!  Dry shelter, wonderful food and time with family!

Tomorrow morning....we head west.  Where will we finally reach the Pacific Coast? 

We'll find out tomorrow!  Stay tuned!

Land of the Big Sky leads to the Lewis & Clark Trail

(From Denise)
Montana's "Land of the Big Sky" delivered daily......rain, thunder, a midnight electrical thunderstorm that drove us from our tent to our car, rainbows and incredible sunsets!

Last Sunday's Ride from Dillion to Sula....3 Mountain Passes, 105 miles

Over Badger Pass

 to Big Hole Valley Pass 

and finally over Chief Joseph Pass

Monday's rainy ride led to Lolo Pass 

and then Tuesday into Idaho on the Lewis & Clark Trail

Wednesday through the Nez Perce Reservation

led to Lewiston on the Clearwater River. 

Tomorrow into Washington and then Saturday...Oregon, our 12th and final state!

We're in the final days of this incredible adventure and the past couple of weeks have been challenging.  Yesterday's high was 104, today 99.  I've never run a marathon, but these last days remaining must be similar to the last few miles of a marathon.  

Thank you to everyone who is praying us safely to the coastline, and then home.

Safety on the Journey

Among the many reactions among those who learned about my bike trip was concern for my (our) safety --- either because of fears of what might happen on the roads as I pedal, or the possibility of encountering (for lack of a better description) "mean" people along the way.  So, as we approach the final week or so of our journey let me address what our practice has been and the kind of people we have encountered.

Note caution sign on my hind parts.

I always ride defensively, offering the greatest respect to the tons of sheet metal that pass by me each day.  If there is a serviceable shoulder to the road, I stay on the right side of that white line, but if not I ride as closely on the left side of the line as is safely possible. Most roads I have been on are lightly travelled.  Most drivers give plenty of clearance as they pass by though I have to be honest and say that there are those who occasionally pass too closely for my comfort.  I ask God to make me skinny as they pass by.  

In some instances the route has taken me on federal highways or interstates as my only options.  After one twenty mile stretch on the wide shoulder of an interstate highway, I had no problems but had no enjoyment of the ride either.  Since then Denise has picked me up to drive me beyond these highways, and we've adopted the same pattern on approaching the few major cities we have encountered - choosing to avoid congested traffic areas makes for more peace of mind. 

We decided that Denise would also pick me up in case of storms, but surprisingly there has been only one occasion where this was necessary.  The weather has been wonderfully agreeable, with a few storms at night, but we've stayed mostly in the dry.  (Today was a surprise as we approached the town of Lewiston and the thermometer registered 104!  Thankfully, we had already planned on a hotel tonight.  Whew!)

As for mean people?  We've not met many.  Most people I encounter are quick to give a thumbs up or an encouraging word.  I thought I might have an incident as an old pickup truck came to a sudden stop at the top of a driveway in eastern Kentucky.  But as I pedaled by the young man in the passenger seat shouted, "Ya goin' far?"  When I shouted back, "To Oregon!"  He responded, "You be careful."

Denise would agree that we have been treated hospitably and kindly throughout our journey.  We have not been in danger from any people, nor wildlife!  For those who have worried about us, we have been safe.  We are grateful for God's protection, and for your prayers, and are happy to report that most people in the places we have been are anything but mean.  In fact, we've discovered there are still places where people leave their keys in the car and their houses (and churches) unlocked.  

Well, that's the safety report.  Don't worry.

Relaxing at Yellowstone.

NW WY - Grand Tetons & Yellowstone Park

(From Denise)

Happy to report we're not quite as tired as we were last weekend.  Not realizing how much we would need the rest, we planned from the start of our journey to slow down once we arrived in the Shoshone National Forest, Grand Tetons & Yellowstone Park and explore the region.  NW Wyoming has certainly lived up to the state motto: "Forever West" and we would hope "Forever Wild West."  Traveling through this region we've encountered coyotes pursuing prey, a mother moose with her calf, stately female & bull elk with velvet racks, herds of bison grazing & bison rolling in the dust along Yellowstone Road and a grizzly bear foraging along the river.  We've traveled by Jackson Lake & Jenny Lake along the Grand Tetons range, along Lewis River & Yellowstone Lake, explored the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest volcanic system in N. America, walked on boardwalks over Mammoth Hot Springs, mud volcanos and bubbling springs.  We witnessed Old Faithful and Beehive Geysers erupt together - an occurrence the Visitors Center workers said they had never seen. We marveled at the scale, colors and rock formations of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.  Our National Parks are a treasure and we're thankful for those who had the courage and foresight to establish these areas that protect our heritage, wildlife and natural resources.

From Lander to Dubois, WY

29 miles climbing Togwotee Pass

To the Grand Tetons

Coulter Bay Marina Campground

Mud Volcanoes

Dragon's Breath Spring

(It sounded just like a dragon breathing!)

Mammoth Hot Springs

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

And the Highlight of Yellowstone.....Celebrating Our Anniversary by Yellowstone Lake.

We're leaving West Yellowstone this morning.....Into Montana!

Thank you for carrying us across our country with your prayers and encouraging words.  Our love to all of you.