Things got going early in Ione. Most of the trailers unloaded thier sleds and headed to the river pretty early. I was up with them and began walking towards the road when I saw a big group of other cyclists fly by on the road. That's funny, I thought. Later, as I rode through downtown again, past all the ruckus and over to highway 20, I saw signs reading "bicyclist on roadway." Pleased to pretend they were there specifically for me, I pedaled with gusto up in the hills.
The first hill of the day was pretty sizeable and I began to run across more cyclists. They had jerseys on, rode fast roadbikes, and had numbers pinned to them. As more and more passed me, I realized I was in the midst of a race. I let some more pass me politely, then began to think, "I've been training two months on this bike. I might as well see what I can do." So I kicked it up a notch and started passing people. After the big hill, packs began to form and I hopped onto the back of one and use their draft. It was pretty fun and I guess I fit right in because I had on my neon green shirt and was keeping up with them.
Eventually I asked a guy who was falling back some "What is this shindig anyway? How many of you are there?" Fella said it was a race across Washington. They do it in under a week, and there's about 250 of them. Today was thier first day.
There came a lovely looking falls right on the roadside. I stopped to look, and so did some of the other racers (it wasn't intensely competative).
Got to talking to some of the racers at the falls. After a short conversation I went and sat on the guard rail for a rest. When I was getting ready to go, they came back over and said "We were just talking about how much we'd like to do what you're doing right now." I said "Do it. It's the ride of a lifetime." And I meant it.
Eventually I got tired of having all these bikers on the road. Guess I'm spoiled from having ridden on so many empty roads. So I took a side road off highway 20, where I assumed they were going, and got into some really pretty country (or perhaps just started noticing it).
Got so into the scenery I got kinda lost and off track, but I ended up on the highway and rode it into Colville. Found the park and rested. A bluegrass band was practicing "I like the Christian Life." I sang along from my picnic bench not far away. Made some phone calls to friends and studied the maps of the road ahead. When I was satisfied and my spot was no longer in the shade, I rode through downtown Colville.
Had an excellently punny store...
The ride from Colville to Kettle Falls was pretty easy. Hot in the early afternoon but I was enjoying myself.
Then proof that I was really in Washington afterall came before me. The Columbia River. Though dammed in this spot to make Lake Theodore Roosevelt, it still felt important coming across it. Rode south off of 20 to a funny forest service campground a little out of the way. The weekenders were gone and it was quiet. Wasted no time getting in the water. Mama cooked up burgers later on. Glorious. Decided she'd be heading home tomorrow and leaving me on my own again. A good time having her along.
A fine day all in all. July is almost gone.
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