Starting back in 2008, my friend Rick and I have done a multi-day 'credit card' cycling tour. The first edition was Sultan-Wenatchee-Ephrata-Cle Elum; the second Enumclaw-Yakima-Hermiston-Walla Walla. This year we opted for four days and three overnights. Our adventure begins in Bellevue, Washington on Thursday, July 15.
Day 1: RUSA #417 Bellevue to Leavenworth (131 miles)
See The Route on Garmin Connect
I wanted to incorporate a 200K permanent into our trip. Although we passed through Leavenworth on our 2008 trip, I had never spent an overnight there. This permanent seemed like a good choice to launch our tour.
We arranged for Terry to drop us off at Eastgate for a 7:00am start. I confirmed that we could use the nearby Albertson's for our starting control. That way we could get pastries to get things started. We rolled out about 10 minutes late after fiddling around too long at the start.
Things started off with a wrong turn early in the ride. When we got to the intersection of Maple and Newport we turned left (the cue sheet said 'Slight left on Maple,' it should have said 'Keep straight to continue on Maple'). The first climb of the day was up Issaquah-Fall City Rd and we were soon headed back down toward the Snoqualmie Valley and the first control in Carnation, but not before almost being taken out by the side mirrors of a large truck that squeezed past us on a small roller.
Having started late, we arrived in Carnation with only 20 minutes to spare. We opted for Sandy's Espresso for the control stop. We continued on through the valley on a beautiful, sunny morning. Rick had never ridden on Ben Howard Road to avoid the busy stretch of Highway 2 between Monroe and Sultan, and was very pleased to now learn this route. We stopped at the store in Sultan to fill our bottles. As we left town, we stopped for a photo by the old cedar log (found in many old logging towns) and I realized I'd left my phone back at the store. I quickly returned and was lucky to retrieve it so we could be on our way.
A nice feature of this permanent is that it avoids Hwy 2 as much as possible. We ride from Gold Bar to Index mostly on Reiter Rd which has some stiff climbs, but is tree lined and doesn't have much traffic. I arrive in Index a little before Rick and take some pictures of the river and surrounding mountains while awaiting his arrival.
Index is the only other intermediate control on this route. We use the general store as our control stop and I have some ice cream and chips. I'd hoped to find some place for a sandwich, but there weren't any good options. When we get to Baring, we find a deli at the store and stop there to get something substantial for the climb up to Stevens Pass.
After leaving Baring, we are routed to the Old Cascade Highway through Skykomish, after another brief stretch on the main highway we are back on Old Cascade for another five miles and then back to the highway again. The final routing off of the highway is signed 'Rough Road'; 'Road Closed 1.6 Miles Ahead'. I vaguely remember that the route should be passable, but am not sure. I manage to get in touch with Geoff (route owner) and he gives us the option of just staying on Hwy 2 so we take it.
As we climb toward Stevens Pass, I start to bonk a little bit and Rick is getting further ahead. I decide to not contest today's friendly 'King of the Mountain' competition and let Rick take the points. After taking time for a quick photo, we get ready to head down the pass and the almost entirely downhill run to Leavenworth.
There is a rest area about halfway between the Pass and Leavenworth so we stop there to get some water. I make a donation for a cookie and the volunteers working the coffee stop tell us there was a big ride through earlier in the day (Red-Spoke). We continue on and are quickly in Leavenworth where the control is the Subway/Mini Mart on the main highway near the town center. We get our final receipt and pick up some snacks and wine for later.
After checking in to our hotel (way too late), we walk downtown and have dinner at a nice Mexican restaurant. We get back to the hotel in time to spend some time in the spa which is a relief to our tired muscles.
Day 2: Leavenworth - Yakima (92 miles)
See The Route on Garmin Connect
Rick had mentioned a desire to ride the Yakima Canyon, and although I'd done it earlier in the year during the SIR Spring 600K, it was mostly at night. Today's route would give us a chance to ride it in the daylight.
We should have started earlier, but in order to take advantage of the full breakfast at the hotel (which was actually pretty good), we got off to a late start. We stop at the Leavenworth post office to mail our control cards for the previous day's ride back to the SIR Permanent Gods. I also remembered that I needed a battery for my cadence sensor so we stop at the Safeway on the east end of town causing a further delay.
We finally turn off of Hwy 2 onto Hwy 97 and are on our way toward Blewett Pass. I love this stretch of highway. It is good pavement and the climb is long, but not all that hard. When we get to the Ingall's Creek store, we stop to fill our bottles before proceeding the last 13 miles to the summit.
As we approach the top, I have pulled ahead of Rick. My intention is to build a cushion for the final climb to the summit so I won't be too far behind when we reach the top. About three miles from the summit, Rick starts to close the gap. I decide to play the game and push ahead again. In the end, I make the summit first--I get today's KOM points in our friendly little game.
After stopping for a photo op at the summit, we head down soon reaching the Liberty Cafe where we decide to get lunch thinking it will be a long ride to the next services in Ellensburg. We have cheeseburgers and fries for lunch and get water to fill our bottles. The food is good and it is a nice change from mini-marts or conventional fast food.
We benefit from a tailwind and reach Ellensburg much more quickly than expected. We make a quick stop at Wendy's for a frosty snack and then proceed on the Canyon Road towards Yakima.
The Yakima Canyon Road is scenic and trends downhill when going south. We also have a nice tailwind so we are making great progress. There are many rafters floating in the river. It looks like a lot of fun--especially when viewed from the saddle of a bicycle on a hot afternoon. Things continue to go well until Rick has a flat and we have to stop and fix it.
As we crest the final climb on the Canyon Road, Mt. Adams comes into view for the first time. We turn toward Selah where we find a grocery and buy some beer and snacks for later. On the south end of town, we enter the Yakima Greenway and are soon in Yakima at our hotel.
After a beer and a shower we walk down to Black Angus for a steak dinner. I use Google for walking directions and we are routed through an 'interesting' part of town. We decide to stay on the main road for the return after dark.
Day 3: Yakima - The Dalles (110 miles)
See The Route on Garmin Connect
Once again starting a little later than we should, we head back toward the Yakima Greenway and soon encounter an unexpected gravel road. After confirming it is the correct route, we make our way until we are finally on the trail.
The Greenway Trail runs along the river and is very pleasant--A gem in a city that seems otherwise hostile toward cyclists. The trail ends in Union Gap where we find a selection of the usual breakfast cafe chains. We opt for Shari's and both have a hearty breakfast.
We continue south on Highway 97 and then cut over to North Track Road until we get to Toppenish. Here we stop at Safeway to top off our supplies and water bottles. As we leave town there is a sign 'No Services 49 Miles.' That means nothing until after we've crested Satus Pass at 3107 feet--what were we thinking?
It is getting hot and we are in open sage land--no shade from the sun that is beating down on us. Highway 97 begins to climb, and I can see that it goes on for a long way. It is kind of depressing. Up and up we climb, I begin to regret not getting some extra water in Toppenish. We finally reach the top, and the road is friendlier if still exposed and hot. We gradually get higher and as we climb, the temperature moderates a bit.
About four miles from the Satus summit, a new truck lane begins. We take that as a cue that the grade will get steeper and stop to rest briefly before continuing on. As we climb, we find the grade to be steady, but not too bad. I am the first to make it to the top. As we descend down again, we get our first glimpse of Mt. Hood in the distance.
We actually find services sooner than expected at the Pine Springs Resort store--ice cream! A little bit down the road is the St. John's Orthodox Monastery bakery store. Since Rick is Orthodox, we make a quick stop there to support it and then continue on to Goldendale during the hottest part of the day. Here we stop at a Dairy Queen for burgers, fries and more ice cream.
As we approach the Columbia Gorge, wind farms begin to appear on the hills around us. This foreshadows the headwinds we will encounter as we turn west. There is a fast descent down to Highway 14 where we turn east to stop by the Maryhill Stonehenge replica war memorial. It is on a bluff overlooking the river and is very impressive. We bump into a couple from Kent who comment that we are way off course for the STP (Seattle to Portland classic which started the same day). I turn to Rick, and tell him, 'I told you we should have turned right in Puyallup!'
The descent to Maryhill is steep and curvy. We both take it easy and finally make it to the bottom, crossing the river into Oregon and heading west on the Biggs-Rufus Highway. When we reach the Deschutes River Recreation Area, we stop hoping to fill our bottles before continuing on Moody Road toward The Dalles. We find a warning that the water is not suitable for drinking, but the park host gives us some water from her supply. She also informs us that the intended route is gravel so we decide to stay on the main road even though it means we will have to ride on the I-84 shoulder for 12 miles. There is also a strong headwind, but take turns pulling at 11mph until we finally reach The Dalles.
On the home stretch into town, Rick gets winged by the side mirror of a large pickup. The driver is a stand-up guy who stops and exchanges information with Rick. Fortunately, Rick's injuries seem to be limited to a bruise on his shoulder.
The desk clerk at our hotel recommends the Baldwin Saloon just up the street so we go there for dinner. It is quite good. I have a pint and some delicious halibut and chips. During dinner we decide to change the route for the next day. Our original plan was to head west on Hwy 14 and then use the route through Carson -> Elk Pass to get to Randle. This represents 130 miles and a lot of climbing. After dinner, I map a route to Vancouver Mall that is only 92 miles, but will have us riding into the Gorge headwind all day. Oh well! We call Terry and arrange for the new pickup in Vancouver.
Day 4: The Dalles - Vancouver (93 miles)
See The Route on Garmin Connect
Our hotel has the typical continental breakfast setup, but they do have waffle machines so we have waffles, fruit and coffee before heading out for our final day.
After crossing back into Washington and turning on the Dallesport Road, we are on the bluff looking across the river back toward The Dalles. It is an excellent view. When we turn toward the north, we are fighting a headwind that would plague is all day.
Slowly, but surely we progress westward toward Vancouver. The Columbia Gorge is beautiful, but the wind makes it hard to enjoy. It is easy to understand why this area is a Mecca for windsurfers. There are a number of tunnels along the route. Although they are short, the always magnify the wind and it is a relief to get through each of them.
We stop in Stevenson, the county seat of Skamania County, for lunch. Although the wind continues, the road is routed a bit further from the river and there are trees to provide slight shelter. Short climbs are indicated by the presence of truck lanes. The right lane ends sign indicating the end of the climb is always a welcome sight. That is until, we get closer to Vancouver. We encounter a climbing lane that does NOT end with the climb. We continue up until we reach the Cape Horn Viewpoint which provides a spectacular view of The Gorge as our reward. Then it is a fast descent and we are soon riding through Washougal and then the upscale community of Camas on our final approach to Vancouver.
When we arrive at the mall, Terry is waiting for us. We clean up as best we can enjoy steak dinners at the nearby Outback Steakhouse. Dan and Ricks 2010 Bike Adventure is complete!
Photo set on Flickr
Day 1: RUSA #417 Bellevue to Leavenworth (131 miles)
See The Route on Garmin Connect
I wanted to incorporate a 200K permanent into our trip. Although we passed through Leavenworth on our 2008 trip, I had never spent an overnight there. This permanent seemed like a good choice to launch our tour.
We arranged for Terry to drop us off at Eastgate for a 7:00am start. I confirmed that we could use the nearby Albertson's for our starting control. That way we could get pastries to get things started. We rolled out about 10 minutes late after fiddling around too long at the start.
Things started off with a wrong turn early in the ride. When we got to the intersection of Maple and Newport we turned left (the cue sheet said 'Slight left on Maple,' it should have said 'Keep straight to continue on Maple'). The first climb of the day was up Issaquah-Fall City Rd and we were soon headed back down toward the Snoqualmie Valley and the first control in Carnation, but not before almost being taken out by the side mirrors of a large truck that squeezed past us on a small roller.Having started late, we arrived in Carnation with only 20 minutes to spare. We opted for Sandy's Espresso for the control stop. We continued on through the valley on a beautiful, sunny morning. Rick had never ridden on Ben Howard Road to avoid the busy stretch of Highway 2 between Monroe and Sultan, and was very pleased to now learn this route. We stopped at the store in Sultan to fill our bottles. As we left town, we stopped for a photo by the old cedar log (found in many old logging towns) and I realized I'd left my phone back at the store. I quickly returned and was lucky to retrieve it so we could be on our way.
A nice feature of this permanent is that it avoids Hwy 2 as much as possible. We ride from Gold Bar to Index mostly on Reiter Rd which has some stiff climbs, but is tree lined and doesn't have much traffic. I arrive in Index a little before Rick and take some pictures of the river and surrounding mountains while awaiting his arrival.
Index is the only other intermediate control on this route. We use the general store as our control stop and I have some ice cream and chips. I'd hoped to find some place for a sandwich, but there weren't any good options. When we get to Baring, we find a deli at the store and stop there to get something substantial for the climb up to Stevens Pass.
After leaving Baring, we are routed to the Old Cascade Highway through Skykomish, after another brief stretch on the main highway we are back on Old Cascade for another five miles and then back to the highway again. The final routing off of the highway is signed 'Rough Road'; 'Road Closed 1.6 Miles Ahead'. I vaguely remember that the route should be passable, but am not sure. I manage to get in touch with Geoff (route owner) and he gives us the option of just staying on Hwy 2 so we take it.As we climb toward Stevens Pass, I start to bonk a little bit and Rick is getting further ahead. I decide to not contest today's friendly 'King of the Mountain' competition and let Rick take the points. After taking time for a quick photo, we get ready to head down the pass and the almost entirely downhill run to Leavenworth.
There is a rest area about halfway between the Pass and Leavenworth so we stop there to get some water. I make a donation for a cookie and the volunteers working the coffee stop tell us there was a big ride through earlier in the day (Red-Spoke). We continue on and are quickly in Leavenworth where the control is the Subway/Mini Mart on the main highway near the town center. We get our final receipt and pick up some snacks and wine for later.After checking in to our hotel (way too late), we walk downtown and have dinner at a nice Mexican restaurant. We get back to the hotel in time to spend some time in the spa which is a relief to our tired muscles.
Day 2: Leavenworth - Yakima (92 miles)
See The Route on Garmin Connect
Rick had mentioned a desire to ride the Yakima Canyon, and although I'd done it earlier in the year during the SIR Spring 600K, it was mostly at night. Today's route would give us a chance to ride it in the daylight.
We should have started earlier, but in order to take advantage of the full breakfast at the hotel (which was actually pretty good), we got off to a late start. We stop at the Leavenworth post office to mail our control cards for the previous day's ride back to the SIR Permanent Gods. I also remembered that I needed a battery for my cadence sensor so we stop at the Safeway on the east end of town causing a further delay.We finally turn off of Hwy 2 onto Hwy 97 and are on our way toward Blewett Pass. I love this stretch of highway. It is good pavement and the climb is long, but not all that hard. When we get to the Ingall's Creek store, we stop to fill our bottles before proceeding the last 13 miles to the summit.
As we approach the top, I have pulled ahead of Rick. My intention is to build a cushion for the final climb to the summit so I won't be too far behind when we reach the top. About three miles from the summit, Rick starts to close the gap. I decide to play the game and push ahead again. In the end, I make the summit first--I get today's KOM points in our friendly little game.
After stopping for a photo op at the summit, we head down soon reaching the Liberty Cafe where we decide to get lunch thinking it will be a long ride to the next services in Ellensburg. We have cheeseburgers and fries for lunch and get water to fill our bottles. The food is good and it is a nice change from mini-marts or conventional fast food.
We benefit from a tailwind and reach Ellensburg much more quickly than expected. We make a quick stop at Wendy's for a frosty snack and then proceed on the Canyon Road towards Yakima.The Yakima Canyon Road is scenic and trends downhill when going south. We also have a nice tailwind so we are making great progress. There are many rafters floating in the river. It looks like a lot of fun--especially when viewed from the saddle of a bicycle on a hot afternoon. Things continue to go well until Rick has a flat and we have to stop and fix it.
As we crest the final climb on the Canyon Road, Mt. Adams comes into view for the first time. We turn toward Selah where we find a grocery and buy some beer and snacks for later. On the south end of town, we enter the Yakima Greenway and are soon in Yakima at our hotel.After a beer and a shower we walk down to Black Angus for a steak dinner. I use Google for walking directions and we are routed through an 'interesting' part of town. We decide to stay on the main road for the return after dark.
Day 3: Yakima - The Dalles (110 miles)
See The Route on Garmin Connect
Once again starting a little later than we should, we head back toward the Yakima Greenway and soon encounter an unexpected gravel road. After confirming it is the correct route, we make our way until we are finally on the trail.
The Greenway Trail runs along the river and is very pleasant--A gem in a city that seems otherwise hostile toward cyclists. The trail ends in Union Gap where we find a selection of the usual breakfast cafe chains. We opt for Shari's and both have a hearty breakfast.
We continue south on Highway 97 and then cut over to North Track Road until we get to Toppenish. Here we stop at Safeway to top off our supplies and water bottles. As we leave town there is a sign 'No Services 49 Miles.' That means nothing until after we've crested Satus Pass at 3107 feet--what were we thinking?
It is getting hot and we are in open sage land--no shade from the sun that is beating down on us. Highway 97 begins to climb, and I can see that it goes on for a long way. It is kind of depressing. Up and up we climb, I begin to regret not getting some extra water in Toppenish. We finally reach the top, and the road is friendlier if still exposed and hot. We gradually get higher and as we climb, the temperature moderates a bit.About four miles from the Satus summit, a new truck lane begins. We take that as a cue that the grade will get steeper and stop to rest briefly before continuing on. As we climb, we find the grade to be steady, but not too bad. I am the first to make it to the top. As we descend down again, we get our first glimpse of Mt. Hood in the distance.
We actually find services sooner than expected at the Pine Springs Resort store--ice cream! A little bit down the road is the St. John's Orthodox Monastery bakery store. Since Rick is Orthodox, we make a quick stop there to support it and then continue on to Goldendale during the hottest part of the day. Here we stop at a Dairy Queen for burgers, fries and more ice cream.As we approach the Columbia Gorge, wind farms begin to appear on the hills around us. This foreshadows the headwinds we will encounter as we turn west. There is a fast descent down to Highway 14 where we turn east to stop by the Maryhill Stonehenge replica war memorial. It is on a bluff overlooking the river and is very impressive. We bump into a couple from Kent who comment that we are way off course for the STP (Seattle to Portland classic which started the same day). I turn to Rick, and tell him, 'I told you we should have turned right in Puyallup!'
The descent to Maryhill is steep and curvy. We both take it easy and finally make it to the bottom, crossing the river into Oregon and heading west on the Biggs-Rufus Highway. When we reach the Deschutes River Recreation Area, we stop hoping to fill our bottles before continuing on Moody Road toward The Dalles. We find a warning that the water is not suitable for drinking, but the park host gives us some water from her supply. She also informs us that the intended route is gravel so we decide to stay on the main road even though it means we will have to ride on the I-84 shoulder for 12 miles. There is also a strong headwind, but take turns pulling at 11mph until we finally reach The Dalles.On the home stretch into town, Rick gets winged by the side mirror of a large pickup. The driver is a stand-up guy who stops and exchanges information with Rick. Fortunately, Rick's injuries seem to be limited to a bruise on his shoulder.
The desk clerk at our hotel recommends the Baldwin Saloon just up the street so we go there for dinner. It is quite good. I have a pint and some delicious halibut and chips. During dinner we decide to change the route for the next day. Our original plan was to head west on Hwy 14 and then use the route through Carson -> Elk Pass to get to Randle. This represents 130 miles and a lot of climbing. After dinner, I map a route to Vancouver Mall that is only 92 miles, but will have us riding into the Gorge headwind all day. Oh well! We call Terry and arrange for the new pickup in Vancouver.Day 4: The Dalles - Vancouver (93 miles)
See The Route on Garmin Connect
Our hotel has the typical continental breakfast setup, but they do have waffle machines so we have waffles, fruit and coffee before heading out for our final day.
After crossing back into Washington and turning on the Dallesport Road, we are on the bluff looking across the river back toward The Dalles. It is an excellent view. When we turn toward the north, we are fighting a headwind that would plague is all day.
Slowly, but surely we progress westward toward Vancouver. The Columbia Gorge is beautiful, but the wind makes it hard to enjoy. It is easy to understand why this area is a Mecca for windsurfers. There are a number of tunnels along the route. Although they are short, the always magnify the wind and it is a relief to get through each of them.
We stop in Stevenson, the county seat of Skamania County, for lunch. Although the wind continues, the road is routed a bit further from the river and there are trees to provide slight shelter. Short climbs are indicated by the presence of truck lanes. The right lane ends sign indicating the end of the climb is always a welcome sight. That is until, we get closer to Vancouver. We encounter a climbing lane that does NOT end with the climb. We continue up until we reach the Cape Horn Viewpoint which provides a spectacular view of The Gorge as our reward. Then it is a fast descent and we are soon riding through Washougal and then the upscale community of Camas on our final approach to Vancouver.
When we arrive at the mall, Terry is waiting for us. We clean up as best we can enjoy steak dinners at the nearby Outback Steakhouse. Dan and Ricks 2010 Bike Adventure is complete!
Photo set on Flickr
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