Sedro-Woolley to Anacortes - Day 46 - Last Blogproject

Mileage:  28
Total Ascent:  421

Today was the last day of the ride.   Ending the ride was bittersweet.  We were ready for it to end and then we weren't.  The route was flat and the last part on a bike path.  Judy lives about  45 minutes away from Anacortes and rides here quite often so she knew of a more scenic route around the water so a few of us followed Judy.

When we took off from Sedro-Woolley the plan was to meet at a certain point on the ride so we could all ride in together.   We did that and it was great riding in together with family and friends yelling and cheering.  Emily and Katie had made a great spread for us all to celebrate the ending of this epic ride.

By my blog we rode 2,065 miles and climbed 109,328 ft.   Pretty awesome I think although everyone's garmin showed different numbers.

I was apprehensive about this ride and worried at first if I would be able to do it but I did.  This is the most awesome ride I've ever participated in.  The pine trees, some so tall you would think they could reach heaven, dense forests, and riding along the roads with their pine scent.  Rushing rivers and creeks, the different forms and colors of the clouds, the mountains, the valleys, the canyons, the rain, the snow, the hail and even the cold.  And the climbing of passes and summits everyday.   Another ride could not compete with all that I have experienced.

To make this ride even more wonderful were 14 other crazy fun ladies who wanted the same experiences.  There was always laughing, teasing, helping each other.  This made the ride even more fun.   Gail - always late, Judy - with her 100 pound bike kicking butt by the end of the ride; Ann - energized and positive; Linda - forgetful and had a check list before leaving her motel room; Susan - worked on moisture management by wearing minimum clothes on cold days; Sheila (from Scotland) - a profound command of the english language and knew more about the our history than we did; Fiona - the philosopher,  Mike - a quilter and helpful to everyone - brought my luggage to my room everyday and she made me the sweetest felt project of kittens and mice, I was so touched; Pam -sassy sag driver, Kat - rode beyond her own expectations,  Cindy - the game show host, Barb - quiet and unassuming until she had a knife in her hand (sous chef).  Emily - easygoing and a great chef, Patty - fun easygoing ride leader, Katie - young and a great new ride leader.  Me - determined.

A few final pics....

Snack table

cute goat who posed for us

part of Judy's scenic ride

The banquet table

Banquet table

Rockport to Sedro-Woolley - Day 45

Mileage:  52
Total Ascent:  1039

Rain, rain go away.....   Today's ride was from start to finish in the rain.  It first started out warm and then it was colder.  We were prepared with our rain gear but when you have pelting rain for 52 miles nothing stays dry.  It was a really pretty route and I would love to do it again with the sun shining.  We once again had our jungle or as some call it a rain forest.   I took a picture or I thought I did but I guess it didn't take.  So no pictures from today.

Gail and I had chinese/japanese food for lunch and I ate a ton and it was so good.  Because of the rain we will not be sitting outside in our circle but will be going to a restaurant.   Sitting around in our circle at night has been a lot of fun.  

Tomorrow is our last day.  Its 26 flat miles on a bike path to Anacortes.  We'll meet family and friends at noon or so and celebrate with them.  Then later the riders only will meet for our final banquet and celebrate the completion of our ride - The Sierra Cascades and say goodbyes.  Then its all over but the memories.

Winthrop to Rockport - Day 44

mileage:  91
Total Ascent 5618

It was a jaw dropping spectacular day today.  Sunny, a few clouds in the sky, a bit of wind but the views were spectacular.   We climbed 2 passes today, one was 14.5 miles, Washington Pass and the other Rainey Pass.  This route is on the North Cascades Scenic highway.  It didn't matter which way you looked - there was a view to be had... so here are some pics....

The mountains sweeping down into the valley

The 14 mile climb to Washington Pass.  Part of the road we climbed.

Gail taking a picture

Beautiful creek with brown rocks and bolders in the water.  So unique.

Diablo Lake

Ross Lake

I can't even begin to count how many waterfalls we saw today.  Each one more beautiful and breathtaking than the last one.  I have many pictures but can't include them all.

We are staying in these little cabins tonite in Rockport.  One of the many animals they have are rabbits. 

Gail's happy climbing face

  Tomorrow we are off to Sedro-Wooley and then its on to Anacortes - our last day.  

Chelan to Winthrop - Day 43

Mileage:  65
Total Ascent:  2504

A very nice ride today.  Some climbing but not the norm as we have become used to.  We rode along the Columbia River for miles.  Along the route was the Wells Dam and Fish Hatchery.  Also fields of orchards but not sure what they were.  I really think these farmers should put signs on their fields so folks would know what they are.

Along the Columbia River - rock formations

Columbia River

Columbia River with reflections on he water from the sun

Along the Columbia river - tree fortress or maybe windbreakers

The Methow River - it meanndered along the road for 30 miles or so.  I think my vavorite river as farms and orchards were built along the S curves.  It wasn't deep but it was wide and small rapids moved swiftly along the rocks.

An old walking bridge across the river. 

The last 15 miles or so we tried to outrun a storm that was moving towards us.  At one point as we were climbing I suggested to Gail that we race.  So we took off.  I don't know what we were thinking we had just cycled 50 miles and we wanted to race.  That was nuts and we didn't race far :-)

We beat the rain, thank goodness.  I don't want anymore rain.

Leavenworth to Chelan - Day 42

Mileage:  62
Total Ascent:  2869

Today was wonderful.  Leaving Leavenworth with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky.  We had our first fun ride onto Deadman Hill Road.  It was rollers throughout the miles of orchards, vineyards, ranches and beautiful views.

It was on one of many roads where we came across the a ranch and their helicopter.  You never know when you might need to make a run to the grocery store....

We were so surprised to see a helicopter in the field we had to take a picture of it.

We crossed a historic, one-lane wooden bridge over the Wenatchee River

We rode through a beauiful valley on our way to Lake Chelan where we will spend the night.  Lake Chelan is a huge recreaton area.  A very large lake with camping, etc.  One of riders Cindi, a sheriff officer for Seattle has worked here during Memorial Day weekend and during Spring Break.

One of the sweetest things I saw today was a mama Quail leading her 12-14 babies across the road.  Gail and I had to stop to let them across.  So cute as they scurried behind their mama.  They looked the size of a walnut shell.   

Lake Chelan below as we stood on top of the climb before our descent.  This is a beautiful area.

Day Off - Day 41

A nice day off today.  Breakfast and then I cleaned my bike.  My gears are getting a little tired and so need to keep it cleaned and lubed.  After cleaning Fiona and I walked Gail to her dentist office to have her crown glued back on.  It popped off when she was flossing last nite.  It was a good thing we walked with her cuz she was walking the wrong way.  She never would have made it on time.

Fiona and I walked around the shops while waiting for Gail.  There was a great quilt and yarn shop that you could get lost in.  I kept telling myself that I didn't need to buy anything because I knew I wouldn't make it when I got home.

We met Mike, Gail was done and we walked down by the Wenatchee River for a bit and then on to lunch.  Bratwurst and pretzels were the winners again as they were yesterday.

Tonite anyone who wants to will meet at the lobby and we'll go to dinner together at one of the German restaurants.

Mike, Gail and Fiona

Gail, Mike and Me 

Wenatchee River

Pretzels with a cheese sauce

pretzels and bratwurst - so good!!

The Nutcracker for the town

Ellensburg to Leavenworth - Day 40

Mileage:  60
Total Ascent:  3679

Crazy headwinds returned today with a vengenance.  We had a climb for about 10 miles today with strong headwinds.  It made the climb so much harder.  The windmills on the hills reminded us why it was so windy.   At the top of the climb we had some great views and then there was a great downhill. Our next climb was 14 miles up but quite easy.  The downhill was a different story.  A long descent which would have been great but there was so much traffic and so many semi trucks.  The shoulders were very narrow and I thought it was a little unnerving.  Normally I'm not like that but too many trucks on narrow roads had me going very slow down the 26 mile descent.

Leavenworth's Bavarian village was created by 2 businessmen who tried to revitalize this little town when the railroad was moved to Wenatchee crippling their economy.   The two businessmen went to Solvang which is modeled after a Danish village and they decided to model Leavenworth after a Baverian village.  And this is how this little tourist town was built.   Coming in today, the town was filled with tourists from everywhere.  Leavenworth is a thriving village with lots of shops and places to eat.

Some pics from the day....

 

Top of the 2nd climb with our 26 miles descent

Gail pointing to the Blewett Pass Summit