Cascade Locks to Packwood, WA - Day 37

Mileage:  42
Total Ascent:  3200

I wasnt able to blog yesterday so will try to fill you in on what happened.  We left Cascade Locks at 5:30 am as we had 104 miles to go with over 8,000 ft of climbing.  We all were looking forward to the challenge.  We crossed the "Bridge of the Gods" that took us into Washington state.  Its a steel grated bridge so you can see below to the water.  I kept telling myself not to look down but to look straight ahead - I have a problem with heights but I made it across.

We were told by the many weather apps everyone has on their iphones that we might have a shower or two but that it would be a nice day so we all dressed accordingly.  Luckily at the last minute I changed my windbreaker for a rain jacket.  About 10 miles out of town we started with the mist, then a heavier mist and then of course, the rain.  It would then stop and the sun would peep out so we thought it was clearing up and then it started again.  The temperature dropped to the low 40's and with the rain it was very cold.

The route itself was very pretty with a climb that kept us warm and then we hit the summit - we had to descend.  Wet, cold and descending on a wet road only made us colder.  We almost missed our turn but thank goodness we caught it in time and it was another downhill.  We are now getting colder than ever.   Then we turned onto FR 90 which was the road of the jungle.   It so reminded us of a jungle, wild trees growing, huge ferns everywhere - it was awesome - but we were way to cold to stop and take a picture.  I'm so bummed that I didn't but I was so cold I was shivering.

And this is where it all changed.  We arrived at the van/trailer and Mike came up to me and asked me
if I wanted her to take my bike.  I said why and she said the road was closed due to snow on the pass
and that this was the end of the ride for all the cyclists.  Everyone that came in was so cold - they had the heater on in the van and Emily was making hot chocolate and grilled cheese sandwiches for everyone.  We had to go around the mountain to get to Packwood.  3 hours away.  and that's what we did.  We all got in the van with the bikes on top and spent the next 3 hours on the road to Packwood.  At times the rain came down so hard you could hardly see the roads.  I was so glad I was in the van.   Crazy way to end a day.