Over the Pass

My first night in the tent, I felt as though I didn't sleep a wink, in spite of the almost blissful feeling of lying down and listening to the river. I think I must have slept some, because I dreamt of being in a motel where the tub had a mostly painted over touch screen, and I was trying to look something up (Googling Cynthia Hall, in case you wondered), and the motel manager arrived. She was a small woman with no teeth. Later I was watching a parade of wild art cars where some commuters were stuck in the midst, and yelling out their windows at the parade cars to hurry up. Unless these things actually happened, I must have slept a little. So, I thought I was up early, but it took a while to take stuff apart and pack, plus make oatmeal and sort of wash up, so I hit the road a little late. I backtracked to the campground to top off my water bottles, and headed towards the pass a little after 8:00.

One funny thing yesterday, when I first arrived at Silver Springs and was riding through looking for a camping spot, I accumulated a escort of little boys on their bikes, who were enamored with my trailer, especially the flag with the "B.O.B" logo on it. "Cool, look what he has! I really like the way you attached that. Hey, is your name Bob?"

Anyway, I worked my way up to Cayuse Pass, about 9 miles of climbing, with stunning views along the way. I just got in my low gear and looked for that equilibrium of cadence and bike speed that seemed to work. Still early enough that traffic was light and the temperatures cool. Weird thing, yesterday, I would think that a long 4% grade was arduous and relieved to get a level spot. Today it was all up, and I found the 5% grades a relief, but the 6-7% grades pushing my comfort zone.

Once you get to Cayuse at 4,600 feet, it's not over. A left turn takes you up three mile-long switch-backs to crest Chinook Pass at 5400 feet.Then a moderately scary 7% descent that goes on for miles. My rear rim is not in the best of shape, and I worried about heating up the rims and exploding a tire. I'd stop from time to time to let things cool down.

At one point, I noticed a field of glass too late and went through it. So I stopped to check the tires for embedded shards. While lifting the rear wheel I noticed the trailer tip in a way it shouldn't and found I had installed the retaining pins incorrectly and one was completely out, the other halfway out. Would have been unfortunate to lose the trailer at 30 mph on the descent. I also had set my glasses on top of the trailer to take pictures, somewhere on the way up to Chinook, and justy before starting down, I reached for them in my pocket and, of course, not there. Fortunately I have a backup pair, but too bad. No way was I going to ride back down and look for them.

Much of the rest of highway 410 is a downhill grade that follows the river. It's beautiful, though my mood would ride and fall with the quality of the pavement. Also, my observation is that people with trailers seem to be pretty considerate and proficient in passing, while RV drivers don't give an inch, even when the oncoming lane is empty.

Eventually 410 joins highway 12, which becomes divided highway. It would have been a pretty depressing slog if not for the slight downhill grade and a healthy tailwind. I was holding 16-20 for a lot of the way. Traffic was increasing though, as well as the afternoon heat, so I was anxious to get this over and take the first motel sign I saw in Yakima.

Now I'm clean and full, and can relax and think about my route tomorrow, across Yakima to Highway 24.