Month: August 2017

Should have known better by now – where there is green grass there are sprinklers! At 3am we had an emergency de-camp when the icy cold powerful sprinklers switched on! We had planned an early start but not quite this early – at least know we will be able to dry everything out later.

Yesterday wasn’t a good day – I realised when I was packing up to leave that Nessie is no longer with me – he has had prime position in my handlebar bag and was my look out man – I thought he was safe and secure – but he’s gone – Emma I’m really sorry for not looking after him. Then I got lost trying to leave the town I was in and then I had a puncture. Then there was the heat – drinking plenty but it was just too hot. Having said all that I have now cycled for 11 days on the trot and I think I just needed a rest. On the plus side found a nice campground right beside the river – just had to make sure I didn’t pitch the tent in Canadian Goose poo. Lots of folks playing and swimming in the river – looked brown and uninviting to me – Mike tells me this is normal in America and it’s just because of all the factories – he wasn’t selling it well so I didn’t go in

Bertie’s first puncture repair of the trip.

6.30 am start today. Watched the squirrels while I packed up the tent and was also lucky to see Pete and Pat the 2 local pelicans fly alongside the river. Really good bike ride to Waitsburg where we had lunch and stocked up on food, chatted with the locals and met 2 other cyclists doing the TRANSAM but they are going East to West – great to have a chat and get some tips as well. As expected really hot later on in day but made it to Pomeroy, where we’ve been told it’s ok to camp in the play park for the night. I’ve decided that Washington is yellow or green, depending on what crop is being grown, which in turn determines whether sprinklers are used or not – stunning but different scenery all the same.

So leading up to this had my last full day cycling in Oregon – great but long day – flat farming land to begin with; quite suburbs while I edged round Portland; busy but with good bike shoulder at Oregon City and finally beautiful rivers, waterfalls and gorges as I headed to Ainsworth State Park.

Following day I might Mike, also travelling East but he is going to Ohio – we have been cycling together on and off for last few days. Over the Bridge of the Gods and into Washington and super fast cycling alongside the River Columbia, before heading North – Mike cheated and hitched a lift over the hardest part of the day – we had been advised that it was narrow, steep, no centre line and it was busy – compared with Scotland’s single track roads it wasn’t narrow and there were no sheep to dodge – tough but good climb at end of big day.

Super descent down to creek and big climb out the other side – if it wasn’t for the dryness it was almost alpine like – fabby short climb – not long after making it to top Mike and I parted company again – he was having mechanical problems and another lift was needed – I carried on to Bickleton and a great and well needed toastie in the cafe and chatted to Selina who suggested where to stay down in the valley tonight. Bickleton is also the Bluebird capital of the state’s and I saw them flying in and out of the many nesting boxes that were along the way.