Past experience has shown that when on a bicycle journey, the morning starts with Plan A, and ends on Plan D.  That is reasonable as one visits new areas. But it should not happen here, on a route that I have ridden several times before. Welcome to my new normal.

I left Skykomish heading to Steven's Pass, only 16 miles away, but most of it uphill.  A 73 mile day awaited. Better to get the hard part out of the way early.

It ended up being grueling, far more difficult than I expected. 50 minutes of riding, then a short break. Another 50 minutes of riding. Then 30 minutes. Then 20. Then 10. I was surprised at how hard my heart was pounding.

Yet, close to noon, I crested the summit. Having not eaten since 7 AM, one would expect a ravenous appetite. Yet food did not interest me. Nor did riding another 57 miles to Wenatchee, but I started downhill  eastbound. Twenty miles later my legs were like mush, but I stopped to eat, even though I had little appetite.

As I hoped, the body felt much better with food in the belly. The remaining 37 miles were unconsequential.

Tomorrow, however, is the hardest ride for quite a while. It is called the Orondo Grade, a 6% grade for 7-8 miles with no flat spots.  If today was exhausting, what will tomorrow morning be like?  Sounds like I need to spend some time in prayer. 

Blesings.

Will McMahan 

Mood:  happy

Today was the first leg of a trip that is projected to end in late August.  The send off became quite different than I expected. I mean, really, who would be interested in a long bicycle trip? Then our church youth director, Sean Lian, asked if it would be okay for him to be at my house when I leave. Next a good friend, Ed Rengli asked to be there also. I was flattered.

Yet when the senior pastor at North Creek Presbyterian Church, asked to attend, and also to say a few words at the Sunday service, I was flabbergasted.

At 9 AM this morning, they showed up, as well as Pastor Kurt Helmcke and Molly Pankow, who does a great job at our church nursery.  After some last minute scrambling to find my new prescription sunglasses, we had prayer, then I started my journey.

One couldn't ask for better weather. Sunny, clear skies. Temperatures anticipated  to reach 80 degrees.   

 My goal for the day was to reach the small town of Skykomish, 52 miles away, and a scant 16 miles from the summit of Steven's Pass.  A nice hotel room awaited me there.

In order to go east from Western Washington, one must cross the Cascade mountain range. Several choices are available, each with advantages and disadvantages. The route with the least traffic was also the steepest and highest.  I did that route in 2008, and I am not sure if had the conditioning to do it again.

Steven's Pass, elevation of 4,300 feet, was a 1,000 feet lower, and lesser grade than the aforementioned route. The downside of this route is that the shoulders are narrow and there is much more traffic, seemingly in a hurry. I have ridden over Steven's Pass twice  (albeit without 50 pounds of gear.) . I didn't recall it being too difficult. Of course, my memory is not what it used to be.

I seemed to have forgotten the miles of two lane road where there was no shoulder at all.  I did remember a bridge or two with no bike lanes, but where did the other 10 bridges come from, with no room for bicycles!  And how long has that narrow tunnel been there!

Each bridge, and the tunnel, presented potential significant danger to a slow bicyclist as speeding inattentive drivers approached.

So what happened to me today? When I came to the beginning of each bridge, suddenly the eastbound lane became empty, with no traffic in sight (other than a ton of westbound cars).  As I got back onto the safe shoulder, eastbound traffic would suddenly appear again. The same thing happened in the tunnel.

For those you rolling your eyes, thinking, "Boy, were you lucky!", I want you to know that luck had nothing to do with it. It was God's Providence that kept me safe. 

 Tomorrow is Steven's Pass.  16 miles of climbing. The first 11.5 miles are a gradual climb. The last 4.5 miles will be tough. The secret is to have good gears, and being patient. I will be happy if I can achieve a steady pedal cadence at 4 miles per hour on the steep portion.  My goal is to leave Skykomish between 7-8 AM, and be at the summit in less than 3 hours.  

 This is Day 1 of a long trip. Let's hope that tomorrow goes well.

God's blessings on you all. 

"Are you serious?  You are going to try to bicycle across the country again?  Will, you are getting too old!  And it's dangerous out there!"  The voice of my brother, Jim, was a pitch higher than normal, an indication that he was truly concerned.  After listening to him, I gave Jim all the reasons why he did not need to worry:  I would watch out for traffic;  I would not travel in dangerous weather or circumstances. 

But in my mind, I was thinking something else entirely.  I was going over the response to the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism:  I am not my own, but belong, body and soul, in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.

Whatever happens on this trip will be in the hands of our Lord.  This summer-long journey is dedicated to Him and His providence.  And that is the way it is supposed to be.  Let the journey begin.