Five passes in two days

In the past two days, I have ridden about 200 miles and over five mountain passes. That's right, five. Who would've thought that that girl two months ago who could barely ride 40 miles would be riding over multiple passes a day-- without walking? 

Thursday, July 10 (Day 55)

Distance: 92.5 miles

Average speed: 10.4 mph

Max: 36.9 mph

Total: 3106 miles

Weather: 90s, mostly cloudy, 10 mph headwind 

Something about being in a big city (population 10,000, far too much) had a bad effect on me and I slept poorly, dreaming (nightmaring?) of my bike being stolen.

I began the day knowing I had three passes ahead of me, an elevation profile that included this:

About 20 miles into the ride, a woman stopped me on the side of the road and introduced herself as Brenda. She said she didn't usually stop people, but I reminded her of her 23-year-old daughter. She gave me phone numbers and addresses and her leftover breakfast!

I was riding through pretty dry but very fragrant forest, and enjoyed it immensely, in spite of the climbs.

On a climb, no sign can make me happier than this one:

For all my efforts, I was rewarded with this lovely view.

I stopped for the night at a bike inn, by donation, where seven other cyclists were also staying for the night. There was a couple also headed west and a group of five Christian "pilgrims". They didn't actually call themselves pilgrims, but that's essentially what they are: they ride their bicycles maybe 40 miles a day, for years on end, with no final destination. They said they wanted to give their lives to god, spread his word, and live simply, and they carried all they own. 

They were incredibly nice and interesting, and gave me some of their dinner. There were three women, and they wore long sleeved shirts and floor length skirts, and even rode their bicycles in them. All of them seemed to try to use the word "blessing" in every sentence. 

I got an address to send them a letter, and one of the men told me to ask the hardest questions I can think of. He told me he hadn't finished high school, but he was fluent in Hebrew and Greek and had studied the scriptures in both languages.

Friday, July 11 (Day 56)

Distance: 104 miles

Average speed: 10.4 mph

Max: 31.4 mph

Total: 3210 miles

Weather: partly cloudy, 90s?, 10 mph headwind

About 20 miles into my ride, the couple from the bike inn caught up to me, as well as another couple who had been a little further away. I went on ahead of all of them though, as I had already eaten.

After that, I didn't see the first couple (on the left) any more, which was too bad because they are both really nice. But I did see some pretty breathtaking views, and went over a long pass, which are the good kind because they aren't too steep.

Everything dried up again and I was in short, sparse tree forest.

It was around now that I saw a touring family, maybe 6 people? The parents waved and the dad called out to me "you go girl!", while the children sullenly pedaled on.

I stopped for a break in a tiny town of population 100, where the second couple caught up to me. They had no intention of continuing, knowing the pass coming up would be pretty brutal and another 50 miles to the next campground, and the wind had started to pick up. 

I asked around, sat there for a while, and then decided to go for it.

It was indeed brutal. I fought hard, stopping often and then setting small goals for myself: just another quarter mile, now another half mile, and now there's only only six miles to the summit...

There was a stark change in forest once I crossed over the summit, and the trees were suddenly massively tall and gorgeous.

My knees are protesting the hard work once again, and I feel I would be able to sleep for days!

I'm staying at a campground with a section exclusively for hikers and bikers, which is fantastic! Only $5, with showers and a picnic table.