This ride has kept me much busier than I expected. I’m up at 4:45 am, on the road by 6:30. I ride for about 10 hours. Then by the time I set up my tent, shower, eat and take care of my wounds, its time for bed. I have much less time to get out e-mail and other activities than I thought I would. It is now day 10, and I’m just getting around to writing this.

By about day 7, I could feel my legs get stronger. I was able to keep up my speed to an average of 10mph while climbing the gentle grade along the Clearwater River. Day 8 had us going 92 miles, and I was able to push to 12 mph average even though the grade increased.

One hot afternoon as I was recovering from the heat and strenuous riding at rest stop 3. (We have three rest stops each day where we can rest, stock up on water and eat some snacks), these young hot-shots come riding in. One said to the other, "Man that was great, we were averaging 20mph . . .". They talked of other things for a few minutes, then one said. "Lets go do some more 20". Boy, I hope that I can get strong enough that I can go do me some 20.

This ride has been taking its toll on people. Day 1, we rode through Snoquamie pass, the temperature dropped to the 40’s with rain sleet and wind. A number of people suffered from hypothermia. One woman had to go to the hospital, but was back in the ride the next day. Day 2, we started getting more heat, and everyday since, we have had people with dehydration. Again, some of the dehydration was severe enough to send a few people to the hospital. There has been a lot of physical stress problems with knees in particular, and some tenonitus in the heal. A lot of people didn’t take training and preparation very seriously.

I have been able to avoid the above health problems, but on Day 2, near the end of the ride, I was coming down a hill into Yakima. I was going about 25mph when my front tire gave out. I lost control of my bike. My skin brought me to an abrupt halt. That skin stops you pretty fast, but it’s only good once, then you have to grow some more. So I’m busy growing skin on both my knees, the back of one thigh, one elbow and on the end of one of my thumbs. I ended up going to the hospital emergency room that day to make sure the wound on my elbow was clean since they were worried about infection. The cost of antibiotics alone was more than a set of brakes, so I am now using my brakes more.

Have you ever tried camping, setting up you tent daily, and crawling about when you can’t sit, can’t kneel, and can’t lean on your elbows.