Kennewick to La Grande

I promised pictures below, but can't send them due to poor reception. I'll try later. Sorry about that, computer connection situation is very frustrating.

JULY 6: Today was a rest day. Breakfast was at 8:30 a.m. so we got to sleep in. We were up by 7, though, and woke up with a swim in the Columbia River. Very cold, but very refreshing. At 10:30 the Kennewick church hosted a celebration service in the park, with members from other CRC churches within an 80 km radius also attending. Lunch was served by the churches, and in the afternoon we had our choice of activities, from water skiing to hiking to floating down the Yakima River to backyard pools. You can tell by the picture which one we chose. Being in a home gave us a chance to do laundry for free (!), and it was very relaxing. A zip line was also available, and Diane managed to make her way down without screaming and waking the neighbours. We’re back at the park now, waiting for supper (leftovers from the week past), and after that just hanging around.

Everyone is eager to begin cycling again. The weather continues to be sunny and very warm and there is no change in the forecast for the immediate future. Tomorrow we will be crossing the state line into Oregon. Brother John, you asked about my leg muscle pain. A drop of the saddle by half an inch must have been the trick, because I feel great. The week ahead will again not be all that long, but it’s all working up to longer weeks ahead.

JULY 7: On the road again! Just over 100 kms today, the first half into a strong headwind, and the second half over rolling terrain with lots of hills at just over 100 degrees F. We’re currently at a middle school in Pendleton, OR. Supper is over, and all around people are napping as we wait for our nightly peloton meeting. Basically, it’s a meeting attended by all cyclists, led by the head chaplain, Len Riemersma, in which we hear reports of the day’s trip, and statistics such as the day's number of flat tires and falls are announced. The route for the next day is also described, and we already know we will be climbing over 3000 feet in the space of about 10 miles in hot, hot weather. I confess, I can’t do all that in one shot. My regular cycling partner, Wiebo Maarhuis, and I have an agreement that on the really steep ascents we do 1 km. at a time and then rest for about one minute before doing another km. We are also on the sweep team today, which means we had to help the cooks tonight and tomorrow, pack up the gear truck, and be the last to leave, making sure everyone arrives safely at our next destination. OK, time to go, I’ve been called to the peloton meeting. After that, small group meeting and an early bedtime, I think……

The day’s statistics (I meant to start this from the beginning but forgot):

Distance: 116.66 kms
Average speed: 19.7 kph
Maximum speed: 53.6 kph
Time in saddle: 5.55.09

JULY 8: What a long day. I was on sweep team today, which means you have to make sure all the stragglers and strugglers get in OK. Our team left at 8:30 a.m., following clean up after breakfast and loading the gear truck. Three of us stayed with the slower two persons to the bitter end and finally arrived in camp at 5:17 p.m. There was a lot of climbing today, just over 3000 feet in a 16 km. span, and then another shorter climb. The two slowest persons have hybrid bikes rather than road bikes, making it even more difficult for them. But we had fun all the same. Half way to our destination, in the middle of nowhere, was a small general store, where we stopped for a cold beer. Boy, was it good, especially in the continuing heat we’re having. The couple running the store were a real hoot. When asked what the main industry was out there, the man replied: “growing pot.” He was kidding. When one of the cyclist was trying to turn on the light in the toilet, the lady of the store hollered that the light was the clapping kind, you clap your hands hard and the light goes on. In fact, the switch was on the outside of the restroom, and while the poor guy clapped loudly and often, she quietly turned on the switch. Same thing when turning the light off. No matter how often he clapped, nothing happened till the lady said “got to clap harder” which is when she turned off the switch. We had a good laugh at the cyclist’s expense.

As you can tell from the pictures, I hope, the country was big and beautiful for the first half, and heavily wooded the second half. The last 15 kms or so were all downhill, and I’d be hard pressed to tell you how good that feels after all that climbing.
Supper was good again, chicken and potatoes and vegetables and salad. The cooks are doing a great job feeding 170 people every day, and they work hard.

One accident today, fortunately nothing serious. Ed Witvoet’s (tour organizer and logistics guy) wife backed their trailer into a ditch and had to be pulled out with a tow truck. No injuries and all was well.

We are currently in a park in La Grande, OR, right by a huge swimming pool. Because the satellite is not working well most of the time, I’m in the local library, a beautiful, air conditioned place full at the moment of cyclists trying to blog, like me.

I hope to update you again in a day or so. Our love to our children and grandchildren – hope you’re hanging in there Janine! - and siblings and parents and church family and everyone else too.

Statistics for the day:

Distance: 93.3 kms
Average speed: 15 kph
Maximum speed: 66.2
Time in saddle: 5.55.42