This was the big day over Rainy and Washington Passes. The climb started right away but then eased up for a while. Now that I was past the hydro-electric stuff the scenery was much more beautiful.
It was a long slow climb. It never looked steep, but all I could manage was about 4 mph. One of these days I will get smart and learn to not carry so much. I found my self stopping to cool off about every 15 minutes for the last couple of miles.
This sign gave me hope although it didn't feel that easy to me.
One happy bike tourist at the top of Washington Pass. This wasn't the highest pass I had to do on this trip, but I had made it over the Cascades, with a long downhill ahead of me.
Quite spectacular. Things changed immediately once over the top. The woods changed to the much drier pine forests typical of Eastern Washington, and it got much hotter.
It was a long way down but eventually got to the little oasis of Mazama. There was a very modern store with really good food and just about everything else. I hung out for quite a while alternating from the shade of their patio to the cool of their air conditioned store.
At the base of the mountains, at the start of the Methow Valley, is a little town called Mazama, which has a wonderful store which was like an oasis as it was now quite hot. The make and sell a lot of great food including these energy balls which powered me over the next three passes that were yet to come.
It was less than 10 miles from Mazama to Barn Bicycle Camping. I was surprised to find I was the only one there. What a great place! Greg and Jan thought of everything. A solar shower, with gas assisted backup, a composting toilet, a refrigerator, and wi-fi. Interestingly I was also in AT&T range for the first time in a few days. It might have been perfect were it not for the heat. As it was I did not sleep well. I set my alarm for 5 but it felt like I had just gotten to sleep. I still managed to be on the road by 6:15. In the cool of the morning the Methow valley was quite lovely.
Night three was at Barn Bicycle Camping. A great place with a solar shower, good water, a little shade, and wi-fi. Check them out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BarnBicycleCamping . Here I am with with Jan Gregg who, along with her husband, provide this great service for cycle tourists.