Would you buy a used bike from this Man?
Or would you join a ride he leads? Sean was disappointed to find only myself and Debbie and Carol joining him for the ride today. I was disappointed but not surprised. The Crazy Ladies burned themselves out on an epic birthday celebration ride on Friday. You'll get a chance to read about it if Leanne gets around to blogging it soon.
Anyway with Nicky and Mike out of town I already knew we wouldn't get a repeat of last summer's 25+ riders. Sean is a hearty individual though. He wants to make this ride a monthly event. We already have it on the calendar twice for this month.
From the boat launch to Unitontown works out to about 20 miles. Yes, I know, the grade is in there, but you live in this valley. You've got to get out of it somehow.
Sean made Carol and Debbie rie ahead while he and I waited in case someone else should arrive. Sherry pulled up shouting, "Wait for me." So Sean was right. I hate it when that happens.
The three of us headed off in pursuit of Debbie and Carol. Before we caught them though, Wendy and Dave arrived having parked in Pullman and biked down. Dave badly wanted to stop and wait at Sage Bakery but Wendy made him ride to meet us. He was plenty peeved that we were so slow that he had to climb almost all of the grade. Tough, Dave.
In UnionTown Chris joined us so the club was well represented at the table.
Chris makes his obligatory Cameo appearance.
Dave ordered only a huge thick slice of white cake with tangy lemong frosting which he ate with much satisfaction while the rest of us waited for sandwhiches and soup.
Sean had left his pickup in Colton and needed to get to work so he left a bit early. Chris and I rode back to Pullman with Dave and Wendy enjoying a sweet tailwind.
I had to decide between Wawawai and Kendrick. I planned on a west wind and didn't fancy graduation traffic on the Troy-Moscow highway so I headed toward Wawawaii. Today was the day for a ride I guess. A WAZU cyclists passed me as I struggled against a head wind. Then as I descended the canyon I saw two mountain bikes, a single road bike and three road bikes.
On the river I found I was facing a headwind until Steptoe Canyon. By now it was 4 and the predicted west wind arrived. 20 mph all the way back to town. Very nice. I figured to go up 13th but there was Linda at Roosters so I went up Evans with her and ended up with 102 miles.
Linda had done the Lewiston Loop and was finishing 40 miles. She had encountered a pair of hikers and as usual struck up a conversation. She invited them to spend the night. They call their tour Packs/Paddles/and Pedals. In consists of hiking from the Washington Coast through Montana, paddling the length of the Missouri and riding their Tandem to Monticello.
Dennis
Geri
Steve will be sorry he missed them. They do tandem touring, mt. climbing, and running. Retired, they find lots of time for their obsessions.
As I write, it rains. I hope it finishes before tomorrow's Palouse ride.
For the ride of it.
