More Photos

One by one folks opted out of this year's tune up for Joseph. Linda chose to go to Spokane to see Ryan and Kim. McCracken was off riding PAGE (where're your pictures, Jim?) Jim and Wanda had stayed in Dayton to engage in whatever rites are common in the Touchet Valley. I feared it would be only Mike and I for these three hills.

But I was wrong. I arrived at the boat launch early only to find a number of cyclists gathered. The crazy ladies were starting early. I think I recognized Ellen and Marsha. I missed the other two. They opted to go somewhere else though. We didn't see them on the Spiral Highway but waiting at the Asotin Grocery before starting up Anatone, we spotted them cruising north. Guess they weren't crazy enough to do three summits today.

Dave Tibbals and Chris Wendt had beaten me to the boat launch. Doug Goodenough rolled up soon with a friend, Scott, on a double crank with downtube shifters. Chris was excited and then he noticed Scott was using cleats. Not a purist.

Mike and Nicky showed up without the tandem and then Debbie.

We stopped to walk the bikes across the tracks at Hahn Supply. They have become treacherous and probably should be walked. I spoke with some workers this morning who turned out to be working on the tracks out to PFI. They told me the Hahn tracks were scheduled for repair sometime this fall. They didn't seem to confident it would be any day though. The Spiral Highway was pefect in the cool of the morning.

Nicky and Debbie left us after lunch at the Asotin Market.

That cool weather became pretty warm as we climbed Cloverland. I rememberd this hill as pretty tough at the first couple of miles but today I struggled all the way up.

Everyone was waiting patiently at the top. Good thing I had my camera. I needed some pictures for the Favorite Rides page I've created. I don't know whether the pictures or fatigue motivated my stopping, but I was glad I had stopped.

Everyone complained about the seal coat on most of the corners. Mike had to "cruise" down.

Couldn't manage to stop enough climbing Anatone either. We were protected from the breeze as we climbed but not from the sun. Though the temps were probably no more than 80, we were plenty warm.

I peeled off at 22nd not happy about the hill but more than happy to be near the end of my ride for the day. I think I'll be fit enough for Joseph but I've got a feeling those lost 40 miles had better not be into a head wind.

The forecast looks good for the weekend with 80 degrees forecast as a high in Enterprise on Saturday. Nicky asks everyone to wear a club jersey on Saturday. I told her mine doesn't fit. She's offering to help by baking cookies to keep up my strength on the way to Anatone.

Don't let me down, Nick.