August 8 Crossing America

Port Townsend, WA – Port Angeles, WA, distance 50 miles I rode 48. Total distance traveled through today 3,994, on my bike 3,328.
Today is the first day I’ve had to ride self-contained, that is carrying all the gear I need for the next week on my bike.   I calculated 70 lbs of gear and I didn’t even bring any food or cooking equipment decided it was more important to have my laptop computer with me in order to keep my journal close to current.   The first half hour was slow going as I had to make adjustments to panniers, handlebar and saddle to be most comfortable.  Riding with 70 extra pounds of gear is a whole new ball game as the bike handles much slower and if you begin to wobble as I have a tendency to do going up hills it can be quite a chore to get the bike back under control and in a straight line.
After about six hours on the bike I was feeling more in control, barely.
State road 20 heading west from Port Townsend was two lanes with a narrow shoulder much of the way with a fair amount of hill climbing and curves.  Of course I rode it during the heaviest traffic time of the day as an added challenge.   I managed to keep Spirit under control though my stress level was pushed to a new high.  Guess I’m still a little fearful of being squeezed off the road especially by motorhomes and 18 wheelers which there were many of today.  It was particularly scary when the guard rails came in very close to the while line while climbing a hill and being passed by an 18 wheeler whose draft would pull me farther out onto the roadway as it passed causing me great concern of being struck by a trailing 18 wheeler.  Once I reached US 101 there was a wide shoulder and I felt much safer even though the
traffic was traveling at a higher rate of speed.  About noon I arrived in Blyn and decided to take a lunch break.  An elderly local gentleman and I struck up a conversation over lunch.  He told me the Olympic Discovery Trail, a pedestrian/bicycle trail, had been  extended into Blyn.  My Adventure Cycling map showed it to be 7 ½
miles further along the road beginning in Sequim.  This was great news to hear and I was able to ride this trail all the way to Port Angeles without fear of being run over by motor vehicle.  I did find the trail to be slower going and extremely lacking in signage which caused me some confusion each time I came to a street crossing.
However, I gladly accepted this trade-off to the stress of riding on a
busy highway.
Just outside of Port Angeles I decided to read over the directions to Denny and Nancy’s home.  Denny and I went to CLCHS our freshmen year then his family moved to the L.A. area of California.  My first memorable road trip was driving out to California with Dale and John during Christmas break our Senior year.  While there we visited with Denny and did the tourist thing going to Disneyland, Knox Berry Farm and even tried to get into Tijuana, Mexico but were kept from doing so by the Border Patrol.  That’s 47 years since last seeing Denny and I was totally surprised when he learned of my adventure and offered to have me stay with him and Nancy for a couple days and even shuttle for me another couple days, in order for me to not have to travel carrying all my gear.  It just amazes me how helpful, kind and generous folks have been in making my dream ride across America a success.  I love it.
Back to my checking Denny’s directions to get to his home in Port Angeles on my iPhone and the klutz I am using this gadgetry phone.
As I was scrolling down reading the direction I clicked the trash button by mistake.  Then when I tried to retrieve the message I again clicked onto the trash button and the message was gone from my phone.  Idiot me!   At this time I’m getting frustrated with myself for not being able to use my iPhone when a lady drove up to the intersection where I was stopped and I took this opportunity to meet a new friend, Chris is her name.  With what aI remembered from Denny’s directions she was able to get me going in the right direction.  We visited a little while about my journey and that I was about to stay with a long ago friend.  Before leaving Chris gave me her phone number and told me if I had any difficulty connecting with my friend to call her and they would come and get me and help me out.  I love our Country and the folks who make it great, have aI said that before?  When I reached Port Angeles proper it was about the time Denny told me he’d be home from works so I phoned him for directions again.  Besides I  was climbing a hill from the waterfront and needed a break on the way up this steep hill.  This time I memorized directions as Denny gave them to me as well as having him resend them to my phone.   Denny offered to come and get me as I was only about 4 miles from his home.  I declined the offer  mentioning that I wasn’t going to let this hill beat me.  After  disconnecting I thought to myself maybe I should have accepted the
ride but I thought it’s only another 4 miles to go.  Yep, I sure made a mistake not accepting Denny’s offer for a ride.  One of the roads Denny told me I’d be riding is Mt. Angeles. Dah!  Mt. Angeles doesn’t that not conjur up an image of going up hill?  It sure was up, by the time I’d gone two miles I was riding at 2.8 mph which meant it would
take me nearly another hour to make it to Denny’s home.  Thus I  stopped at the Olympic National Park Headquarters and phoned Denny again.  I asked him if it was all up hill to his place from here and he said “Its a gradual climb”.  I laughed and asked if he’d be
so kind as to come and pick me up which he did.
Arriving at Denny’s home I was dazzled.  Denny designed his home and then had an architect fine tune the design and built it.  The home is a two story style ranch with lots of wide open space, vaulted ceiling in the main living room with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the
Strait of Juan de Fuca, a major channel freight and cruise ships use traveling to Seattle.  Denny has a sighting scope lined up on the strait and I was able to see a freighter making its way through the strait.  The home also sits on the hillside backed up to a lush mature rainforest.  What an ideal home and setting, don’t think I’d ever leave the place if it were mine.
While waiting for Nancy to arrive home from work Denny and I visited at length about our lives since CLCHS.  He has done well,
married his high school sweetheart Nancy and about to celebrate their 43^rd anniversary and raised two wonderful kids who have blessed them with grandbabies to love.  Denny has to get up at three in the morning to get ready for work and I was bushed from climbing
hills most of the day so we called it a day about 8:30.
This has been a very good day.  Touring the westcoast is going to be as much fun as I thought it would be.  Reconnecting with old friends makes it even more special.  I can hardly wait for each new day brings new adventures and friends.

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