August 15 Crossing America

Elma, WA to Castle Rock, WA distance 80 miles.
Total miles traveled through today 4,240 miles, 3,574 of them on my bike.

Mr Toad atop store with same name. I changed into my riding clothes here.

Started today picking up Joyce, another high school classmate, in downtown Seattle then drove to Elma where I stopped with Denny on August to begin this day’s ride at about 10 AM.  I had only gone about 3 miles when I happened upon a deer fawn, young deer born this
spring, standing on the side of the road in a panic as it was too small to jump an 8’ high chain link fence.  I stopped to take its picture and realized the poor critter was terrified.

Deer Fawn I herded to safety

Thus, I herded it along the road to an opening where it was able to run into the woods safe from being run over by a passing motorist.  Yep, I know I hunt deer but couldn’t see letting this little critter killed.  Consider it a good deed done for this fawn and an unsuspecting motorist.  I’m riding the S-Works today and the first 38 miles was almost pancake flat (Most flat road I’ve ridden since Kansas) allowing me to make a great time.  Joyce proved her worth as a SAG (Support and Gear) driver within the first ten miles as she had decided to drive the route ahead of me.  I was about 6 miles from Oakville when I see Joyce coming toward me and then pull off to the side of the road.  As I rolled to a stop next to her she informed me the road just outside of Oakville was closed to motor vehicle traffic.  However, she had asked the construction crew if I would be able to get through on my bicycle and they said if I could be there before 11:30 I would but after that probably not.  Since I was making good time I told her I’d go for it.  Joyce said she would drive back to the detour and wait for me just in case I wouldn’t be able to get through.  I was duly impressed with Joyce’s decision as it could save me several miles of unnecessary riding if I couldn’t get through.  Full steam ahead, I bumped up my speed to cover the 6 miles and made it in plenty of time.  The road was still clear enough Joyce could have made it through with the mini-van but the road crew foreman wouldn’t allow it as other vehicles would then want to do the same.  Joyce had to detour about 25 miles which would have been a couple hours of extra riding for me.  Yes Sir, I’m very happy with having Joyce as a SAG driver.
Joyce and I met in Rochester at a local café for lunch.  Good food but I was disappointed as their sign said they had “Homemade Pies” but none was to be had today.  Oh well, save my waistline as it has  shrunk about 2 inches since beginning my adventure.  I’ve only lost 15 pounds but my body is rearranging itself nicely.  Anyone want to touch my calves and hams?  They’re solid as a rock.
The pancake flatness of the road disappeared after passing through Centralia when I turned onto the Centralia Alpha road where I had to climb a hill that had from 3-16% in a little over 2 miles.  Translated,
that means I had a very tough climb but I made it to the top without walking, though be it slow going.  Being on my S-Works my knees paid the price for this climb.   Actually the last 42 miles was a succession of hills, with one more hill having a 15% gradient.  Oh to be back on Spirit for this section of the route.
The outstanding beauty of the forested Washington/Oregon border made the riding enjoyable as well as the hills tolerable.  We ended
this day’s ride in Castle Rock.  I made the 80 miles in about six and half hours including breaks.  Not too shabby a time for this Old Guy,
especially since I hadn’t ridden this many miles in one day for a couple weeks.   While loading the S-Works onto the mini-van a couple came up to visit.  They were in Castle Rock to kayak the Cowlitz River their new favorite sport.  Turns out they had been avid bicyclists having crossed America on the Trans-Am route and also had ridden the Pacific Coast from Canada to Mexico.  I got the
distinct feeling the guy was trying to one up my ride.  Before parting he did warm me to be extremely careful riding the Oregon coast as a logging truck ran over and killed a friend of theirs, an 81 year old who was a seasoned touring rider, last week.  The guy said when he and his wife rode through Oregon the logging truck drivers frequently roared past by mere inches, even took a picture of one truck which passed his wife within six inches.  His opinion the drivers feel like they own the road and don’t much care for the intrusion of bicyclists.  Here I was under the impression Oregon was a very bicycle friendly state?
Joyce and I decided we’d drive the route I’d be riding tomorrow instead of going the fastest way to Astoria.  The drive certainly
offered fantastic views including a great view of Mt. Saint Helens, which is still covered mostly covered with snow even in August, from one mountain top.  Told Joyce,  had tostop tomorrow to get a picture as it was too late for a good picture today.  We arrived at Cathlamet within minutes of the next ferry crossing of the Columbia River from Washington into Oregon.  If we had been five minutes later we would have had to wait over an hour for the next one, good Karma is still on my side.  The final 28 mile ride from Westport to Astoria was along US Highway 30 and had many hills.  No doubt I’d be back on Spirit for tomorrow’s ride from Astoria back to Castle Rock.

Joyce and me ferry ride across Columbia River

Astoria sits at the mouth of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean.  A light breeze brought the tranquil aroma of the sea and its comforting fragrance to our nose.  I remember reading Joyce’s book “Smiling at the World” how much she loves being near oceans breathing in the fresh sea air and swimming in the salty waves as they swoosh onto the land.  It is a joy to have her join me on this part of my adventure with her positive view of the world.  Yes, I’d say Joyce is refreshing to the soul.
This night we are stayed at the Norblad Hotel and Hostel in downtown Astoria.  Joyce opted for a private room with its own shower, while I stayed in the dorm with shared bathroom and shower.  This is now the fourth hostel I’ve stayed and yet again pleased with the accommodations at a modest price my meager budget can afford.  I was the only person on the male side of the  dorm, so I sort of had a private room with 4 bunk beds.  We asked the night manager where to go for a good meal at a reasonable price and
she directed us to the Merry Time Bar and Grill.  Good choice as they had a great Halibut basket for under $14.00.  As good as the food was meeting the two gals sitting next to us, Darcy and Cathy, as they were
a hoot.  The girls were from Longview, Oregon about 40 miles east of Astoria and were in town to have dinner in celebration of Cathy’s 50^th birthday.  We learned Darcy had won the “Ugliest Bartender” award in Washington State one year.  This is an award not as the name implies but it goes to the bar tending gal who raises the most money for Multiple Sclerosis by the NMSS, quite an honor and  accomplishment.   We also learned Cathy had had three brain  surgeries due to an accident when she was 45 and a miracle she survived.  Both gals had a fantastic outlook on life and believe in living it to the fullest.  They made Joyce and my night.  Especially considering as we paid our check upon leaving the Merry Time there was a young man sitting at the bar probably in his early 30s who had a terrible outlook on life.  He considered himself doomed to a dull and uneventful life where all he has to look forward to is work and death.  We both wanted to shake him into reality and say, “Young man you have Stinkin’ thinkin’. You have your destiny in your hands
you can change your life.  Just do it

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