August 3, 2009 - Loup Loup Loopy

Loup Loup PassLoup Loup Pass 2Loup Loup Pass 3Loup Loup Pass 4Loup Loup Pass 5 Aug. 3, 2009 Saturday, Sunday, and Monday --- Aug 1 – 3rd

Today is Monday, August 3rd. I don’t always have time to write every day depending on what is going on and how bad the ride is beating me up. I’m trying to catch up a little now. I am primarily traveling through Washington on highway 20 and I will try and get to Republic tomorrow. That is 65 to 70 miles and I will have to go over a pretty big steep pass (Wauconda Pass) to get there. I will try and get somewhere near Kettle Falls by Wednesday night but I will have to cross another steep pass (Sherman Pass) for that also. I’ll give it my best shot and see how it goes. I’ll either ride up or walk up but I will get up. After that I won’t be in quite as steep country for awhile so maybe I can survive a little better. For people wanting to know my route I have the following: I will travel on Highway 20 through Washington till I get to Sandpoint Idaho and then I will basically get on Highway 2 and travel across most of the US till I get to Michigan. I will have to sort some things out in Michigan to get over to Buffalo and up to Bar Harbor, Maine then up to Presque Isle, Maine.

Now for the last 3 days: It was my goal Saturday to get to Okanogan, Wash. and then go to church the next day if possible. I started riding from Mazuma to Winthrop and got to Twisp, Washington (about 19 miles or so). It was very hot and about 2:00 in the afternoon when I got to Twisp, WA because I stopped in Winthrop to fix my bike. The temp was over 100 and I was roasting. I was pretty trashed from the previous climbs up two big passes with climbs of 4500 feet and then back down and back up again to 5500 ft. I decided to rest in a small Mexican Restaurant in Twisp. They were kind enough to let me in the back of their place to hang out. I ate dinner and then left there about 7 pm. It was much cooler but the sun was going down and there was a strong wind blowing down the canyon I had to ride up now. Anyway, I started climbing. I was just too whooped to make good progress. I got to Loup Loup pass at 11:00 pm. A nice family stopped to offer me a ride up the mountain, but that would kind of defeat the purpose of my trip so I said no. I regretted it immediately as I climbed the next 5 miles up the canyon. Anyway, I finally made it to the top. About 4020 feet or so I think and about 12 to 13 miles up the canyon from Twisp. I had planned to ride into Okanogan, but it was dark and I was trashed so I rode about 200 ft down a logging road and threw my sleeping bag on the ground and gave myself a “Baby Wipe” bath and went to bed.

Got up the next morning about 5 AM and took a few photos (see accompanying photos) and rode about 24 miles into Okanogan on Sunday morning. They had a nice shower facility in the American Legion Park where I got cleaned up. 50 cents for the shower. I expected it to last about 5 seconds for 50 cents but it was warm and lasted long enough to wash me good and wash all my clothes. I hang them on my bike for a clothes line. A man told me there was an LDS chapel in Omak about 8 more miles. I rode there as fast as I could go and got to the meeting about 5 minutes late but just in time for the sacrament song. As I walked into church, everyone looked at me like I was some kind of weirdo. What’s wrong with them anyway? You never saw a man come into church wearing leotards, biking shorts, and a mesh biking shirt going click, click, click with his snap-in clicker bike shoes? I’m sure the women were watching me because I was handsome and the men were watching me because they were jealous. MAYBE – YA THAT’S IT – JEALOUSY.

Anyway, I felt a little stupid in church with my biking outfit on, but that’s all I have and I just can’t pack anymore gear. The service was good, and it was refreshing to go there and hear some good things. I rode about 32 miles to church on my bike to get to church that day. Next time I drive to church in 10 minutes I’ll make sure to not complain about the long ride there. At the end of the church service, I asked the men to give me a blessing because I have been pretty sick lately and they were glad to do it. I thanked them for that.

After church, I found a nice little hotel for $50 a night. Not fancy, but clean, nice bed, fridge, warm shower and an air-conditioning unit that works. Perfect for me. I called back to Dr. Mumford and he called in a prescription for me to see if it will help me get over this sickness. I picked that up and started taking a Z-Pack.

Monday – I decided to stay one more day (Monday Night) to rest up and try and get over this illness I have. I am feeling better today. I rode my bike back to Okanogan to do some minor repairs. The bike shop there was pretty helpful but I wished I didn’t have to ride 16 miles round trip to visit him.

Anyway, I am more prepared to go ride again tomorrow. I got a flat today, 1st one, probably won’t be my last one. I will go to bed soon. I will try and get up and get on the road at 5 am tomorrow to see if I can get to Republic by the end of the day (around 65 to 70 miles). Thanks to everyone for their words of support. Later, Dan