I have returned the bike safely.

I'm afraid if I had to ride the bike another hour I may have dropped it.
Ok, I stopped it at the indian reservation casino.  as I was maneuvering the bike on a slanted hill I laid it down.  Today the bike  was very very very heavy.  I just could not hold it up.   when I left the casino I still have about 35-40 miles more to ride. I was afraid I wasn't going to make it, as I pulled into the rental place I almost dropped it again.  

however, all is well, I returned it with no damage reported and I am clear and alive.   No, I don't want a big bike.  I liked riding it, but it's to big and too much work.  I'll have to ride with someone who has shopping room on their bike and maybe get a sound system installed.

Thank you for following me.  I've enjoy having you along for the journey.   I was never alone.

Slide show, drinks and dinner on Tuesday Aug 16, at my house.   Everyone welcome. 

My last day.

I have no big plan for today's ride.  Currently in CleElum. Stopping by east nelson siding for a short visit.  Then I'll make my way to Seattle.  Still have a few miles to ride.
Weather is perfect.  I have 1380 miles on the bike.  I want at least 1500 and I did it. 
Attached are pics from my ride to above the lake just a short distance from our old home in Roslyn.

Near the end of my Ride.

Today I rode fast in the mountains....  Very cool day, amazing photos.

It didn't warm up until about 12:30. I was relieved not to have construction today to worry about. 

Tonight I'm in CleElum.  My first stop was at Linnea's spa...  For $20. I got a great treatment and feel like I could tackle the night.

Stopped at the sunset for dinner.  My friend Cindi (the gal I rode with my first de days) is meeting me here after work.  After dinner We'll ride lake CleElum. 

Looks so peaceful

Crossing Stevens Pass.

Stopped for a photo..   sun is starting to come back out and It's a little warmer...

Still early

Only about 55 degrees,  I have 1159 miles on the bike.  Traveling about 30 miles an hour on rt 9. Passing by farms.   Babies everywhere.  

Tuesday morning

today I will heading down rt9 from Mount Vernon to rt 2 across a Stevens pass, have a beer in Leavenworth.  Need a bed and meal in CleElum,  not sure where just yet.   Should be a great ride, It's a little cold this morning but the sun is sunny nice.   Today I'm riding alone.   Looking for Joe!

I am thinkin this is next years bike

Can you see the rainbow?

We hike into the rainforest almost mile to this amazing sight.

In the rainforest...

This was taken this morning as we were waiting for the ferry to port townsend.

Thanks Nockerson!  I had a nice day!

Rainforest

Y babies

Getting warmer.. ;-)

58 degrees and sunny..   happy Debbie

what a great day!  the weather is amazing and I am so excited!

Monday, Aug 1

What a beautiful day today.  yesterday, not so much. It was a bit depressing.  
today I'm riding with steve nickerson from FRC northwest.  headn over to the penninsula.   yesterday when I was there it was cloudy sticky and wet.   but today is going to be amazing.

From yesterday's ride in the north cascade

finally sunshine.

today's temperatures only got in the sixty's ,  I even got a little raindrops on me

this is the nicest it has been all day .  looking forward to a nice early nite. 

Sunday. Oak Harbor

Heading out for the day.

Sunday

Two ferry rides today.   On the second one now out of edmonds heading to Kingston.  Making a stop to see my uncle and hope to ride along hood canal.   Need to be back to port townsend by 645 to catch the ferry back to oak harbor where my dear friend Stay k will have dinner and bed for me.   Great friends are a treasure. 

Casacade ride

The ride started out looking like an amazing ride. all is good until I got to construction, gravel spread out for over 10 miles it was about an hour ride and it was all awful. 

once I got through the gravel, it was absolutely an amazing ride. 

I'm real near whidbey island, so I'm gonna go visit stacy k tonight.  

On the pass had to stop again today for road construction.....

stopped in a cool little town called winthrop.  a flash for the past the wild west days with wooden sidewalks.

rivers in washington are the most spectacular rivers I've ever seen.

this is what it looks like at the beginning of my route across the cascades

Plan for day 4

Good morning started today with a plan to ride back to Cle Elum with my friend Cindi.  as we looked at the map, we noticed that I have to go across the in north cascade mountain range. so after coffee here at starbucks, I'll be going off by myself to complete route 20 over the pass. 

I plan to stop and take pictures where ever I want.   if I have reception I will blog along the way.

okay, have a good day,  until
later 

From day 3

Summary day 3

Looking at the map,  we started in Newport from my dads.  (Where pink meets black).  We travel traveled over two mountain passes (the black line).  There was a lot road work....  Debbie doesn't like gravel and oil on the road way with two tires under her seat.

Weather was perfect...  Started out a little chilly, about 58 degrees.  But it wasn't long and we were wearing little. 

The view, of course was amazing.  not a lot of opportunity to pull over and take pictures.  when I was leading at one point, I stopped and Cindi scolded me.  that was the last time I got to led.

We stopped for the night in Omak. 

Sweet creek falls rest area

beautiful morning

Day 3

Today's game plan, travel washington along route  20

,from yesterday no reception

from yesterday no reception

from yesterday u

Summary of day 2

Had coffee with Al Montgomery in town (Cle Elum).  Had about 30 mins before I met Cindy.  Took a short ride to Peoh Pt. 
Meet up with Cindy and headed east across rt97.  Stop for breakfast at liberty cafe, a high school friend's cafe. 

I wish I could ride and take pictures at the same time.  Some of the best pictures are still in my head. 

We started our ride and it was maybe 60 degrees... (I found the air tempeture gage on the bike later in the day).  We were in the evergreen forest and  beautiful mountain range.  Washington WOW....  I miss this place!  I feel so at home here.

We rode along many rivers and lakes cut out of the mountains with rock hill sides and trees. 

We traveled through the desert with fields of fruits an vegetables irrigated by the rivers. 

After only 320 miles and a nice hot 96 degrees ride  and too many stops to take pictures we called it a night at my dads home here at diamond lake in Newport WA.  He cooked us steaks and mashed potatoes from his garden. 

Not sure where we will travel to today...  There is talk about riding to Missuola Montana and then back to Lewiston I'D For the night.  

I'll keep u posted...     Deb