Wednesday, September 2nd
I am fully aware that I am not in the Midwest any longer. The slopes are longer and steeper than anything I have ever encountered!
I left camp at a decent time and began day two with hopes of putting more miles behind me. Some how I always run into trouble just a few miles after I begin. Today is was a wrong turn that had me again, walking up a very steep hill for .6 of a mile. I've got to get better at reading these maps!
The other lesson that I had a chance to practice today was changing the rear tire on my bike. Twice I had to unload the bike of all my gear and change a flat. By the second time, my speed at fixing the flat had greatly decreased. I might even have enough skill to get a second job at a bike shop after I have finished this journey.
The final 1/3rd of the day found me in flat terrain with little wind, reminding me of cycling the Midwest.
I have decided to keep a running tally of the number of hills I have to walk up vs. the number of times I reach or exceed 25 miles per hour on the down hill. To date: Hills - 2 Tish - 3.
There is something to be said about spending entire days all by yourself. I have been able to clear my head of most stresses and am enjoying mindless wandering. I hope this continues.
Tonight I am staying at a Hostel in Elma, WA. I have a queen size bed with two down pillows and it is costing me only $4 more that the camp ground. Oh, the luxury of it all.
Tomorrow I head into the longest day of the journey, 60 miles. I fall asleep praying that the rains will wait and the hills will flatten.
Thank you to everyone who has posted comments to the blog. Your words are welcomed and heart warming. I am truly grateful for all of your thoughts and prayers.
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Go Tish!!!! I am loving following your journey- keep up the blogging :-)
ReplyDeleteI travel for my other job and end up having a lot of time alone. I am in Albert Lea right now spending some quality time with myself. And it has been a surprise to me- but I LOVE time alone. Enjoy your time with YOU and keep beating those hills!!!
Danica Evans
Hi Tish
ReplyDeletewell it is different then being at FSH huh? We miss you every day and you are in our thoughts and prayers of safety. I guess our lunch talk on changing flat tire is not so far fetched. This has to be sucha life changing experience and I know you can do it..it is Labor day weekend and cool fall like weather so you arent missing much. take care and I hope the seas will part and those moutnains flatten for you- but I doubt they will so keep walking:)
Renee
Happy Trails!
ReplyDeleteEnjoying following your adventure. I'm in AZ with my brother right now. We're climbing a different variety of hills these days. He finished his treatment this morning. I'm celebrating and he's sleeping. Maybe we'll get to celebrate together before I head home on Sunday.
We miss you. Have fun!
Britta
Tishy! So glad you are enjoying the ups and downs of navigation, nature, and scooter. I wish I had your eyes on so I could be with you during the journey. Soak it in and enjoy! I think we might get a bit wet Sat/Sun. Think like a NW'er and pay no attention to the stuff coming out of the sky. All is a go for Newport on the ninth; see you then....:). Thanks for blogging; it is great hearing about your adventure.... Sending lots of good thoughts and love, Suzy
ReplyDeleteTish! I am so delighted to hear you have found a traveling companion...especially one that can help you up those hills. It is, indeed, hard to explain to a Midwesterner what hills are. It is one of those things that you just have to experience for yourself, eh?
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like this is quite an adventure, on many levels. I so enjoy hearing about all that you are experiencing and learning...and so wish that I was there with you (another adventure, perhaps?).
Sending all my love and positive energy and good thoughts.
Happy day and happy trails!
Love, Jess