Saturday, September 8, 2012

Day 5 – Twisp River

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I took it easy today. Instead of starting the ride at our inn, I drove to Twisp and began there. This cut out 20 miles. I got some teasing for doing this, but I needed a shorter ride to rest my legs.

Today’s ride was an out-and-back along the Twisp River. I rode out with Gary (we had on our matching Valley Spokesmen jerseys) and back with Gary and Jon. The temperature going out was nice and cool. It was warmer coming back but it was downhill so it didn’t matter. We started out riding past farmland and eventually through wooded Forest Service land. The turnaround was where the pavement ended. The three of us hammered going back because it was mostly downhill.

Several of us had lunch in Twisp at the Twisp River Pub. I had fish tacos and a forgettable IPA.

I lazed around the rest of the afternoon. I made a trip into Winthrop to get a coffee malt. While there, I watched a parade of vintage cars.It was an old fogies weekend in the Methow Valley.

Terry hosted our Happy Hour at her house. It was a nice informal atmosphere for our last night together. I met Tessa her English Lab and Samantha, a Lab mix who is spending several days with her. It’s comforting that this small community cares for and looks after its friends.

Leona, Gary, Loren, Chris, Linda, Terry, Michael and I shared pizza and mud pies at the East 20 Pizza restaurant. It was a really fun evening.

Here is today’s ride:

Friday, September 7, 2012

Day 4 – Andrews Crick (Creek) Out And Back

This might be my shortest blog ever.

We had a beautiful ride along the Chewuch River through valleys and forests out to Andrews Creek where the road ended. The weather was perfect – cool on the way up and warm on the way down. I rode most of the ride with Terry, Linda, Gary and Jon.

Back in town, I had a chocolate malt at the popular ice cream stand. I had a veggie sandwich to compensate for all of the evil things in my shake.

Dinner was at the Sun Mountain Lodge. I had risotto with fresh vegetables.

Here is today’s ride:

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Day 3 – Washington Pass

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This was our epic ride day. We rode to the summit of Washington Pass. Then we turned around and rode back. A lot of our group started in Mazama which cut 28 miles from the ride. I, of course,  started at the inn. No 28 miles will stop me even if the temperature is in the 80s.

It was a nice ride, though. The weather was mostly cool. It heated up as I got nearer to Winthrop on the way back. The pass is as spectacular as ever. It’s one of my favorites. I stopped a couple of times on the way up for snacks. The last stop was where Terry was camped out at Lone Fir campground. She had cookies for us. The peanut butter  helped push me to the top.

At the summit, I walked out to the observation area. That’s where my photo was taken by a Canadian with my iPhone. After the appropriate amount of time there, I got on my bicycle and screamed down the road to the campground where Terry had sandwiches and more cookies waiting for us. This was around 1:00.

After eating and resting, I coasted back down the hill and pedaled back to Winthrop. It was still nice and cool in the trees. But when the trees disappeared near Mazama, it heated up.

I had visions of stopping at the Old Schoolhouse for a pint when I reached Winthrop, but I was too tired. So I went directly to our inn.

At Happy Hour, Terry invited the woman who owns the local bicycle shop. She was very friendly and knowledgeable and answered all of our questions about bicycles and components. Apparently her shop is very well-known with people from both Eastern and Western Washington using it.

As on my ride today, I was a solo at dinner at Three Fingered Jacks. I had pasta and porter.

Here is today’s ride:

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Twisp-Carlton Semi Loop

I was going to write something clever about today’s ride but it is too late, I am tired and it is bed time. So here is a recap:

I left Winthrop sometime after 9:00 and rode down the East County Road, past the smoke jumper headquarters and then on to Twisp. The weather was warming up already. I passed a few of our group along the way. I saw several dead deer on the side of the road.

At Twisp, I turned onto the Twisp Carlton Road and pedaled onward until I reached the end. I met most of our group there. We took a group photo. My camera was back at Lake Wenatchee so I have no shots to show.

This was the turnaround spot. I teamed up with Terry, Loren and Chris. We headed up the main road, took a turn at Lower Beaver Creek, had a screaming downhill on Hwy 20 and finally arrived back at Twisp for lunch. I recommend Cinnamon Twisp for a meal. It has wonderful milkshakes, sandwiches and cinnamon rolls.

After lunch I rode solo back on East County Rd to our lodge.

Our Social Hour was at a BAC member’s house in the hills above Winthrop. It was a real challenge to find, but we eventually got there and had a very good time socializing and looking at the killer view.

I had dinner at the Old Schoolhouse again. This time I was joined by Jon, Cindy and Michael. My yummy IPA was accompanied by a wrangler burger and salad.

Here is the details of today’s ride:

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Lost River

We left the Mazama store after lunch. It was around noon.  Because the light on the road was flat, I almost missed it. But at the last moment I saw the trail of blood. It was on the shoulder of Highway 20 next to the guardrail near the ranch of one on Terry’s friends. It was a thin trial, no wider than a bicycle tread. It extended for 10 feet. When we reached the end we expected to see the bear lying dead at the side of the road. Being a perfect day, we were glad that it was gone. Probably butchered and in one of the local’s freezer. That was the excitement from today’s ride in the Methow Valley.

I left our hotel shortly after 9:00. Some other riders were also getting ready to ride. I followed a tandem out of our parking lot and through downtown Winthrop until I felt confident that I could find my way by myself. I accelerated past my new friends and pedaled up Highway 20 and turned on Goat Creek Rd. At the Mazama store, the road became Lost River Rd. I continued along this road past Beyond Lost until the road turned to dirt. Then I turned around and retraced my route.

I stopped at the Mazama Store for a sandwich, chips and iced coffee. It was here that I met up with Terry our ride leader and long-time resident of Winthrop. And it was just past here that we looked for the bear that was road kill from the day before.

Terry and I road back to Winthrop together. She is a superb source of local history. This is partly because she has created some of its history. She is defiantly a town leader, and icon of the Methow Valley.

When we reach the outskirts of Winthrop, we stopped at the excellent local bicycle shop. Terry introduced me to the staff and all of the people who walked in. I was looking to a route sheet clip that I forgot to bring with me. They didn’t have one so I am going to improvise tomorrow.

I got back to the Chewuch Inn around 1:30. After cleaning up, I lounged for a while then walked into town for ice cream. The next time I go there, I will order only one scoop. My double scoop of home made coffee and pumpkin was too large, even after a good day’s ride.

I had fish and chips with a good IPA at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery tonight. It was a good dinner.

Here is today’s ride: