Where's Joe?
Oregon, Washington, Idaho
Stage 2 of the Journey: April 28 - May 22
Oregon
mile 823 to mile 1,431
April 28
This day was the most difficult riding day so far. A bit over 77 miles from Canby, CA to Klamath Falls, OR. Rain, sleet and a headwind. Turns out that the cowboy mentioned in yesterday's post was in a couple of hundred movie and TV shows as well as his regular cowboyin' duties. I'm sure both Joe and Cliff will have much to say about him in their comments. Well, California was fun.
April 29
A Rest and Recuperation Day in Klamath Falls. Joe and Cliff are nearing the first 1,000 miles of the trip. Barbara's brother and nephews came to see them.
April 30
Our Kentucky Unbridled Spirits rode 80 miles today to Chemult, their longest single ride to date. The weather was cloudy with a few sprinkles. They visited a Logging Museum. They also rode by a World War II concentration camp where Americans of Japanese descent were detained. During the war, Americans of German descent fought the Germans, Americans of Italian descent fought the Italians but 110,000 Americans of Japanese descent were sent to concentration camps.
May 1
Joe and Cliff rode 63 miles to Bend, OR. The temperature was in the 30's all day. They had to change their itinerary because there was over six feet of snow on their planned route to the coast. The major routes are clear but they need to ride the back roads. The concentration camp mentioned in yesterday's post was at Tule Lake, in northern California (on April 28) rather than in Oregon.
Roadside snow
May 2
Forty-six cold, damp, rainy, cloudy, overcast, misty miles to Madras. I just talked to Joe on the phone and he said there is plenty of sunshine on the inside.
May 3
Joe and Cliff rode 64 miles to Government Camp. They stayed in a motel on Mt. Hood where they could see the snowline just above them. Their weather warmed up today to around 60 degrees which was a welcomed relief after the preceding chilly days. When you ride a bike, you create your own wind-chill factor that is added to the regular wind chill factor.
May 4
Today, they pedaled 56 miles to Portland, OR, and the mighty Columbia River. They met some local folks and ended up on a three hour boat trip on a private yacht.
And a boat named Rocinante
May 5
Our riders took the day off for some much needed Rest and Recuperation. They rented a car and drove to Mt. St. Helens which was shrouded in clouds. Joe took a sample of debris sludge from the eruption to send to the elementary students in Kentucky.
May 6
Well, our Unbridled Spirited riders have pedaled through another state. Fifty eight miles to Longview, Washington. Oregon was beautiful. While crossing the high bridge over the Columbia River, our boys looked down to see an ocean liner beneath their feet.
Washington
mile 1,431 to mile 2,339
May 7
During lunch, Joe and Cliff struck up a conversation with an Hispanic lady born into a migrant farm labor family. Against long odds and through hard work, she got a good education, a good job in the medical profession and became a US citizen. The American Dream is a great and powerful concept. She bought our riders lunch. Joe, noticing a fellow in a colorful driving suit, asked him if he was a NASCAR driver. Turns out, he was a team member of the North American Eagles, a group trying to break the world land speed record in a rocket car. He invited our guys out to the test site. The team, upon finding that Joe had broken a world record (for stilt walking) hailed him as a kindred spirit. They hope to break the record, currently 763 mph by a British team, later this year. You can follow them at www.landspeed.com.
Joe with the North American Eagle Jet Car
May 8
On the ride from Centralia to Lacy our Kentucky adventurers talked to two runners. One of the guys, a local, had earlier received a short Fellowship to Centre College in Danville where he fell in love with Kentucky. He attended and graduated from Centre College and is currently working on an advanced degree in Washington. Then, he plans on returning to Kentucky to teach. The other runner was one of the Children Soldiers of Sudan. I'm sure you remember reading of that sad, tragic story. His name is John and after he escaped he was brought to America. Joe said that John's gratitude to America was profound and it gave him, Joe, one more reason to be proud to be an American.
May 9
On Monday, Joe arrives at the southern reaches of the Puget Sound. His destination is his cousin's home at Port Orchard. Travel in this area of islands and waterways often involves a ferry. As Joe was waiting for his, he began talking to a group of bicycle riders who shortly boarded the incoming ferry. Joe followed onboard. Whoops. Wrong ferry. It took three more ferries to get him to his cousin's house. Joe thoroughly enjoyed his day on the water.
May 10
Joe is going to take a few days of Rest and Recuperation at his cousin's home in Port Orchard. He has ridden well over a thousand miles. His daughter, Natalie, will fly out on Thursday to spend a few days and do some sightseeing. Relax, Joe. You deserve it.
May 11
While Joe is taking a day off, we need to appreciate the amount of after-riding work he has devoted to learning to use the computer and the various programs he needs to master. Most of us, including our elementary students, have learned our computer skills over a long period of time. Joe only had a few weeks to learn. It was sort of like riding a bicycle 70 miles to school everyday.
May 12
Joe took the opportunity to visit the Island Wood School on Bainbridge Island. This marvelous school is dedicated to teaching teachers and students environmental studies. Joe had a great time visiting with fellow Eastern Kentuckian, Brannin Musser, who, like Joe, grew up in the Red River Gorge, and her students.
This is a classroom at the Island Wood School.
May 13, 14, 15
Joe's foray into Canada involved some bike riding and some car riding with his daughter, Natalie. But mostly ferry boat riding. The highlight was supposed to be meeting the students on Bowen Island, Canada, but due to misjudging ferry schedules he arrived at the school a half hour too late on Friday. He promises to be back some time. Joe says Bowen Island, just north of Vancouver, is an absolutely beautiful, storybook town. On Sunday, he visited Aulney Brown who moved from Powell County in 1936. After a great visit, Natalie flew back to Kentucky.
May 16
I suppose that everyone knows that the Rocky Mountain Saddle horse comes from Eastern Kentucky. It, along with the Mountain Pleasure Horse, was developed in the hills to be a gentle, hard working farm animal with a pleasant disposition. And a very smooth ride. Joe visited with Mark Smith in Seattle who has several Powell County, KY, bred, born and trained Rocky Mountain Saddle horses. They rode for a couple of hours. Joe then mounted Rocinante and headed east. It began to rain and lasted all day. A motel advertising rooms for $39 saw a wet, cold, bedraggled bicycle rider come in and thought they could up the price to $69. Joe headed back out into the rain. A matter of principle.
May 17
Cliff, having fulfilled his commitment to ride with Joe to Seattle, headed south a few days ago to begin his new adventure. It's gonna be a good one! We'll miss you on this journey, Cliff. Thank you for all you have done. Joe rode 30 miles uphill to Stevens Pass and then another 56.59 to Wenatchee on the Columbia River. Apple country.
Apples. Lots of apples.
May 18
Joe left Wenatchee and rode through Trinidad, Ephrata and on past Soap Lake. He spent the night at the Sun Lake State Park. Tomorrow, The Grand Coulee.
May 19
Joe pedaled through the geological wonder of the Grand Coulee with its 600 foot cliffs and onward to the Grand Coulee Dam, which is one of the largest hydroelectric plants in the world. Joe left the mighty Columbia River behind and rode east to Creston.
May 20
In Creston, Joe met and stayed with Delbert "Deb" Copenhaver, a three time World Champion Bronco Rider and a Cowboy Hall of Famer. Cool. Hello, Deb, from your Kentucky fans! Joe rode 56 miles, mostly in a cold rain, to Spokane.
Idaho
mile 2,339 to mile 2,424
May 21
Joe, after pedaling Washington from south to north and from west to east, has left the state. He had many great adventures and met some wonderful people. He left Spokane and rode 83 miles to Sandpoint, Idaho.
May 22
Our Kentucky Unbridled Spirit is in Northern Idaho and headed toward the Canadian border. He says, "I'm riding in some awesome countryside." He rode 31 miles to Bonners Ferry.