Mazama to Okanogan, WA
We left Mazama early and rode a pretty back road to Winthrop where we stopped at a bicycle shop and for breakfast. We spent a couple hours at the bike shop. Diane got her gearing changed, and others had work done too—what, I cannot now remember. Tim bought a handlebar bag. Then we rode a short distance to Twisp where we lingered over lunch to power us up Loup Loup Pass. In Twisp, Diane engaged Marcie, a radio contact, to take her BOB and mine and our gear to the top of the pass. Marcie collected Bill Upton’s BOB bag on the way up too.
Even without my BOB, I managed only to ride/push my bike up the first three miles. I then caught a ride to the summit in the back of a woodcutter’s truck. Even sat in a lawn chair in the truck bed. Because we had dawdled in the bike shop and over breakfast in Winthrop and lunch and at a radio station in Twisp until 1:30 pm, by the time we got to the climb, the heat had gotten to me. It was a trial for the rest of the riders, too, particularly for those hauling their gear: 12 miles of constant, relentless climbing.
We left Mazama early and rode a pretty back road to Winthrop where we stopped at a bicycle shop and for breakfast. We spent a couple hours at the bike shop. Diane got her gearing changed, and others had work done too—what, I cannot now remember. Tim bought a handlebar bag. Then we rode a short distance to Twisp where we lingered over lunch to power us up Loup Loup Pass. In Twisp, Diane engaged Marcie, a radio contact, to take her BOB and mine and our gear to the top of the pass. Marcie collected Bill Upton’s BOB bag on the way up too.
Even without my BOB, I managed only to ride/push my bike up the first three miles. I then caught a ride to the summit in the back of a woodcutter’s truck. Even sat in a lawn chair in the truck bed. Because we had dawdled in the bike shop and over breakfast in Winthrop and lunch and at a radio station in Twisp until 1:30 pm, by the time we got to the climb, the heat had gotten to me. It was a trial for the rest of the riders, too, particularly for those hauling their gear: 12 miles of constant, relentless climbing.
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| Bill H--the best cyclist among us--arrived first followed by Rick and Tim, our two pannier-carrying cyclists |
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| Kevin arriving at the summit |
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| Diane, smiling and glad that she had the strength to make it to the summit |
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| Rick and Bill H adjusting their gear. Note that Bill H. rides in Bermudas, carries all his gear on his bike rack, and looks none the worse for wear after the day's ride and climbs; he's an easy-going guy who is considerate and helpful to all |
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| Bill U, holding out the hand that has been aching and bothering him; he broke his wrist only a couple of months before the ride |
I waited for everyone to make it to the summit, taking pix of each as they arrived. Kevin, of course got on my case for hitching a ride up. He also made fun of the way Diane bunny hops to start pedaling her loaded bike. I do the same thing, and of course this was a criticism of the way I often start out also. I don't know about Diane, but sometimes I must bunny hop so as not to put all my weight and pressure on my right hip. I tried not to bristle at Kevin's criticism, but he and I again "had words" in front of the others. After this little set-to, we managed to rally and all enjoyed a nontechnical but long descent.
Later, when I got my sense of humor back, we redubbed Loup Loup Pass, "Lawn Chair Pass."
The others, and Peter, had already arrived at the Okanogan Fairgrounds, and some had showered by the time Diane and I arrived. The fairgrounds was a good deal out of town, however, and Kevin and Bill Hickman, who were not camp cooking, wanted to be closer to food and drink, so at Peter’s recommendation, we got back on our bikes and rode to the American Legion Park in town. It was a strip park right on the Okanogan River. The Lipizzaner horses were at the fairgrounds, so on the way out, we rode over to see them. I had seen them in Austria in 1963 and again on my 2006 Danube River ride and would have loved to have seen their show.
Later, when I got my sense of humor back, we redubbed Loup Loup Pass, "Lawn Chair Pass."
The others, and Peter, had already arrived at the Okanogan Fairgrounds, and some had showered by the time Diane and I arrived. The fairgrounds was a good deal out of town, however, and Kevin and Bill Hickman, who were not camp cooking, wanted to be closer to food and drink, so at Peter’s recommendation, we got back on our bikes and rode to the American Legion Park in town. It was a strip park right on the Okanogan River. The Lipizzaner horses were at the fairgrounds, so on the way out, we rode over to see them. I had seen them in Austria in 1963 and again on my 2006 Danube River ride and would have loved to have seen their show.
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| Lipizzaner horses at Okanogan fairgrounds |
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| Our tents set up at American Legion Park, my little tent and BOB bag in the foreground |
When we got to American Legion Park, we set up our tents in the shade, plagued by swarms of mosquitoes. After getting our tents set up, showering, applying bug repellent, and changing into dry, post-ride clothes, Bill, Rick, Tim, and I cooked ourselves camp dinners, but as Tim recounts in his blog: “ . . . the mosquitoes did most of the dining.” Diane disappeared into her tent but came out just as dinner was ready. We shared with her, but Rick told Diane that if she was not going to buy food and help with the cooking, she needed to be on clean-up detail. She agreed. So, for the rest of our ride together this was the arrangement: Bill, Rick, and I (and sometimes Tim) cooked one meal together-- Tim often cooking separately on his little alcohol stoves--Diane cleaned the dishes afterwards, and Kevin and Bill Hickman sought out the nearest bar/restaurant for dinner.
It was tough to sleep in the heat, so close to Okanogan’s main drag, and far from the restroom. Some time after I drifted off, I was awakened by an agonized groan. Tim’s thigh muscle had cramped. Here’s his account: “ . . . 11:30 I started squealing in pain wrenched with a leg cramp in my right thigh. A startled camp came to my rescue with Tums and massage. I slept amazingly well after that and managed to stand up in the morning without cramping again.”
Tune in again for tomorrow's excitement.
