TODAY'S TALES: 

"I've never seen so many 'mature' people with bicycles."  I think that was heard during the bike assembly yesterday.  This is the highest average age of any ride that I've done anyway...58.  That number includes an 18 year old and a 21 year old.  On the other end we have an Octogenarian...John.  He's got about as much energy as the youngin's...I think he'll do fine.

On Saturday everyone got in and everyone's bike got here also.  We seem to always have a bike or two that decides to come in a day or two late, but all's well that starts on time.  With everything put together we were ready to get on the road today...yep, we're off.

It's Monday afternoon now and it's sixty-nine miles down and only 3544 to go.  Well, it seems to be another fine group of cyclists.  After yesterday's orientation, I wasn't sure if any of them wanted to ride...some of them said they thought they signed up for the downhill ride!  Fooled them didn't we?  Or didn't they read the brochure?  During orientation, we talked about hills, rain, and headwinds, dealing with traffic...you know the normal stuff that they will encounter on a ride like this.  But, all of them showed up for breakfast, and then they all loaded their luggage, so I guess they are going to give it a go.  Of course I'm kidding about them thinking about not riding...I couldn't keep them off the road if I used an army.  They were nervous, anxious, and raring to go by the time we got to the luggage truck.  They were ready to meet the challenge head on so off we rode into the unknown...to Portsmouth AND BEYOND!!!

We started out early but first we had to take the customary departure photo under the bridge behind the motel...a beautiful backdrop for our group photo.  As usual, it was like herding cats, but everyone finally got in line and we snapped a few digitals to mark the occasion.  From there it was an empty parking lot in about the wink of an eye.

The ride today took us along hwy 30 all the way to St Helens.  It as a fairly busy state road but usually it had a nice shoulder to ride on and plenty of beautiful scenery to keep everyone entertained...usually we get a glimpse of Mt St Helens at one point but today the clouds obscured the view. It is hard to imagine the devastation that must have been here when she blew her top years ago. We never saw any signs of it today...maybe when we get on the other side we might.  That will have to wait until tomorrow.  Most of our route took us along the Columbia River and the several times we popped out for a view, it was gorgeous.  The thing I like about this area is that everyone up here is used to seeing cyclists and seems to give them room...even the logging trucks. I got several friendly waves from them throughout the day...at least they seemed friendly.

The best news of the day was that we got everyone in safely on the first day...one down and only 49 more to go. I think most everyone was in before 2:00 so they had time to relax and get to know one another before going to dinner at the Village Restaurant next door to the motel. We had the usual small problems at the mechanics' van: squeaky drive trains, loose screws, and minor adjustments to derailleurs, but all in all it was a pretty easy day...a good warm up for what's to come in a day or two when we hit the high desert and some long days.  See you tomorrow. "

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