Day 5

Left next to heaven at Paradise (Mt. Rainier) for the 12 mile downhill ride, followed by another 11+ mile drop (of course, this is what we'd been doing the other direction for the last 2 days)-- (see the attached picture of the 3D of Mt Rainier, especially at the switchbacks) hands ached from braking, bone-chilling downhill ride but what a blast. Going up the road was the 150 miler RAMROD group which is the 150 mile ride around Mt. Rainier (Editor's note: we saw only 3 women of the 150 or so that we passed). It made me feel a bit like a wienie only doing 50 miles but we'd already paid our dues.

We continued pedalling through quiet backroads (Rt. 25) to lunch, which Art missed for the 4thday out of past 5). After another great lunch of blueberries, smoked salmon and salad, we loaded up the biles and proceeded to today's ending spot of Skamamia Lodge (Stevenson, WA). We didn't stop at Mt. St. Helens itself but had several viewing points, all of which were pretty spectacular. The Lodge is lovely-- golf course, lap pool, hot tub, view of the Columbia River Gorge, and wine.... and internet so we can catch up with all the lost days.

Dinner was fabulous (Art had beef with blue cheese and K of Kobag had little baby lamb chops(sorry, Susan), topped off with huckleberry creme brulee and cherry cobbler.

Yakima River

Had a wonderful down-valley ride from Cle Elum to Yakima....approx 80 miles....tailwind much of the way. Beautiful, narrow canyon, RR tracks on the opposite side of the river. Mid afternoon we dipped our bike jerseys into the icy river to cool ourselves off

- Art3

Day 1: Iron Horse Inn

We did a 40 mile out-and-back shakedown ride from South Cle Elum, located in upper Yakima Valley. Our lodging was in a RR bunkhouse....and I made a new friend, even though I had to do all the talking

- Art3 .... from Stevenson, WA

Day 2 cle elem to Yakima 80 miles in 101 temp

Beastly day of 101 temperature but the views were fantastic. The terraine changed constantly from wooded forests to dry upland to desert. We took this picture just after climbing a long hill.

Day 2. Cle Elem to Yakima-80iles in 101 temps

Ride leader looks like Justin bieber; stayed at iron horse inn complete with cabooses for rooms; town fundraiser was "pork in the pines"; 42 miles

Seattle and Wine

Met up with Carrie and Dan in the afternoon and saw their new pix of Italy--food, fountains, frivolity! As we sat salivating over the fabulous food, Carrie and Dan made us a lovely dinner of salmon over pea puree and mint with Reisling wine. Ahh!
For our evening adventure, we went to a Proseco wine tasting, featuring a real Italian wine salesman (blue eyes, curly hair, great shoes) who described the different selections that ranged from $16 to $60 (Jeio and Bistol). They even provided brochures for a Ralaix (sp?) and Chateau property outside of Venice where the grapes are grown--- good for our next visit.
K of Kobag

Volcano Training

My training for 'Volcanoes of Washington' ride has consisted of a series of 30 mile rides, on mostly flat trails of Iowa. But I did find a couple of short, really steep hills so I can practice climbing...