Day 7, Sunday, July 6.
Republic, WA to Ione, WA
Daily Mileage: 88.58 miles
Total Mileage: 523.8 miles
Daily Time on Bike: 6:56 hours
Average Speed: 12.7 mph
Maximum Speed: 35.0 mph
Today’s goal in my book was to get to Idaho; however, the primary objective was getting over the Cascades.
As we pulled out of the Republic fair ground we immediately began climbing our highest pass yet, Sherman Pass (5,575 ft). The climb was filled with all of our favorite warning signs: pull off areas, grade steepens and must use chains when necessary. We climbed it in a record time (for us) of two hours. Along the way we passed through seven miles of the 1988 White Mountain Lightning Fire area. It was incredibly depressing to see so many acres of black tree trunks. When we reached the pass, we were overjoyed to have climbed to our highest, and final, pass in the Cascades. After a few photos, we suited up to begin the 29-mile descent. It was cold, we were tired, and after a couple of miles I just wanted it all to stop. With my teeth chattering, legs shaking, and arms and hands clenching the handlebars, we finally rolled over the Columbia River signaling what we thought was the end of our journey in the Cascades.
We stopped at a huge grocery store in Colville to get a bag of ice. A number of people came up to ask us questions while we were lounging outside of the store. One guy asked us about our aero bars; another asked us if we carried a gun.
Back on our way again, we made the last push for Idaho. After several miles though, my back tire flatted (the worst type to change because you have to take all of the gear off of your bike just to get the wheel off). We repaired it with one of our patched tubes while hanging outside of the Beaver Lodge and in the meantime, it started to rain again. With our Idaho plans delayed for a day we decided to stop for the night in Ione. The last five miles of the Cascades that stood between us were the curviest we’d seen. Had the road surface been dry, it would have been the most exciting downhill of the entire Cascades. Once on flat land again, we turned north to Ione and pitched our tent in the city park amongst a pavilion filled with picnic tables overlooking the river. Time to sleep, and Kevin Cosner is filming The Postman near here.
(Photo: David celebrating at the top of Sherman Pass)
Daily Mileage: 88.58 miles
Total Mileage: 523.8 miles
Daily Time on Bike: 6:56 hours
Average Speed: 12.7 mph
Maximum Speed: 35.0 mph
Today’s goal in my book was to get to Idaho; however, the primary objective was getting over the Cascades.
As we pulled out of the Republic fair ground we immediately began climbing our highest pass yet, Sherman Pass (5,575 ft). The climb was filled with all of our favorite warning signs: pull off areas, grade steepens and must use chains when necessary. We climbed it in a record time (for us) of two hours. Along the way we passed through seven miles of the 1988 White Mountain Lightning Fire area. It was incredibly depressing to see so many acres of black tree trunks. When we reached the pass, we were overjoyed to have climbed to our highest, and final, pass in the Cascades. After a few photos, we suited up to begin the 29-mile descent. It was cold, we were tired, and after a couple of miles I just wanted it all to stop. With my teeth chattering, legs shaking, and arms and hands clenching the handlebars, we finally rolled over the Columbia River signaling what we thought was the end of our journey in the Cascades.
We stopped at a huge grocery store in Colville to get a bag of ice. A number of people came up to ask us questions while we were lounging outside of the store. One guy asked us about our aero bars; another asked us if we carried a gun.
Back on our way again, we made the last push for Idaho. After several miles though, my back tire flatted (the worst type to change because you have to take all of the gear off of your bike just to get the wheel off). We repaired it with one of our patched tubes while hanging outside of the Beaver Lodge and in the meantime, it started to rain again. With our Idaho plans delayed for a day we decided to stop for the night in Ione. The last five miles of the Cascades that stood between us were the curviest we’d seen. Had the road surface been dry, it would have been the most exciting downhill of the entire Cascades. Once on flat land again, we turned north to Ione and pitched our tent in the city park amongst a pavilion filled with picnic tables overlooking the river. Time to sleep, and Kevin Cosner is filming The Postman near here.
(Photo: David celebrating at the top of Sherman Pass)
