Twisp, WA

Minutes after our last post we met a wonderful couple, Don and Earline Walley. We talked to them for a while and found out that Don is a retired teacher from Sedro-Woolley and Earline is a retired Nurse. Earline is battling lung cancer, we wish her the best of luck. They suggested that we go to a restaurant run by Tootsie Clark in Marblemount, WA. Tootsie opens the gate to Washington Pass by handing out free cinnamon rolls every year. We finished that day by staying in Colonial Campground at the base of Rainy pass. The wildlife there was very tame. A deer approached our campground and allowed us to get within 3m without startling. There was also a chipmunk who persistently attempted to steal Bill's chocolate covered espresso beans.

Yesterday we awoke early to attack Rainy Pass. This pass is 30 miles long and rises approximately a vertical mile. This took us about 5-6 hours of hard climbing. Along the way Doug and Sally, a couple who had seen our names in the guest book at New Halem found us partway up our climb. We found out that Doug is a 1973 Naval Academy Graduate, he graduated only 3 Years after Bill. We continued on our climb at a brisk pace of about 5mph and took in the beautiful views. When we finally reached Rainy Pass we met Nico from Belgium, who had just biked up the other side of the pass. Nico has a blog about his adventures in America at nicoceunen.blogspot.com. After Rainy Pass we had a 2 mile descent followed by a 4 mile climb up Washington Pass.

After summiting Washington Pass we had lunch at 3:00 in the afternoon and nearly coasted the next 40 miles or so at 20-30mph into Twisp. This coast was punctuated by a break to swim in the Methow River. This swim was more like a quick dunk in the glacial melt, and running out screaming like little girls, sort of. We were happy to have a great dinner last night after 75 miles of riding and our first pass. We got into the campsite about sundown and rejuvenated for today's pass.

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--Patrick Henneghan