Day 49 Daunted Courage, August 17, 2013

Route: Pomeroy to Walla Walla, Washington

Saya’s (age 6) quote of the day, after passing a dilapidated farmhouse: “That house had saw happier days.” 

We ate breakfast at Tonia’s Café in Pomeroy, Washington.  As we walked in, the Lewiston Tribune was lying on a table, and Saya said, “Wait, that’s us!”  The front page of the newspaper included a large photo of us on bikes beneath a well-written article by Dylan Brown – a cool way to start the day!

As we cycled out of town, a police car zoomed past us, sirens blaring.  “Maybe he’s speeding after someone who was speeding,” Sho said.

We rode through arid countryside through a valley rimmed by treeless hills.  Ahead we saw perhaps two dozen towering wind turbines atop a range of hills.  Their hulking forms reminded me of a scene from H.G. Wells’s War of the Worlds, but I was more worried about the reality they represented.  Sho picked up on my thoughts and said, “Uh oh, Daddy.  Where there are wind turbines, there is strong wind.”

On cue, a steady headwind started to blow, slowing our progress and making even the flat sections laborious. 

“There he is!” Sho called out, pointing to the police car ahead, stopped by the road, lights still flashing.  As we neared, he sounded his siren quickly and jumped his car forward a few feet.  That’s when we saw the bull standing on the opposite side of the road.  Obviously, it had escaped its pen and was roaming free.  I pulled to a stop 100 yards away, but the police officer motioned for us to continue.  The bull tried to move our way, but the police car lurched ahead with a squawk from its sirens and cut him off.  We passed safely, nodding thanks to the police officer, who used his car like a cowboy would a horse to keep the bull in check.  

We rode 67 miles today, which included two long climbs.  After yesterday’s exhausting 10-mile climb, Sho and Saya were not intimidated by today’s few miles of steady uphills.  Although the terrain was arid, the temperature stayed down near 90 degrees, much more manageable than yesterday’s high 90’s.  And while the strong headwind slowed us down and made us work harder, it also cooled us off.  We rolled into Walla Walla at 7:30 p.m., having been on the road for 10 hours.  We were tired, but not exhausted. 

And we were in good moods, because of the treat waiting for us: my sister Becky had flown out to ride bikes with us for the next week and was in Walla Walla.  She gave Saya toenail polish, guessing correctly that I had not thought to bring any.  We spent the evening catching up with one another, Sho and Saya telling their beloved aunt all about their many adventures on the Lewis & Clark Trail.

Here are some pics:

Great front page photo and article

Where there are wind turbines, there is wind

The house that had saw happier days

On the road

Life is good when your Aunt Becky paints your toenails