Ellensburg to Moses Lake

Tuesday, June 17, 2004

Westbound: North Bend to Ellensburg Eastbound: Moses Lake to Ritzville

The room was quiet and I awoke early from a well-hydrated, good night’s sleep. I walked over to the nearby McDonald’s for a Sausage McMuffin breakfast. Then after packing up, I headed back to the Interstate and a modest day. I could anticipate a decent hill between Ellensburg and the Columbia River and then the climb from the river up to the plateau. More than hills, the challenge might be heat in the desert.

Ellensburg is on the Yakima River and therefore in a valley. To the east the climb out of the valley is modest. I didn’t go very fast, but I certainly didn’t struggle. Eventually, I reached the crest and then enjoyed a long downhill to the river.

At the river, I took the exit to get lunch at Blustery’s, a restaurant on a slight rise with large windows giving an excellent view up and down the Columbia Valley. It was a little before noon, I had gotten from mile post 109 to mile post 136, and I needed to reach approximately mile post 175. Forty miles after lunch didn’t seem unreasonable.

My sandwich was tasty and the drink and refill sastifying. I sat and read, enjoying the air conditioning. I also called my wife who seemed surprised that I had so little left for the day. Eventually, I roused myself to get going and headed for the bridge across the river.

The Columbia River Bridge at Vantage

I had been concerned about whether the bridge, which I remembered as narrow, would have a comfortable space for me. On this day, there was no problem. Although the right lane was closed for construction, it was not so torn up to bar my crossing during the crew’s lunch break. I was across the river on my own lane, protected for most of the short span by concrete barriers. Very convenient.

Once across, I started the climb up to the Columbia Plateau. It about 45 minutes but was Interstate grade and work but not a struggle. Once on top, I regained some speed and set off to the east.

The desert on the Columbia Plateau

The desert plus irrigation

Soon I entered the irrigation project that takes about ten percent of the Columbia’s flow at the the Grand Coulee to irrigate much of Adams and Grant Counties. This area gets no more than about seven inches of rain a year but produces, with water from the River, excellent potatoes, corn, mint, and other specialty crops. In many places, the water table is but three feet below the surface and local government finds mosquito control to be a necessary task despite living in the desert.

I had plenty of liquids on board but was still working out how best to use them. I made an effort to use the Camel Back but soon found that with the water bladder behind the seat it was appreciably below my head, making the tube a verrrrrry long straw. I found that trying to use the bladder while in motion immediately interrupted my breathing enough to be an inconvenience. Continuing the experiment, I tried take three sips at each mile post to ensure a steady influx of water. It didn’t seem worth the effort.

As a hiker, I usually drank only during rest stops, following the theory that letting my throat dry a little preserved moisture. I would then drink a pint of more at one time, perhaps every hour or so. As a runner—with a shorter day—I rarely drank anything. Even during marathons, my intake would be no more than 24 ounces. I would, however, liberally use water to cool my head, pouring it straight on top. I found that also worked well on the bike and ended combining the two approaches. I used my water bottles to soak my head while in motion, used the bladder to refill the bottles when I stopped, and usually drank Gatorade, Coca-Cola(tm), or juice at stops. Since I tried also to carry Gatorade and something else, I could stop between convenience stores if necessary.

Aside from enjoying the contrast between desert and irrigation and learning to cope with the heat, the trip to Moses Lake was uneventful. I had some ideas for where to stay from previous visits for Bridge Tournaments but found a bargain place adjacent to the highway. The room was a little tattered but clean and reasonable and nicely equipped with microwave and small fridge. I was in the room with my feet up and connected to the internet before four o’clock. So far, so good.

After a while, I was ready to eat and headed north across the highway to check out the local options. Immediately on my side of the road, I found a gas station convenience store of decent size. As I turned into its driveway I managed to twist my left ankle quite severely.

I don’t want to sound like a crybaby as I report this thing hurt. I’m the kind of guy that declines the novacaine, no matter how much that scares the dentist. This ankle hurt. Worse than that, I worried that the injury was an immediate serious threat to the entire tour. With a plane to catch at Dulles, I did not have the freedom to rest for a couple days. Rats! And only 200 miles from home.

I hobbled into the store and found good groceries and drinks. I limped back across the highway, wincing each time I put weight on my left foot. This wasn’t good.

Back in the room, I prepared some pasta and settled in. I called home to report and was as positive as I could be about the day’s modest but successful progress. I said not one word about the injury. If asked, “Did you hurt your ankle today?” I would have answered truthfully. Indeed, if asked did anything go wrong, I probably would have cracked, but so long as I didn’t complain I had a chance to avoid undue solicitude and a premature rescue mission. I needed to try to move forward, and discretion was necessary.

I did some more internet, read my book, called it a night, and hoped for the best.

66.97 miles in 6:23 on the bike for an average of 10.4 mph.

Back up to Tacoma to Sandpoint

Westbound: North Bend to Ellensburg Eastbound: Moses Lake to Ritzville