North Bend to Ellensburg

Monday, June 16, 2003

Westbound: South Hill to North Bend Eastbound: Ellensburg to Moses Lake

North Bend to Ellensburg

Sunday was a fair amount of work to end up still in King County. This day brought a decently early start with breakfast at the McDonald’s near the outlet malls and the Interstate. My thinking on breakfast was to have a Sausage McMuffin, hash browns, and OJ early and consider a second breakfast later, down the road. This plan followed the experience of Mark Boyd and other veteran tourers. Eventually, I found it did not work as well for me.

The bike seemed particularly sluggish as I left North Bend, but I attributed that to my lack of conditioning. The first 8 or 10 miles rolls a bit but has nothing significant. In the past I have challenged this stretch. Today, I just spun to make progress. At about mile post 47, I got a flat on the rear wheel. I also noticed that the rear brakes were again gripping all the time.

I found a wire in the tire—yet another gift from a truck tire—and put in a new tube. I also disconnected the rear brakes. Climbing the remainder of Snoqualmie Pass was work but consistent with pushing more weight with diminished strength. Releasing the brakes really helped.

I stopped at the summit for lunch at the Pancake House. The folks at the table next to me had noticed the bike and looking around the nearly empty restaurant, had little trouble guessing that I was the rider. We talked about my destination; they were encouraging; and then they went back to their meal and conversation. After reading for a few minutes, I was ready to go next door to the convenience store and then to head down hill toward the desert.

Knowing that the east side of Snoqualmie isn’t all that steep, I did not reattach the rear brakes. The front brakes gave me enough control to avoid the drain grates and other WDOT obstacles.

Between the Pass and Cle Elum, there are only a few modest up hills. Otherwise, it is a nice down hill run. Sometimes the rumble strips are annoying and parts of the shoulder need sweeping, but the pavement is good most of the time.

Not yet hungry, I continued beyond Cle Elum without stopping. The road conditions remain good, less snow in the winter results in a cleaner shoulder, but the terrain has a challenge one doesn’t always notice in the car.

First one climbs to the top of Indian John Hill and finds a welcome, modern rest area. Upon leaving the rest area, one then finds that there is more hill to climb. Yet another false summit. Eventually there is a long down hill into Ellensburg, a college town with many choices.

The motel I chose was comfortable and friendly but after checking in, I discovered that the rear tire was again flat. I never did find the offending sharpness in that tire.

Dinner was the buffet at Godfather’s Pizza, not the best choice that night, but at least returning took me passed a good super market where I could buy juice and other good stuff.

79.40 miles in 7:32 on the bike at 10.5 mph.

Westbound: South Hill to North Bend Eastbound: Ellensburg to Moses Lake