Gettin' Closer.......

Saw a mileage sign for Penticton today, so we must be getting closer.  But first we have to head out to the west coast.

After today's ride we just have three more days to go.  We're starting to see all the usual signs of a trip winding down.  People are starting to talk more about home, families & friends.  Little irritants that everyone has let slide up until now are getting under people's skin, etc., etc. Although...... Given our quarters last night, I think most people were prepared to stay in Chalen another day.  Everyone had a suite looking out over lovely gardens and with a view to the lake.

It was not to be, though, so off we went back onto US 97-Alt heading north.  Gotta say, the last couple of days have been the worst of the trip for the amount of glass and garbage on the shoulders and in the ditches.  Not sure why people feel compelled to toss so much stuff out their windows.  And  as a cyclist, I just hate having to dodge or run over all the glass.  No flats, though, although I did have one last night.  Seems I picked up a thorn during the day and it took a while to have all the air leak out.  So much nicer to replace the tube in the comfort of our suite, watching the sunset over the lake, rather than on the side of road during the day.

The early part of the ride was just gorgeous.  We had lovely views down to the Columbia River, Highway US 97 and some railroad tracks.  At 7.5 miles US97-Alt ended and we had to join US 97 for 15 miles.  Along the way we saw some more orchards, of course.  This picture (5th one below) doesn't show it very well, but in some orchards they hang shiny coloured foil that shimmers in the breeze.  Looks like a big stand of Christmas trees from a distance.  Probably to keep birds away, but I'm not sure.  Also saw the Wells Dam.

At 20 miles we turned off US97 onto SR153.  This also meant turning away from the Columbia River & its valley.  Here's a parting look .......

Less than a mile from the turn Ann flagged me down to join her & Linda at a great little bakery.  Ann & I each had a scone.  Linda sampled both the scones and cinnamon buns and gave them both two thumbs up.  This put us at the back of the pack for a while.  We passed this collection of little buildings.  I'm assuming they are where the fruit pickers stay.  I can't imagine.  Full sun, one little window and an even smaller air conditioner.  I think I would rather just have a tent.

We followed the Methow River off-and-on.  Lots of little conveyances to get across - none of them apparently still in use.

We passed a few tiny villages (Methow, Carlton, Twisp) between mile 30 and mile 53.  By then the rain clouds were pretty much all around us.  One last picture of some friendly horses and I rode hard for what seems like the first time all trip.  Managed to outride the raindrops and decided not to push my luck by going into the town of Winthrop.  Just rode to hotel and had to wait a bit, but checked in shortly after 1.  Not quite up to last night's standards, but clean and comfortable.  Another good day out there!

Stats for the day:
104 km / 63 miles from Chelan WA to Winthrop WA
2478 feet up
1876 feet down
Weather:  pretty nice until the risk of rain for the last 15 miles.  Started out with bright sunshine and 13C.  Went up to mid-20sC before clouding over and dropping back down to the high teens C.