The Big Day That Wasn't

Yesterday was a rest day in the sleepy town of Cascade Locks OR.  Not much to do so took a look at the bridge that we would ride over tomorrow, and then took a 5 mile walk along the bike path to Eagle Creek Recreation Area and the Cascade Salmon Hatchery.  Some rain throughout the day; hopefully not a harbinger of things to come.  A bit of bike cleaning, ice cream and out for dinner.   Early to bed for an early start in the morning.

Today was supposed to be our "big" day - 169 km / 104 miles with 8500 feet of climbing.  Breakfast at the trailer at 5am - yawn!  The forecast was cooler - mid-teens C and a 40% POP with less than 1mm of rain per hour.  Sounds pretty innocent.  A cloudy start to the day but some nice sunrise views of hills amongst the clouds along the edge of the gorge over on the Oregon side once we had crossed over to Washington.  After rolling out of the hotel this morning shortly after 5:30 we immediately crossed the Bridge of the Gods over the Columbia River and into Washington.

Along a bit of a busy SR14 through Stevenson and then a left turn toward Carson.  After we had been out an hour the rain started - yuck!  Rain gear on, but since we were climbing moderately pretty much from the get-go I mostly had my rain jacket off since I generate lots of heat while going uphill.  The rain came and went as well, so a bit of a clothing challenge.  The temperature started about 7C, up to 8C, then down to 3C as the rain intensified.  We had a pretty intense uphill from miles 27 to 32 but thankfully little traffic (and lots of beautiful forest) since mile 20.

Big, wet, chilly downhill for the next 10 miles.  The rain was getting a bit hard (as in pellets); this wasn't in the forecast!  Glad I convinced Sheila yesterday not to send all her woollies back to the UK.  Can't believe it was just three days ago we were trying to beat the heat.  On that downhill we passed a viewpoint with a "fantastic" view of Mt. St. Helens.  There was really no point in even stopping - no view to be had.  As we approached our turn at mile 43 onto another Forestry Road (FR), I saw the van & trailer parked by the side of the road.  I figured they were there with hot beverages and just checking on everyone.  No!  Apparently the FR was still not open for the season.  Although bikes could probably get through, cars could not.  Conditions (cold & wet with riders verging on hypothermic) were deemed too dangerous to go through (about 45 miles) unsupported.  So everyone piled into the van to get warm.  While we waited for everyone to catch up, Emily made grilled cheese/ham/spinach sandwiches and hot chocolate for us and delivered them to us in the van.  She's the best!  Finally about noon all the bikes were loaded up top and we drove almost 4 hours around the closure to get to Packwood.  Really ugly conditions - intermittent downpours all the way (+ some sunshine and drizzle).  We're staying at little mom&pop cabins tonight.  No internet, no time to cook dinner so we're having pizza.

First ride in the van for me in 3 epics, but I'm not counting it since we were all pulled off the road.  Can't say I fought it, though.  Very cold & wet conditions...........

Stats for the day:
68 km / 42 miles from Cascade Locks OR to Packwood WA
3467 feet up
1690 feet down
Weather:  just dreadful!!!