Day 3: Moses Lake to Scooteney Reservoir Campground, 48 miles, 7 hrs.
Sleeping in an actual bed wasn’t the best idea; I woke up not wanting to do anything. So I literally slept till 10am then rolled myself off the bed and hit the floor, a smack in the face sort of ordeal. I quickly packed up. Being rather experienced with touring I never unpack, only the things I need for that moment. It’s easier that way. I left at 11am and headed straight for some Mexican food. I found a small place named Maria’s and strolled on in. Had an amazing brunch there! They gave me a free beer too, what a win! It was now afternoon and my goal for today was so far-fetched, there was no way I’d cycle 89 miles. That’s probably why I’d been moving so slow, to prevent my mind to even think I could make it if I had all the time. I finally got on the road at 1pm. Headed South East towards Othello. I made it into a small town, Warden and stopped at the gas station for a cold drink. It was a warm day full of much farmland and many onion trucks. I sat outside the gas station stealing power to charge my phone and find out where the heck I was staying tonight. I got to chatting with a local “tatter digger” and he told me about a campground just south of Othello. I looked it up and it seemed legit so it was settled. About twenty more miles most likely. I cycled on and ran into a beautiful sunflower field where I had to stop and walk through. Actually it was rather creepy. I found the perfect onion in the shoulder and took it in hopes to make with dinner. There was onions and corn all over the place, made for a great smell the entire day! I wasn’t feeling too great but then hundreds of yellow butterflies were flying everywhere and it reminded me of my mother and grandmother. One flew onto me as I stopped to stare and I got an awesome shot of her. This lifted my spirits and I charged on. I saw this hill in the distance and I just knew I was going to go over it, and I did. I beasted it to the top which was an orchard full of apples! All I wanted to do was stop and pick a few but I needed good karma so I just imagined a juicy apple in my mouth. My gps was taking me all over old farm roads. Filled with flies and mosquitoes. Once again I was lost! I happened to be on the wrong side of the reservoir, turned out I was at least 8 miles out of the way. My mother being all worried called the campground and Jim, the park ranger, immediately picked up. I got his number and we talked and we both were worried about the sun dropping so fast. It was already 7pm. So he told me to keep riding and he’ll find me! And he did, right after I watched the sun and the moon dance. With Little sterling’s dancing as well! We rode to the campground after that and I found the perfect spot to set up my hammock! I set it up after dark but the moon was so bright I didn’t need a flash light. I was beat tired from today and ended up having left over tortillas and jam for dinner. I needed to charge both my batteries so I made an epic letter and plugged her up in the bathroom, the only power source I could find. That night was the coldest yet, 30s and extra cold as I was in my hammock. I ended up waking up at 11pm thinking it was 6am! Then I set my alarm for a two hour interval alarm to check on my phone and get warm in the bathroom. I ended up breaking out my used emergency blanket and putting that underneath my sleeping bag and then laying the tarp over the top. I put four layers on and I was still frozen. I don’t know why my 20degree sleeping bag wasn’t warm enough. I’m bothered by how cold it was and how I couldn’t deal. I’m now real worried about continuing my journey from Missoula and will seriously consider ending the ride there. The day’s adventures of course continued and getting lost I feel is what this journey is all about. Thank you Jim for your hospitality, I enjoyed talking to you and staying at your beautiful campground!