Day 1: Started out earlier in Ellensburg, WA and have made 18 miles thus far. I’m moving way slow on account of the terrain on the Iron Horse Trail and back roads. This scenery is breathtaking. You can find me somewhere here for the rest of the day, hoping to make it to the Columbia River to sleep by tonight. Phone is dead. Once I regain all my charges I’ll post a collage of pictures, that won’t be today and probably not tomorrow either. Gah why does the bar have to be 60 miles away! Steady turning the wheels forward, love you Grandpa. September 16, 2013
Ellensburg-BFE Eastern Washington, 32 miles, 8hrs.
My Uncle Al dropped me off in Ellensburg and I was alone with not a great plan of action. I knew the Iron Horse Trail was the only bicycle route to take so I hopped on and the remainder of the day I thought ‘I really should be on a horse, not a bike!’ The trail was not maintained. Many times I couldn’t pass riding and had to get off the saddle and walk, poor Surly took quite a beating. The uneven rock, gravel trail was to say the least bumpy the entire time. But, the sights were unlike anything I’ve ever cycled through. It must have to do with being miles from civilization, loud trucks, sirens, and bright lights. I felt one with the desert I threw myself at and it didn’t really swallow me whole, that’s a win! I did fall twice from fish tailing down hill but I got out of it with minor scratches. Probably didn’t help that my mind was stuck on finding my first aid kit, which it still can’t locate. After a quick grab of trail mix for lunch I pushed on knowing 4mph was in fact taking me to all the places I was meant to be. I came to a tunnel with a sign that said “Detour around tunnel, DANGER falling rocks!” This of course peaked my interest, I love tunnels! So I lifted my bike over three cement barricades and walked quietly into the unknown. At the edge I equipped my three lights, took pictures of course and put on my helmet. We were going in this just shy of a mile long tunnel. Oh man was it spooky, first with the crashing and shattering of rocks I could never pin point where they fell and second to be alone! I kept an eye behind me and on the ground. Once to the other side I had to slither my way through chicken wire and the over growth was unreal! I literally walked through trees to get out, I’m surprised Surly still likes me and my legs, they took a beating. I walked into shin high water and trudged on. This was Adventure Cycling. The West winds pushed me in a hurry and I heard her say to me several positive reinforcing phrases. It was all downhill too but much soft sand, which till this day still haunts me when my dad and I fell in the soft sands at Navarre Beach, Florida. After freaking out my mom I decided 7:30pm is a good time to start looking for a place to set up camp. Earlier I thought if I found another Biffy I’d lock myself in there and be safe from all the animals. Throughout the day I examined a lot of scat from deer, coyotes and a bear I think. But luckily there were many small bridges and I figured it would be a nice hideaway in case someone came up the trail. Which no one ever did. I set up my tarp, yoga mat, and sleeping bag and began to boil water for some noodles. Ate an apple for appetizer and had to light my pocket rocket stove twice from the wind blowing it out. The pasta turned out delicious and I then equipped myself with warm layers and said good night to mother earth. The moon shined so bright upon my face the entire night, a night light for safety I’m sure. All in all when the going got tough, which it was very tough, I kept my sunshine smile and just kept going no matter if I didn’t know where I was going. Not all who wander are lost. But once you do get lost, I say you, just keep wandering. September 17, 2013

So I was on U.S. Army property for the entire day yesterday, didn’t see one soul besides three deer jump in front of me and almost make me crash. Now I’m sitting in Auvil Fruit Inc. Orchard charging my phone and eating one very juicy pear. I wound up here because the road just ended. One side said no trespassing and the other was this orchards main office. I tried crossing a small old run down train bridge across the Columbia river but I couldn’t make it past the second no trespassing fence. After my phone is charged I’m heading back towards the freeway. I’m going to stop at the dam to see if they’d let me walk across there. But if not I have to find a ride…so far this tour has been the most adventurous cycling I’ve ever been on!