This is going to be a quick one.
We are in Tonasket at the moment. Just had some deliciously good calzone and Cormac had a philly cheesesteak in hopes of getting enough energy in us to get us up the next hill that we are about to tackle. Our hope is to climb Wauconda pass which is 4,310 ft over about 15 miles or so. It is not as steep as the passes we've done so far but this will be three days in a row of big hills!!!
Yesterday we had a great and unexpectedly long day. After the last update in Winthrop, we headed on to Twisp, very near and then did a pretty hefty grocery shop before deciding onward with it. So we climbed Loup Loup Pass. We arrived (finally) at the campground on the other side of the pass - so after we had gotten to enjoy some 10 miles or so of 6% grade downhill - around 8:30. The sun does not set here until 9 or later this time of year, which is wonderful!
Our evening last night was lovely. We met a couple, Kevin and Monique, who are from Omak and were camping at Leader Lake (the campground) for 3 days. They offered us a whole bunch of water, which we cheerfully accepted as there was no water at the campground, and we in turn offered them some of our quite spectacular trail mix and found ourselves talking with them until late. A really honest, funny, spiritual, just nice two people. It was a highlight for Cormac and me so far, meeting them and making that connection.

So we left Leader Lake around 9am and biked through to Omak for a leisurely coffee break at Starbucks. Yes, folks, we actually biked around asking for the starbucks because Kevin had told us there was one and we wanted to find a place where we could use the bathroom and get water and ice rather than go to one of the (many) espresso huts along the road!

A few things about Washington: Although it is called the Evergreen State, more than half of Washington is desert - and we are biking through the deserty part right now. Kevin and Monique informed us that folks who live on the Western side of the Cascades are referred to as 'Coasties'. They did not know what they, who live on the East side, were called. As may have already been suggested:) there are many big mountains in Washington. We have Wauconda and Sherman Passes to go before we say hello to some long flat stretches.

We have definitely gotten into a rhythm in our biking and are now more comfortable taking longer leisurely breaks during the day since we know our bodies and how long it takes us to bike different terrain better. We've got setting up camp and packing up camp down!

And we are also apparently about 1 day behind another fellow who is biking the Northern Tier route. He stopped for pizza at the same place yesterday and you stand out from the crowd enough when wearing padded bike shorts:)

That's all for now. Wishing all you well.
peace.