Going up hill is hard.
My knees start hurting almost immediately, and I make lindsey promise that we can literally stop every mile for a 5 minute break. We end up stopping slightly less frequently than that, and I pump tons of advil.
We get high enough that we start seeing snow on the ground. Lindsey thinks it is beautiful, I think that it would feel really good on my knees (it does).
All in all it takes us about 6 hours to go up 18 miles (including the 5 minute break, and an hour brake close to the top).
When we finally hit the top of Washington Pass, we can feel our anxiety melt away and our patience renewed. Our blissful feelings are aided by the fact that we have to ride the breaks to do 30 MPH down the other side.
We go from worrying about our knees to worrying about our hands (breaking frequently for an hour straight causes some serious hand cramps).
We do about 20 more miles in less than an hour (stopping only to fill up our water... we finally reach potable water after 60 dry miles).
Washington pass is our most difficult climb, it is the most elevation that we will ever have to do the whole trip, and having done it with only one major argument, we decide to treat ourselves to a hotel and dinner.
We end up at Mazama country Inn, and guess what, it's barbeque night. Believe it or not, they actually have a delicious veggie option for Lindsey (roasted portabello), but for me, a ribeye steak that weighs at least a pound and a half, cooked to perfection, with a side of fresh slaw. It takes me about 40 seconds to eat the whole thing.
Everyone there is so nice, and we stock up on our sugar and salt supply, showe (oh my god we shower! and not in a camp shower)... and we fall asleep like babies on a fresh, warm bed.
My knees start hurting almost immediately, and I make lindsey promise that we can literally stop every mile for a 5 minute break. We end up stopping slightly less frequently than that, and I pump tons of advil.
We get high enough that we start seeing snow on the ground. Lindsey thinks it is beautiful, I think that it would feel really good on my knees (it does).
All in all it takes us about 6 hours to go up 18 miles (including the 5 minute break, and an hour brake close to the top).
When we finally hit the top of Washington Pass, we can feel our anxiety melt away and our patience renewed. Our blissful feelings are aided by the fact that we have to ride the breaks to do 30 MPH down the other side.
We go from worrying about our knees to worrying about our hands (breaking frequently for an hour straight causes some serious hand cramps).
We do about 20 more miles in less than an hour (stopping only to fill up our water... we finally reach potable water after 60 dry miles).
Washington pass is our most difficult climb, it is the most elevation that we will ever have to do the whole trip, and having done it with only one major argument, we decide to treat ourselves to a hotel and dinner.
We end up at Mazama country Inn, and guess what, it's barbeque night. Believe it or not, they actually have a delicious veggie option for Lindsey (roasted portabello), but for me, a ribeye steak that weighs at least a pound and a half, cooked to perfection, with a side of fresh slaw. It takes me about 40 seconds to eat the whole thing.
Everyone there is so nice, and we stock up on our sugar and salt supply, showe (oh my god we shower! and not in a camp shower)... and we fall asleep like babies on a fresh, warm bed.
It's so great to see you pictures and read about the amazing people you are meeting and your remarkable adventures.
ReplyDeleteI'm sending love to you both.
Do you have any time for phonecalls? I'd love to catch up...
Our offer on the pink house in Chelmsford was accepted!!!!!!!
keep us in the loop with where you're at and where you're heading - I have friends from windsurfing all over the country i can happily acquaint you with. Do you have a *general* idea of the path you'll be traveling?
ReplyDelete