Out of Oregon into Washington and Real Heat

8/28/2006: Day 9, 52.8 miles; Total 334.5 Miles

Following the TB’s advice, I got up at 6:15 AM and was out the door by 7:15 from Umatilla with a goal of 53 miles to Walla Walla, Washington. This was the “beat the heat” strategy. In order to save money, avoid my snoring, and be closer to his beloved VW Camper, the TB slept in the van last night just outside my window. The parking lot looked flat to me but he put it up on blocks to make it perfect for the refrigerator function. He also ran a cord through the window to plug in his electric and then brought in all our supplies to make me a perfect breakfast. I opened the shades at 6:30, but he never came in. I ate my preferred breakfast of a bowl of cereal and a breakfast bar and felt good to go, when we met on my way out the door. He was upset that he drove off yesterday and left most of his plastic leveling devices at the last stop. Now his warm clothes are in Shreveport, my Pittsburgh Pirate Hat is in Amarillo, and his levelers are in Cascade Locks!

I rode for the final 24 miles along the Columbia River and then cut East away from the river on U. S. Route 12 toward Walla Walla. At the 18-mile mark I left eastern Oregon and entered eastern Washington about 140 miles from Idaho. The terrain changed once more as we came into more irrigated farmland and began wheat, alfalfa hay, beans, and grape/wine country. The route also began to rise so that I had climbed 1000 feet on reaching Walla Walla. After the first 20 miles it was tough, probably related to the heat and the gentle uphill climb. I struggled. The temperature reached 115 degrees on my cycle computer. I know it reads a little high, but this was plenty more heat then yesterday. When the TB came along we hid under a tree (the only tree in miles) near a closed truck weigh station. At the town of Touchet, some 17.5 miles from destination, we went into an air-conditioned gas station/restaurant for about 45 minutes. I changed from my Florescent Yellow long sleep t-shirt to a long sleeve white permanent press dress shirt. The dress shirt was very much cooler. Over top I wear a florescent vest.

At Touchet, I had serious doubt that I would make it to Walla Walla but the A/C and a pint of Grapefruit Juice and an ice cream sandwich seemed to revive me so we agreed to try five more miles to Lowden. In Lowden, a town of perhaps 20 houses, there is a large grain supply store on the south side of the road so the TB pulled in for the shade, blocking their main work door. I pulled in between the building and the van and sat on the entrance floor when a farmer opened the door to bring out a fork truckload of seed. This was Ed Chvatal, Jr., owner of 3500 acres of farmland in wheat, peas, alfalfa, beans, and cattle. Ed is a graduate of Washington State University in agricultural business. He’s a young guy but been a farmer for 30 years. He says the wheat has the largest profit margin this year as the competition further south had a bad year. Usually the Alfalfa is the highest profit margin. Ed is headed out to Atlanta tomorrow to follow his Cougars to their game against that other well-known agriculture school, Auburn. We discussed the former Cougars coach who was hired by Alabama, but got into trouble with women and alcohol and got fired before he started. Ed confirmed that their had been some talk of the coach being involved with coeds at WSU. Ed will also play a little golf in Atlanta, but says he’s a “hacker.” I learned how the circle irrigation equipment turns without breaking. Each set of wheels has a separate electric motor, but the motor only turns when a sensor in the angle between units gets beyond a certain angle. I always wanted to know that! I even stopped outside Umatilla this morning to watch to see if the units actually were moving; I had even thought perhaps they went out and pulled them with a tractor! Go Cougars!

After talking with Ed I had a rejuvenation of energy. The conversation did me good. I jumped on the bike and took off the final blazing 12.5 miles. Ed had told me that no matter how hot it felt, it wasn’t as hot as Florida!

With five miles to go into town I passed a tree! Yes, it was a live tree on the south side of the road and actually making shade. It was in front of a house with two white German shepherd dogs. The dogs were behind a fence, and between fence and road and under the shade was Grass. Yes, it was live grass, the first I’d seen since perhaps Pensacola! I had gone 30 yards past, but recognized the error of my way and turned back. I lay down in the grass, and next I know the homeowner handing me a very cold bottle of water awakens me. Soon the TB came by and we agreed I’d go for the town and he’d have another A/C room ready.

I started once more in the heat above 100 degrees and pedaled the last 6 miles to town. As I looked up I could see half a mile away the van at the Holiday Inn Express; and the front tire went flat! So I walked the Stallion on over to the Holiday Inn to find no vacancy. We loaded the Stallion drove to a hotel across town. There are no rooms in town because the Fair just opened and there are very large forest fires just a dozen miles east of town. The air has looked somewhat hazy, but I didn’t know it was forest fire smoke and exactly on our route.

So I have decided I will take a day off tomorrow as this is the last bike shop for several hundred miles and the Stallion needs his gear wires adjusted and perhaps some oil and grease. And, I hate to use the word, but I’m a little weary. I may ride from the West of town over here to the east of town to get that part finished.