Made it over Cascade Mountain Passes

Day 6, Monday, Aug 28th Republic – Colville, WA. 50 miles 3,546 elevation gain.

Trusting my Adventure Cycling maps and not Google Maps biking routes!

Hard to leave the comfortable motel room this morning. Walked across street to grocery store picked up breakfast, gateraid and water to get me over Sherman Pass today. A steep 10 mile steady climb. Yikes!! Procrastinated in motel and shoved off at 9am after working on blog. Going to be another hot one with temps in the 90’s again! I am wiping the sweat off my brow after 5 minutes in these climbs. Smoke is not bad and no wind, good day for climbing other than the heat.

Got to the summit of Sherman Pass by early afternoon and celebrated with eating my sandwich and a peach. Was a tough climb and took advantage of the slow vehicle turnouts along the climb to catch my breathe and wipe away my sweat. Had about 2 dozen logging trucks pass me, but a lot less traffic, mostly loud pickup trucks and working trucks.

Sherman Pass, 5,575’ elevation. Time for a sandwich. I made it. Bring on the descent!!

Was a nice steady descent. Sherman Pass is the highest driveable summit in Washington at 5,575’. Getting tired of these long steady climbs, I try to not look up and keep my head down. Should have one more climb tomorrow to get past the Cascades and then flattens out somewhat. Arrived in Colville at 5:30pm tired. Found a cheap motel to escape the heat and walked across street to grocery store to pick up a couple ceasar salads and a large Foster beer!

Day 7, Tuesday, Aug 29, Colville – Ione, WA. 42 miles, Total 381 elevation gain 2,631

Liking these quiet off highway 20 bypasses.

Spoke to firefighters in motel lobby this morning, a couple active fires in area, but getting most under control. Said besides lightning, mostly caused by people and sparks from lawnmower, chain dragging behind car, muffler, etc.

Ride started off with side roads, so happy to use my biking maps and get relief from busy roads around towns. Lots of smaller hills and then my last long climb of just under 2,000 elevation gain. Yea!! Warm again but no wind and enjoyable ride. After today will be done with Cascades and next big climb will be Glacier Nat’l Park. Day started with valleys and ranches, saw a couple wolfs dart into the woods when they saw me, they were eyeing a couple cattle grazing. Came back out onto Hwy 20 and couple from Chicago, I had met in motel lobby, stopped and Dave graciously filled my water bottles!

So happy to come across a convenience store. Not much available but slim Jim, chips and soda was good for lunch.

Half way thru ride, came across a store/cabins with drinks and snacks for sale, had lunch there. Had a 4-mile descent into Ione population 447. Felt like I was on a groomer ski slope in Vail cruising down the windy descent, big smile, maxed out at 34mph and was using my brakes, weight on bike gets the bike shaking a little🤪. Supposed to start raining hard tonight with flash flood warnings. 3/4” of rain tonight and all day Wednesday. Staying at cute motel, Riverview Motel, on the river with a laundromat next door to my room!! Jackpot!! Talked with owner about upcoming weather and was told they were already sold out for tomorrow. What!! What to do with weather turning bad?? Think I will sleep on it. Took bike ride into town after cleaning up and ate a cheeseburger at bar/cafe. Town of Ione consists of grocery store, bar/cafe and gas station, another motel with 8 rooms. Let’s see what tomorrow brings with weather turning bad and no room at the inn🤪.