Day 2 - I forgot my umbrella
Day 2 - Kelso, WA to Morton, WA - 61 miles - 2700 ft of climbing
If you have ever biked along a two lane road with truck traffic going 60-70mph while it’s raining, you know what it’s like to really live! The spray off their speeding trailer tires comes flying in your face and then the pull of the wind sucks you towards the trailer, what a rush!!
We knew there was a possibility of rain today, but prayed there would be a different forecast when we actually started biking. I peeped out the curtains in the morning and saw a wet drive, which gave me the answer for how to dress for the day. Rain gear! I almost didn’t have rain pants on this trip. My hiking rain pants don’t quite fit around the waste, let’s just say that the velcro makes a ripping sound whenever I bend over. So those didn’t seem like a good idea, and well I got busy and didn’t think about getting a different pair, until we were in Boise, Idaho on the way to Oregon. I found a store in Portland where I could order online and pick up the next day, so I got rain pants and waterproof socks. Let’s just say that they saved me from turning purple today.
The scenery was so pretty, but no pictures! Too wet to pull out the phone while riding to snap a picture, and who really wants to stop in a downpour to take pictures. Some of the boys spotted Mt Rainer in the distance, I was apparently too busy watching the road or something to notice the mountain peaking out of the clouds. My friend calls Mt. Rainer, Mt Creepy, because it’s always hiding in the clouds and peeking out randomly.
At around mile 50 we had a long climb before descending to our hotel. This was just about the time that the rain started to pick up it’s downfall rate. We crossed a bridge over a river gorge that was so pretty, I really wanted to snap a picture but there was no shoulder and those semi trucks were flying by, so you will just have to picture it in your mind’s eye. Fog, green water, pine trees on either side, and dreamy colors. Near the top of the climb there was a pull-off for a scenic overlook.I needed some relief from my saddle, so the 4 of us that were riding together pulled off for a view of the lake below.
I think we all discovered that waterproof clothing has a limit for the amount of water it can repel. I’m still thankful for the tech gear that makes rides in the rain a little more bearable. We are also thankful for our drivers that offered to take our wet dirty gear to the laundry mat to clean it for us. This hotel has very hot water, so I know I took full advantage and created a sauna to warm my bones!
We are walking to dinner and then will make it an early night, so we can get up and do this all over again! Tomorrow is supposed to be a dry day, hopefully, but at least we have clean clothes for whatever comes our way!
