A Mighty Wind

Day 5  Peshastin, WA

We started the day riding along a beautiful road of rolling hills right on the shore of Lake Chelan.  Had a good breakfast at the Apple Cup Cafe in Chelan.  The lake is glacialy formed.  It is 52 miles long and 1500 feet deep.  Quite an amazing site.  At the end of the trip along the shore is the steepest climb we have had this trip, up to 10-11%, but not too long.   We met a couple from Tacoma who were visiting the area and riding.  At the top we started down a long, about 8 mile, downhill to the Columbia River again, hoping the winds would not be anything like yesterday when the headwinds were very strong.

As we descended the final steep section to the river we were hit with some wicked cross winds that almost knocked us off the road.  As we turned the corner the wind disappeared.  This was just a taste of what was to come.  We got down to Alt US 97 and turned to head south along the Columbia.  The headwinds began and it was, I have to say, brutal.  There were times in gusts where it seemed like we were stopped in our tracks.  I literally blew Jim off the road once.  It seemed relentless.  And then suddenly the headwind was gone and we had a stong tailwind for a couple of miles.  And then a crosswind and then a headwind again.  It felt like the wind blew from every direction but it definitely blew nonstop.

One of the other highlights for me was the massive orchards everywhere among the hills and mountains.  All the way from Chelan to the end of the day we passed apple and cherry orchards.  We stopped in the fruit store and got an apple and an ice cream cone.  We passed by Wenatchee, the 'apple capitol of the world'.  The World!  I believe it because the orchards are immense and looking at just one tree I think I could see as many apples on the tree as I have seen my whole life.  It is amazing, truly.  One of the benefits of riding at the speed of a bicycle is the chance to really see what you are passing by.  And today, the wind made it even easier because we were going even slower than usual.  

We finally made it to Cashmere, our planned stopping point.  We felt pretty tired from the battle with the winds and did not see a convenient campground so we have ended up in a motel again.  This was OK because it gave us a chance to watch the Celtics and Heat.  Unfortunately the Heat won. 

This is our second epic day I would say with the winds.  Along the Columbia River the wind must have been a steady 30mph with gusts to 50.  Not like Rainy Pass in the snow, but epic none-the-less.

Hoping for tailwinds tomorrow.