Sitting in a small town restaurant for lunch, 31 miles into our ride, my dad said "Well, I think it's safe to say that our adventure is officially underway." And that it is.
We're in Rasor State Park, a pine forest at the foot of the Cascade Mountains. Day 1 of our ride was cold, windy, and cloudy. It was also simple and fun.
We started just before 9AM pacific time at the ferry stop in Anacortes Park. After taking a few commemorative photos, my dad and I began riding and my mom set out in the car. The scenery was strange for the first thirty miles. A strange mix of farms, mountain ranges mostly blocked by clouds, and industrial powerplants and warehouses. One thing is certain: it felt very far from home.
In Sudro Wooley, the town 31 miles in, my dad and I ate lunch and waited for my mom to arrive. After parking the car at our overnight destination, she rode the 17 miles back to meet us.
We all rode the final stretch together and I breathed a sigh of relief as the sun peaked its way through the clouds and some beautiful blue skies shone through. I also breathed heavy as I set off for 7 miles of solo riding at 20 mph to warm my body up in the chilly, 50 some degree air.
The final stretch into our campsite was a beauty. I could feel our distance to the mountains shrinking in a very surreal way. At the end of the day, we had ridden 49 miles at an average speed of 13 MPH with a max speed of 30.4 MPH. Now, in our secluded pine forest, we've already set up camp, bundled up in warm clothes, and filled ourselves with chili dogs, salad, and wine. The only thing left to do is eat s'mores and read myself to sleep.
Tomorrow should be beautiful, ending ten miles up into the mountains. It will also be a day with very little chance of internet service. So when you hear from me again, it's likely I'll have ridden my two wheels up and over the Cascade Mountains. Wish me luck!
