Day 5 Ellensburg to Vantage
Having taken the counsel of the bicycle wheel man that my load was too heavy, I purchased a new bike trailer which has improved my life in many ways. I preserves my wheels, makes it easier to steer, and attracts to interests of elderly ladies who want to peek at what they believe to be my grandchild. My neck and shoulders are wonderfully pain free
It spent most of the day on Wednesday doing errands on Ellensburg. In addition to getting the cart, I did some laundry, shaved off my hair, mailed some letters, and had a wonderful conversation with Jack Calvert and said good bye to him.
The landscape east of the Cascades has a different kind of beauty. The hills are more rolling and covered with grass. There are many more cattle than people, and towns are much further apart. I spent Wednesday night in Vantage, Washington on the banks of the Columbia River.
The abandoned railway line has left a wonderful infrastructure which serves bicyclists well. In addition to the 5 tunnels blasted through the mountains, trail enthusiasts have retrofitted the bridge at Beverly to accommodate cyclists, hikers, and equestrians. This is the only way of crossing the river in over a hundred miles. The scenery along the banks was wonderful.
Summer has come early to Eastern Washington and I had to bike 40 miles in the 95 degree heat. It was a relief to finally make it to Othello where I had a wonderful conversation with Don Short, the Lutheran Pastor. I shall write more about Othello tomorrow.
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