We finally got free of the restraints of the city about 1:00 PM on Friday June 8th. The first part of the trip was through the valley formed thousands of years ago by giant mud flows after a volcanic eruption of Mt. Rainier. Thankfully since we were going to be in the shadow of the giant mountain, it is no longer an active volcano, unlike it's sister just to the south, Mt. St. Helens.
After just a few miles going up toward the mountain pass we stopped to put a jackets on under our Aerostich riding gear, because the clouds had backed up against the mountains and blocked the warming sun. We continued up knowing that because of the clouds we wouldn't be seeing the beauty of Mt Rainier today.
Snow greeted us toward the top of Chinook pass. The roads were bare but there was still quite a lot of snow on the surrounding hills. Only a few trails had opened, so there were still no hikers, and very little traffic.
Just before the summit the clouds started to part and the warming sun was out. It would be nice and sunny all the way back down into the Yakima valley, and through the Palouse up to Clarkston.
We stopped in Sunnyside for my caffeine fix, and enjoyed the salsa music of a local radio station. There is a large Hispanic population in all the eastern Washington farming towns so just about anywhere you go, there is salso music playing.
After Sunnyside we only made it about another hour until we stopped for a quick dinner in Pasco. Then it was on through the farm country back roads following the path of Lewis and Clark into Clarkston Washington. Except we did their route backwards. We pulled into Clarkston a little past nine, and found our hotel. The gps routed us about 2 miles past the hotel. I did a "Find Local Lodging" search on it and the second time, it finally put us in the right spot. Weirdness....
No problems on day one at all. We did see a couple of deer run across the road about a quarter mile in front of us on a long straight section. That kind of took me out of my Zen moment coming down off the mountain into the beautiful valley. I paid a little more attention after that. Of course if usually the one you don't see that will get you. I also managed to deplete the local bird population by one Chukar. The crazy thing flew right into my front tire. I felt a slight thump and saw feathers flying in my rear view mirror.
Other the that it was nice pleasant ride of about 370 miles.
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stray Cat © 2009
Graphic Design by Max and Dixie
