Today would have been my parents 47th wedding anniversary, but my mom has been gone 7 years now, which seems unreal. I've been thinking about my parents today and how much they would have liked visiting the mountains and rainforest here together.
I forgot to mention that, yesterday at the rest stop hosted by the MS group, I learned that MS is linked to low vitamin d (populations are largest in the NE and NW U.S.), but also to having had mononucleosis in your 20s. I'll have to look into that further to try to understand that more.
I had another 2am wake-up that I didn't fight nearly as long, but I did consider getting up to go to the local laundromat. Good thing I didn't because it wasn't a 24-hour place. Even still, it took me what felt like 2 hours to get back to sleep and then I had some weird nightmares. We all shared one big room in the church and I was pleasantly surprised at how few snores I heard. A couple people did get up in the night, but I was asleep so early (with earplugs) that I wasn't too bothered by much until my bladder was speaking to me.
Even though I was very efficient in getting organized and my oatmeal and coffee made, I was somehow the last person out of camp!! Ugh. I hate that! I'm also one of the slowest riders, I think, so I am always worried about holding up the rest stop van. Most people went to get coffee and breakfast, so I ended up being out of town an entire HOUR before everyone else! I rode with first timer Cove; he's a 19 year old route leader. We have 5 route leaders for our little group of 11 (another woman joined us last night) because 4 of them are in training for the Pacific Coast trip that starts the day after we get back to Seattle. That trip runs from Seattle to San Diego. Cove and I got to know each other some and he was patient when I needed to stop for rest or a photo. We leap-frogged each other on the hills... he's a stronger climber, but I seem to have the better bike for fast decents. We enjoyed looking at the flowers and the views as we climbed our biggest mountains yet and our longest distance yet - 68 miles for the day!
Rest Stop 1 was in the tiny town of Joyce where there was a super cute General Store, where I spent $20! I got fudge, cheese, bottled cold coffee, a banana, eye drops (my eyes had been burning all morning, maybe from the cottomwood or just sunblock in my eyes), a giant Oatmeal Creme Pie, and a sparkly green lizard for my friend Amy who likes lizards.
I was still determined to get to town in time for laundry, so Cove, Todd B., and I headed onward to some major climbing! We would tackle the biggest climb of the trip. It wasn't as bad as it looked on the map, but this is the first day it's really warm and sunny (low to mid 70s, I think), so the climbs in the sun were hot. The decents felt amazing and they sure were speedy! I pedaled as hard as I could down them and Cove just drafted me the entire time. There were quite a few logging trucks, but a decent shoulder that I felt safe and managed to catch some speed from their draft as they passed. Cove and I eventually got separated, but met up again at Rest Stop 2, which was on the side of the road, sort of near Pillar Point. I ate some protein and refilled my water bottles, then headed to the road.
We still had 28 miles to camp. The next 20 miles were more hot climbing and some more gradual decending, so I wasn't moving as fast as I thought I would. The views were pretty and some of the clumpy pine trees remind me of something of a Dr. Seuss book or Tim Burton movie.
Rest Stop 3 was at another general store in the town of Beaver. With only 8 miles to go, I ate a Rice Krispy Treat, refilled my water bottles, and pressed onward. My tailbone has really started to ache, so I'm constantly shifting and trying to stretch on the bike. It was mostly downhill to the town of Forks, but a headwind decided to say hello on the last climb into town. I stopped to take photos of a little Gnomeville display, a Beachcombers Museum, and the Forks Welcome sign.
Once at Forks High School, I ran into the gym to shower and power walked to Laundry 101, only 1/2 mile from camp, thankfully. Upon arrival, the nice lady informed me that I was late, but that she would allow me to do my wash, thankfully! I only had $20s, so I got $20 worth of quarters! They just kept coming out of the machine! The wash was $6.25 for a speedy 18-minute wash and to dry was only $1 for a 16-minute dry. Unfortunately, I had forgotten my laundry detergent pod in the trailer, despite my friend Sarah graciously buying me a whole bag to share with the group!
After laundry, I very sleepily walked back to Forks High School to set up my tent and sleeping situation. After a while, a group of us walked down the street to the Pacific Pizza. The line was out the door and the food was good, but it took FOREVER. We spoke with the manager for a bit and she told us her life story, which was interesting. Forks is a small town, known for the Twilight series. I've never read or seen the series, but I walked around to take photos for my friends who are fans.
I returned to camp to everyone sitting around playing a game, but I'm not long for this day. I'm eating my double-decker Oatmeal Creme Pie that I bought at the General Store in Joyce today. Yum!
I wish I could recall all the funny, interesting, deep, beautiful, quirky moments of the day, but, like any experience in Life, only you can share so much of it with others.
Thanks for following along! If you'd like to donate to Bike the US for MS, here's my link:
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