Day 13

71 miles, 6 hours and 20 minutes of riding. Cle Elum to Wenatchee



The choice was plain enough. I-90 with the wide shoulders, but the noise and the climb up from Vantage, or State Route 2 to be got to by crossing 4,000 foot Blewett Pass. But just knowing the elevation of the pass is not enough information. I didn't know the elevation of CleElum or the grade up the pass, or the shoulder width so it was with some trepidation that I chose the pass. As it turned out it was really a beautiful ride. The first ten miles were on a relatively unused road, paved with asphalt so it was quiet, with an easy grade and a tail wind. Even when the traffic got heavier the other conditions held until the last 3 or 4 miles of the climb. The last few miles took about an hour to do and it was pretty hard work. Then came the looooong run down to SR 2 and into Wenatchee. The usual climatic effect of being east of the Cascades resulted in some mild sum burn on my arms and legs.



Metaphor of the Day: The bank of elevation keeps exacting records. If you take out a line of credit it must eventually be repaid. On the other hand all deposits made are assured of repayment The bank of the wind on the other hand is a fickle and capricious accountant. It cares not for fairness or good will. It rewards gratuitously and it exacts payment as it pleases. For the past two days it has been kind. I don't suppose it will always be so.



Hot as I rolled into Wenatchee.

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