Climbing over rainy pass, met some great people

For those of you who are still bothering to read this, thank you. For those of you who like statistics, here are a couple.
Total miles ridden: 246.
Total number of bugs that hit my head or face yesterday: 21
Maximum speed coming down the road from Loup Loup Pass: 41.9
I said I wasn't going to do statistics, but several of you asked for some indication of the numbers. I probably won't post number of bug hits again. I figure it will be a constant statistic and although amusing will become very boring. If there happens to be a spectacularly impressive bug hit, one which requires stopping and cleaning my face I will be sure to tell you.
On to some people I've met. First I'd like to talk generally about drivers on the road. Most drivers are very courteous and give me lots of room. I have come to associate a sound which as a driver is not good but as a bicycle Rider is very good. That is the sound of a car coming up behind me which crosses over into the other lane to give me lots of space. That is the sound of the wheels crossing the rumble strip in the center lane. This sound lets me know they have seen me and are going to give me space. When you are averaging 3 miles an hour up a hill it becomes a very comforting sound. The alternative are those people who choose to stay right in their Lane and give me no space. That rumble strips sound is exactly what I like to hear. Another point for drivers, when you see a wide shoulder and wonder why the bicycle Rider is not using it, it is because it is covered with all kinds of debris. I have come to believe I could build anything on the face of this planet simply by collecting debris from the side of the road. So drivers are in general the first group of nice people I've met.
Now to individual people. Unintentionally I rode twice as far 2 days ago as I had planned to. Instead of stopping somewhere short of Rainy pass I ended up doing all of Rainy and Washington passes. This was the first day this season the pass was open to any traffic. When I rolled into town later that night after 12 hours on the bike I was exhausted. The tank as they say was on empty. The town I came in to was Winthrop Washington. Just before town is a wonderful couple named Jim and Karen. They operate a camp just for bicyclists. They have been doing it for many years. It offers a place to pitch a tent, take a hot shower with a solar and gas-fired still, and use a regular toilet one sits on, vice finding a bush along the side of the road. After the very long and arduous day I had had it was wonderful to meet a couple who share what the have. They both informed me that I was by far the earliest across the pass bicycle Rider they had seen, by nearly a month. I had not intended to be the first and certainly not by a month. I kept wondering as I left Oak Harbor Washington and started on the main bicycle route why I didn't see any other bicycle Riders. It is because they all have brains that function properly.
The next morning I rode into Winthrop. The place was very busy with their annual celebration called 49ers days. This is an annual celebration they have been doing since 1945. They have a parade and Cowboys and everybody comes from far around to spend the weekend in Winthrop. I stopped to have breakfast at a place called three fingered Jack's. It was packed. A couple was sitting at a table for 5 and was just getting ready to leave. They let me sit with them and after they departed I asked the next two couples who came in if they wanted to sit with me. I would look rather silly hogging a whole table for five people. First I met Judy and Jeff. They had driven over from Spokane Washington to celebrate the parade and festivities. Judy and Jeff had not originally been married to each other. They had actually married a brother and sister and had become good friends. Unfortunately both that brother and sister had passed away from cancer. So Jeff and Judy after many years of wonderful friendship, and the loss of dear loved ones decided to get married. Jeff had been a Navy SEAL and retired as a chief petty officer. His first Tour of Duty was in Vietnam and he lost his entire Squad in a firefight. It was obvious to see how much he loved those men and how much he had loved the Navy through his 22-year career. Judy is an artist and she paints in acrylic and pastels. As I was leaving to use the restroom and when I returned Jeff had already paid my bill. The next couple to sit down was Jason and Toni. They were both from Everett Washington and head come over to camp for the weekend. Jason had served four years in the army as an infantryman and as a mortarman. Toni

was his girlfriend and it was obvious they were going to end up married. They had a natural ease with each other.
So as I said the point of my blog and a big portion of this trip is to meet people who have not been in the military. I do believe God puts people in our path who we need to meet. So when you are by yourself and he gives you a table for 5 ask for others to join you. You will not regret it.
The picture of me was taken as I came over rainy pass. It is boring, but probably one of those mandatory photos.