deCycles Pacific Mountains 2010
Journal Entry
Date: June 15
Day 3: Tuesday
Departure: Randle, WA
Arrival: Woodland, WA

Distance: 103 miles
Highlights: First century ride this year. Pedal around the perimeter of Mt. St. Helens.
Description: Well, just 1-week ago the bikes were all bright and shining and packed in the deCycles cargo trucks. Right now they look like they couldn’t be sold on the used market. Every single bike is beyond dirt. Today’s ride was at least in the Top 5 most difficult and challenging days on any deCycles bike trip. We woke up to clouds and drizzle. And that later turned to a downpour in the low 40s. This made us frozen to the bone. Log trucks and motor vehicles would whiz by spraying us with water. Anyone who brought extra clothing put it on. There were times when the sun came out only to fool us later with big, wet, rains that soaked us through and through.

Our mapping for the day was a challenge also. We had to choose an alternate route because the original route around the east side of Mt. St. Helens as snowed in. So we chose SR 12 and various roads paralleling I-5. Chalking the roads didn’t work in the rain, so we just played deCycles tag at every turn. And finally, we had to climb a 14% grade in the last 3-miles. That about killed us, but the road was so steep that it was better to up the steep side than the shallow side.

We finally arrived at our overnight location about 7pm. Because we were all soaked, filthy, and cold, we decided to do laundry tonight instead of tomorrow night. The Easy Rider group again fixed a meal for us. We were visited by Lou and Michel Elliot, two Portland deCycles veterans. They are treating us to lunch tomorrow at Burgerville, a favorite West Coast burger joint. They are great people who believe in the purpose of deCycles.

Tomorrow is an easier day distance-wise. We are deeply hoping for a dry road.
Climate: Cloudy, rainy, cold, mid-40s. Brrrr!
Overnight: Woodland Christian Church