Menk's Across America - Journal Entry #1

June 14, 2002 10:31 pm

We are finally leaving my parents home in Sioux Falls after pushing my Dad's 1981 Toyota Corolla into the garage. As I read the "Be Green" and "Share the road with bicyclists" bumper stickers, I realized this was fitting beginning to our cycling trip. We drove through the night and watched the day return in Wyoming. Our final destination was a campground in Coeur d'Alene, ID. As we unpacked the camper I realized we are probably the only family that brings 4 pairs of ski poles and roller skis along a bike trip. Whether we will actually use them I do not know, but the notion of roller skiing at different stops in the US makes bringing them along worth the nuisance. We take off for Seattle tomorrow to pick up Dan, a maintenance worker from Sioux Falls who will be joining my family on our ride across America.

June 19, 2002 2:54 pm

We arrived in Winthrop, WA yesterday. The first day of biking went well. We started in Deception Pass State Park near Anacortes, WA and biked 84 miles to New Halen, WA. The ride was fairly flat and paralleled the Skagit River valley. The second day was approximately 5,000 feet of climbing from New Halen to Washington Pass and down to Winthrop, WA. It was raining in the morning, so Dad tried to ease our discomfort with his duct tape and zip lock bag contraption. I think it was supposed to keep his head dry, or possibly aid his steering. His appearance reminded me of the coneheads from Saturday Night Live. Later in the day he converted his head gear and another bag into sock liners. He looked like Hermes with plastic wings on his feet. Mom, Dad, and I compared the climb to the Birkie trail. You would climb to a turn and around the corner would be another climb. It was comparable to the hill after Highway 77. The descent was a blast. We rode seven miles down a seven percent grade from the top of Washington Pass. A few people who were stopped at the top were amazed that people would be descending down the highway. It was also snowing, so that might have added to the wonderment. Today we took a rest and Mom fed her shopping addiction, while Ben and I fly fished. Dad says he spent forty cents on a screw for his bike cleat and Mom spent 40 dollars on a pair of pants. I may have to separate them when we start biking again. The next two days will be tough. The ride from Tonasket to Kettle Falls, WA will include climbing two passes for a total of approximately 6,000 feet of climbing.

Photos

Biking Sign

Biking along the Skagit River

Dad's Conehead 2

Dad's Conehead

Dad dipping his bike

Final Bike Inspection

Final Route Mapping

Jeremiah Crossing Gorge Creek

Mom's Ice Cream Break

Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad crossing Gorge Creek

Mom Dipping her bike

One of Jeremiah's Flat Tires

Start Day 2

Start Day 1

Snow

The dog and the bikes

Washington Pass