Well this is a day for the record books. First time I did not finish under my own power this ride. I used a sag wagon for the first time on this ride, a personal failure. Turns out it was not an official sag wagon, this gentleman Bob (I think) and his kids were following his (Bob’s) wife on the ride. They alternate years riding and driving the kids, this was her year riding.
I guess any number of things could have contributed. I had a cold for over week that just cleared the start of the week leading up to the ride. I had two nights of less then 4 hours of sleep in a row, the first due to a blasting tv in the next room all night. I don’t know why I could not get to sleep the last night of the ride, I tried but just could not. Then I awoke at 4am for no reason. Strange. Stomach didn’t feel right that morning could be anything. And finally my calf muscles were tight, really tight. I had to lower my seat a bit just to turn the pedals.
I didn’t find any all night places to get breakfast. So I had to wait for the Rotary breakfast, which started a little early, but was an hour late by what I needed for the ride ahead.
Here are the pictures, this posting is live a little late since I was pretty Knackered last night.
Breakfast in Leavenworth not quite ready, it’s going to be a hot day an early start would have been nice. Bummer.
Nice river.
Friends
And we go our separate ways. The end.
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Nice scenery on US-2. 
People are passing me like crazy this morning, man I wish I could get it together. 
I am stopping quite a bit today, I am way too unsteady to snap pics while riding. 
Here we go… 
Tumwater campground… In the Wenatchee National Forest. 
More riders zipping past me. 
I am having a bad morning but I am still going to get pictures. I should have left an hour or two earlier then it would be less of an issue that I don’t feel so hot. Nice river. 
Pushing on… 
Rider service stop at Nason Creek by the Lakewood Rotary and South Tacoma Rotary, 
Still lots of people here. Most of them passed me earlier. 
Still not feeling good, my calves have been tight all morning, hopefully this will help. 
Ready to load up on water. 
The ever appreciated bike mechanics. 
OMG I could use a massage. They are from a place on Steilacoom Blvd I need to dig their card out and add the business name here later. 
Having someone talk to you while getting a massage is not very relaxing. But she was pretty zoned out so… The woman on the left I worked for at one time. The one on the left is a friend that I met her and her husband in spin classes many years ago. 
The Hula Hoop competition. 
We have a winner. 
I have seen quite a few people having to stretch more than I remember. 
Back on the road. 
Still going, but not strong. 
Still getting passed. 
Still going up. Not the final climb at all got miles before that. This is not looking good for me. 
I’ll let them pass before heading out since the shoulder is so narrow. 
Might as well stop here and let them go first so they don’t have to pass me. 
Here comes the top. Whoo hoo. Though this does not bode well for the big climb. 
That is where I have been… 
This is what I saw on my descent. That lever should have been in the middle like… 
This. There we go… 
Whoops. This is not good. What you are seeing is my bike in Granny gear all the time. It is really easy to pedal but you go really slow and not very far. Basically after going downhill I will lose all of my momentum before I can pedal again, mega bummer. 
Going back upwards again. 
Someone taking it easy… 
These guys are just hanging out, I guess they will just have to pass me. 
Onward… 
Still going slowly. 
This is the climb before the next rest stop. 
Pretty. 
I like the sound of a river. I could stay here all day but… 
Oops, I forgot to take pictures at the last rest stop by the Sumner Rotary. I heard there were about three riders behind me still. 
Still nice scenery. 
Man it is so freaking hot here… It was shorly after this that I finally had to abandon. First time ever I did that on this ride. Later I wil find that my saddle soreness was pretty bad, and with my calf muscles locking up, the final climb won’t work. Even the descent will be a problem. My legs won’t last if I stand on the descent and I can’t just sit on my saddle right now going down either. 
I sagged past the top to the finish, with a guy Bob and his two kids. They were out looking for thier Wife and Mother who was apparently an animal on descending and likely here already anyway. Thanks Bob and co. 
Shower truck, I am so there. 
First I will need someting to change into. There are out bags laid out nicely on the grass. When I got up there it was REALLY easy to find mine. It was the flower pattern suitcase… The only flower patterned suitcase. It pays to be different. 
After finishing with my shower and finding out I was holding up my bus, trying to get my suitcase which has wheels and mike bike over to the bus and truck for the bikes. A tandem rider that I talked with about Rivendell bikes, he and his wife each have one, helped me with my bike until I got my bags stowed. 
A could of friends getting their stuff from the bus. I am glad I had a chance to shower. 
The mad dash. I was lucky I got mine first. And we go our separate ways. The end. Breakfast in Leavenworth not quite ready, it’s going to be a hot day an early start would have been nice. Bummer. 
I am outa here. After scarfing breakfast. 
The new route out of town is pretty but I really liked the old stop in Plain. It was a nice little stop with Llamas and Donkeys that would lick and chew on unsuspecting riders bike when they were parked too close to their pens. Maybe someday… 
Pushing onward. I can’t seem to get any speed and breakfast does not seem to be doing it’s job.
