300 miles / 4090 miles (6545 km) total

After a few days of recovery and feasting, including "Schwarzbrot" and "Weizenbier", we and our hosts were finally ready to start on the final leg of our cross-country trip to Astoria, OR and the Pacific Ocean.

On Monday morning we left home. That means: 1 Honda CRV, 4 riders, 4 bicycles, 1 top box, 2 bike racks, 1 big cooler box, all of Maren's and my gear, and a few duffels with the gear of our friends. Three of us had a driver's license and we planned to share driving the car. The weather was nearly perfect (in fact, during the day, temperatures were in the 90s).

Mike drove the car with Maren and me to Peshastin near Leavenworth, the "Bavarian town of America". Marilyn cycled up all the way to that town. After a hearty breakfast we changed drivers. Mike, Maren and I cycled up the route on Hwy 97 towards Blewett Pass, while Marilyn drove the car. The shoulder was good although we had plenty of traffic. The scenery was great. And the best thing: We were riding with no baggage except our handlebar bags. All over we had to climb some 3,000 ft. in 20 miles. It ended up with me arriving at the pass as the slowest rider in the group. But after that, I was allowed to drive the car on the downhill the next 10 miles or so to a little restaurant, where I stopped and waited for the rest of our pellaton. They zipped in very fast. 

After some refreshing milkshakes (Marilyn is able to suck the whole glass in only a few minutes) again we took off. First we had a few more miles of gentle downhill, then we climbed for a few miles up another saddle. At this time we had a very strong side wind which did not help the climbing but it cooled the heat. On top, we stopped and took in the great scenery.

     

Climbing toward Ellensburg

Again I was chosen to drive the car on the following downhill. And this downhill was memorable indeed: The riders had a strong wind on their back and coasted down the hills at 30 mph!! That was fun. In the flats, surrounding Ellensburg, it was very hot. So we all headed into town and soon found a reasonably priced motel, then we made it to the grocery to stock up on food and drinks that evening.

On Tuesday we were up very early. After a good breakfast near the motel, we hit the road before 8 AM. We headed south towards Yakima Canyon.  Mike drove the car.  After a few miles we three riders reached the canyon with beautiful scenery. Traffic was very low and the climbs also. We enjoyed the ride in the morning sun very much.

 

 

Early morning, riding toward Yakima Canyon

 

   

Yakima Canyon

 

           

 

Later I drove the car from the middle of the canyon to its end. Then Marilyn drove, while Mike, Maren and I made our way into the town of Yakima. It was lunchtime and hot. In town we had a light meal in a Mexican restaurant. Due to the heat,  we did not wish to ride again in the afternoon. But fortunately we were in wine country. We started with a wine tasting tour right in the town of Yakima. Later we visited a few other wineries. Some of them were closed but all of them were placed in very nice settings. Late afternoon we arrived in Toppenish. Again it was too hot to camp, so another motel was selected. After checked in, we drove to a cafe in town to refresh on milkshakes. That evening we stayed in one of our rooms to have dinner out of the cooler box.

 

   
Peter cuts the "Schwarzbrot" for dinner out of the cooler; 

Maren enjoys dessert

Wednesday was the day with the most mileage. After breakfast we were again on the road before 8 AM. From Toppenish it was 36 miles on Hwy 97 across the Reservation of the Yakama Nation. 

 

 

Climbing Satus Pass; Mt. Adams in the background

 

After some shorter climbs, the final climb over Satus Pass was long but not too hard. On the downhill we were rewarded not only with nice speed but also with a view of the dominating volcano, Mt.Hood in Oregon.

 

Descending Satus Pass; Mt Hood in the distance

We stopped in a little roadside cafe, run by people from a nearby Greek orthodox church. Then some 10 more miles to the town of Goldendale. The only motel in town was by far too expensive, so we and our bikes took off with the car towards the Columbia River gorge. On our way we again enjoyed the view of Mt. Adams.

Mt. Adams

After 10 miles in the car we reached the Columbia Gorge and the truck stop of Biggs, OR, where we could choose from 4 motels. Soon after check-in Mike and Marilyn took off to visit Maryhill museum on the north side of the river. Mike and I had lunch out of the cooler box in our room that night while Marilyn and Maren visited Subway.