What Were We Thinking?

Welcome to the blog that will try to keep track of our bike ride from Seattle to Glacier National Park. 
I tried to plan each day's ride with varying lengths to make the mileage short on the hard days with mountain passes to go over and longer mileage on the easy days. But after I drove the route, I realized there would be no "easy days," and that's when the name of the ride popped into my head:
What Were We Thinking?
All riders over 65 years old, 700 miles of riding, seven mountain passes, forest fires, temperatures in the 90s. Betcha wish you were on a bicycle seat for eight hours a day with us, dontcha?
I can’t predict the future, but here is a general look at what we will try to do each day. If we ride all 700 miles, bully for us. And if we don’t, but we still have fun and stay safe, that’s OK, too.

         Day 1, Saturday, Aug. 9:

Starting point: Saul house in Shoreline, WA.

Morning break: Snohomish Pie Company, First Street, Snohomish, WA.

Water stop: Machias Depot (this is on the Centennial Bike Trail but can be reached by car.)

Afternoon break (SAG team. That would be our spouses providing Support and Guidance -- and carrying Gear): Twin Rivers Park, Arlington, WA, on Hwy 530 just outside of town.

Ending point: Oso Store (closed) parking lot. SAG to cabin.

Estimate mileage: 57

Day 2:

Starting point: Oso Store parking lot.

Morning break: Darrington Burger and Pizza (in Darrington on right side just after Hwy 530 turns left toward Rockport, 16 miles from Oso).

Lunch: Buffalo Run Restaurant, Marblemount, WA.

Afternoon break: Newhalem Store

End point: North Cascades Environmental Learning Center.  http://ncascades.org/discover/ncelc/

 Estimated mileage: 65

Day 3:

Starting point: North Cascades Environmental Learning Center.

Morning break (SAG team): Rainy Pass parking lot for Pacific Crest Trail crossing on Hwy 20. This is on the north side of the road.

         Water break (SAG team): Top of Washington Pass. Not sure if there is a place. Riders will continue if they don’t see the SAG team.

         Lunch: Mazama Store, 50 Lost River Rd., Mazama, WA. (509) 996-2855.

         End point: Twisp River Suites, 140 West Twisp Avenue. (509) 997-0100. http://www.twispriversuites.com

         Estimated mileage: 76

Day 4:

         Starting point: Twisp River Suites.

Morning break (SAG team provides): Parking lot of Loup Loup Ski Bowl.

         Water break or lunch: Okanogan or Omak for a break or lunch, depending on timing and state of hunger of riders and SAG team.

         Afternoon break or lunch: Tonasket depending on what we did in Okanogan or Omak.

         End point: Bonaparte Lake Resort, 615 Bonaparte Lake Road, Tonasket, WA. (509) 486-2828. http://bonapartelakeresort.com.

         Estimate mileage: 82

Day 5:

         Starting point: Bonaparte Lake Resort.

Morning break: Wauconda Café & Store (near top of Wauconda Pass), 2360 Washington 20, Wauconda, WA (509) 486-4044

         Coffee break: A favorite coffee shop on right side of street in downtown Republic. Can’t find name on Google. We could have lunch at BBQ place on the outskirts of Republic (left side of Hwy 20 after left turn at end of Republic’s main street). Can’t find name of it either. I go to all the best places, don't I?

         Late morning/early afternoon break (SAG team): Top of Sherman Pass, north side of road in clearing with historical sign. (My notes say it is 16 miles uphill from Republic to Sherman Pass, highest in Washington State, some at six percent grade.)

         Lunch: Either in Kettle Falls or Colville.

         End point: Mountain View Lodge, 2408 Flowery Trail Road, Chewelah, WA (509) 935-0707. http://www.mountainviewlodge.biz

         Estimated mileage: 95

Day 6:

         Starting point: Mountain View Lodge.

Morning break (SAG team): Parking lot of 49 Degrees North ski area (near highway, please). 3311 Flowery Trail Rd, Chewelah, WA. (My notes say this is seven miles uphill from the lodge.)

         Lunch: Newport, WA

         Coffee break: Checking to see if favorite spot (I think it is the Monarch Mountain Coffee shop, 208 North 4^th Avenue) is on route in Sandpoint, ID.

 End point: Huckleberry Tent and Breakfast, 180 Thunderbolt Drive, Clark Fork, ID 83811 (208) 266-0155.  http://www.huckleberrytentandbreakfast.com

          Estimated mileage: 99

Day 7:

         Starting point: Huckleberry Tent and Breakfast.

         Morning break (SAG team): Drinks and snacks somewhere between Clark Fork, ID, and Libby, MT.

         Lunch: Libby (Hot August Nights festival and car show going on, which is why we could not get rooms there. Something at festival for lunch? Corn dogs and elephant ears?)

         Afternoon break (SAG): Somewhere between Libby and The Lodge at McGregor Lake.

         End point: The Lodge at McGregor Lake, 12250 Hwy 2 West

Marion, MT 59925. (406) 858-2253. http://thelodgeatmcgregorlake.com

Estimated mileage: 122

Day 8:

         Starting point: The Lodge at McGregor Lake Lodge.

         Morning break: Camp ground near Marion?

         Lunch: Mooses Saloon in Kalispell, 173 North Main, Kalispell, MT 59901 (406) 755 2337. http://www.moosessaloon.com

Afternoon break (SAG team): In Hungry Horse, home of the famous headline: “Dead Man Found in Hungry Horse.”

End point: Lake McDonald Lodge, 288 Lake McDonald Lodge Loop Road. Glacier National Park, Lake McDonald, MT. (406) 888-5431. http://www.usparklodging.com/glacier/lakemcdonald.php?gclid=COzg9uLrgcACFYVDMgodVnkAaQ

Estimated mileage: 80

Day 9:

Starting point: Lake MacDonald Lodge.

End point: Logan Pass. 

Estimated mileage: It is a 21-mile ride up the Going to the Sun Road to the top of Logan Pass. Bicycles have to be off the highway by 11 a.m. So we will start early and see the SAG team at the top to celebrate where the rivers change directions, across the great Continental divide (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2Kn3j7o2yY).

Either bike or ride down, depending on time, energy and ability to stop smiling (we made it!) so bugs don’t get in our teeth.

John B. Saul

Spokes Person for #WWWT