Leaving East Glacier

Just inside the park at the St Mary's entrance. Beautiful day and beautiful fields of flowers!

East Glacier - Pass

Great views from near Logan Pass, as far as we can go on Going-to-the-sun road. And no one around but us. But it was rather cold and windy up here. It was warm and sunny back in the valley, by St Mary's lake.

East Glacier

Going-to-the-sun-road from the East side of Glacier. We got to go further up the road from this side. Cars were closed off at 12 miles, but we went all the way up to where snow covered the road. We could see the Visitor's Center, which is at the top of Logan Pass. We saw Bighorn sheep near the pass, and had 40 mph winds on the way up, but a great cruise back down with no traffic.

Panhandle Campground

You wouldn't know it by this photo, but it rained hard all day and we finally pulled into this campground soaking wet. The camp host came over to us right away and said "it's on me tonight". He felt bad for us, dripping head to toe and freezing cold. After we set up and eat dinner under a tarp, the sun came out and dried us out.

Sandpoint, Idaho

This is the same bridge Mike cross in 2006, during his Alaska to Mexico trip. Except, he was going south instead of east. A path just for bikes brings you into the city and away from traffic.

Marias Pass 5216'

Due to the Going-to-the-sun-road being closed, we were detoured around the park to the east side. That's where we crossed the continental divide in Montana.

West Glacier

West Glacier

Going-to-the-sun-road closed past this point, 24 miles up. Cars not allowed past mile 16.

Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park was a highlight of our tour, and the weather co-operated just in time - we had good weather almost the whole time we were there. We spent a week in the park, and could have stayed longer had time permited.

And, yes, we finally can add some pictures!

-Mountains, mountains, mountains! I could live here.

Conflicting info all the way to the park, but once here, it's official: Going-to-the-sun-road through the pass is closed for at least another couple of weeks, due to heavy snowfall and avalanches.

-No bikes on the road from 11-4pm... so we hang out by Lake Macdonald 'til we can keep biking to our first camp at Avalanche Lake.

-Hike to Avalanche Lake - beautiful but crowded; if this is the slow season I'd hate to see the busy season.

Avalanche Lake

A 4 mile hike into Avalanche Lake, in West Glacier. One of the many hikes we did in the park. About 6 waterfalls drop into this lake, making it a beautiful site.

Part 1 Anacortes, WA. to Sandpoint, ID.

543 miles
543 total miles

Impressions:

-3:45am wake up for flight to Seattle, Wa.
- Drove to Logan airport, (thanks Dad)
-Rosemary picks us up in Mt. Vernon, Wa. with our bikes and drives us to Washington Park campground in Anacortes, (thanks Rosemary)
-May 28th, my 39th birthday, spent biking around Lopez Island, in the San Juans
-Bonnie, Rosemary, and Michael, took me out for a birthday dinner in Anacortes, at "Adift"
-May 29th, 2008 - 7:30am "Dipping of the rear tires" in the Pacific Ocean, Anacortes, WA.
-Biking Begins - Heading East
-Anacortes Bike Shop, to fix Bonnie's gears
-Tommy Thompson Bike Trail, to get through downtown Anacortes
-Padilla Bay Shore Trail, gravel path
-South Skagit Highway, low traffic, camped where Michael told us to, on the Skagit Land Trust
-Slug camp, thousands of slugs everywhere, and a jungle of a road to bike through
-"XM" radio working great, we can listen to the Red Sox, Celtics, and Comedy, and much more to entertain us at night
-Ice cream at the famous "Cascadian Farms"
-Made it to Marblemount, WA., Rosemary's and Michael's house
-Hiked 9 miles of the East Baker Lake Trail with Michael, thanks to him for taking us there
-Great Views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan
-Jump, Jump, Dance Party, at Rosemary's and Michael's (don't ask to see the video)
-Bonnie's I-pod erased, mad panic to put songs back on her pod
-Leave Marblemount, Rosie joins us biking for 2 days up the passes of the North Cascades
-Michael meets us in Colonial Creek campground with giant tent, lots of food, and water
-"Pass day" 3 of us bike over Rainy Pass at 4,855 feet, and Washington Pass 5,477 feet, in the Cascades
-See black bear cross the road on Rainy Pass
-Amazing downhill descents, 40 mph thru twisting roads and beautiful scenary
-Meet Steve from Portland, Oregon, biking the same route we are
-Farewell dinner in Winthrop, treated by Rosie&Michael, joined by Steve for dinner as well
-Sit in Twisp bakery for hours, waiting out a rainstorm, 2 ladies tell us where to camp in Fish&Wildlife refuge
-Steep climb up Loup Loup Pass, 4020 feet, freezing cold 7 mile descent
-26 miles of uphill to Wauconda Pass 4,310 feet, long steady climb in cold rain, 45 degrees
-Camp in Wauconda Community Center, lots of cold rain and wind
-Hailstorm and heavy downpour in Republic, got our first (and only) hotel of the trip so far
-Postman warned of 4 inches of snow on Sherman's Pass, we do it anyway, 5,575 feet, hit snow, slush, rain, cold, 30-35 degrees on top, freezing descent
-Meet cyclists Mike and Blair from Minnesota
-Camphost says it's on him, so free camping in Panhandle campground, soaking wet, he felt bad for us
-Crossed into Idaho, 15 states to go!
-Sandpoint, Idaho, I remember this place from my 2006 Alaska-Mexico trip; I biked through this same spot
Stay tuned for Part 2... coming soon, Sandpoint, Idaho to Cutbank, Montana

Greetings from (rainy) Clark Fork, Idaho

Hello Everyone,
I hope everyone is warm and dry, because we are not. I can't believe how much rain we have been through. It has been by far the wettest trip I have taken. It isn't only wet, but it is freezing cold. I don't like to complain, but this is crazy. Just to give you an idea of what we are dealing with, the mornings are around 40 degrees, the days warm up to a blazing 55 degrees, and it is raining around 75% of the time. Yes, we are still having fun, and yes, this is part of cycle touring. But, where's the sun! I am sure we will find some sun soon and we will be hot and sweating, so enjoy it now, I guess. This is the deal, we are cycle everyday through this wearing, 1 pair of shorts, 2 pairs of pants, 3 shirts, 1 jacket, rain booties, wool hat, winter mitts, and going down some of these mountain passes, we are still freezing cold. Going down Sherman's Pass at 5,575 feet in Washington, there was 4 inches of snow on the ground, the wind was about 30 mph, and the road was covered in slush, and almost had to get off the bike and walk it down. We didn't, but we did take it very slow until we were low enough to lose the snow and slush. This all sounds fun to you right? Well, it is. We are making the best of it and brighter days are to come. After all, this is an adventure. Yes, we are both tired of the conditions, but we can't control that and will make due no matter what gets thrown our way. It's just funny that back east it is 100 degrees and it is so cold here in the northwest. We are now in a very small town of Clark Fork, Idaho, pop. 530 and stopped to write a blog. The small town libraries computer won't allow us onto our site, so the blog will have to wait. We will be biking into Montana this afternoon, and will be in that huge state for awhile. We hope to bike the "Going to the Sun" road in Glacier Park but not sure the road will be opened due to snow. We heard yesterday that they are receiving "winter conditions" this week. So, the road in the park is 6,600 feet and I bet getting a lot of white stuff. I really hope we can bike this road, it is one of the main reasons I wanted to do this trip in the high north and I will be very disappointed if we can't do it, due to weather. Stay tuned to find out. Thanks to Rosemary and Michael for updating our site with photos and videos of when we were together last week. We had a great time with the two of you and we appreciate all you did for us. OK, that's it for now. Our clothes are dry and we are ready to roll. Keep in touch.
Mike and Bonnie

P.S. Bonnie adds: We passed though Sandpoint, Idaho, and camped in East Hope by Pend Oreille lake. We should reach Montana today. We heard that Glacier has been getting snow and the pass is not open. Our maps have an alternate route around the pass, but of course we want to do it. Maybe by the time we get there it will be open - but there's no point in hurrying.We have followed the river for several days now - it might be nice scenery if it weren't cloudy and rainy. But there are lupines blooming all over, I've seen lots of herons and ospreys by the water. One section of the road had lots of poles for osprey nests, and we saw a head sticking up from some of the nests. Last night there was a beautiful yellow bird, with black wings and a red head, hopping around the hemlock trees. I'd never seen anything like it - any ideas? Also, have seen several bluebirds around.

Here in Republic, Washington

The State of Washington is much harder than I ever thought to cycle tour. It is beautiful, but the terrain can bring tears to your eyes. The elevation profile looks like a saw blade, lots of ups and downs. After a day cycling in the San Juan Islands, we departed Anacortes, Washington at sea level and never stopped climbing. Ok, there are some down hills, but tell that to our legs. Made it to Bonnie's sisters house in Marblemount for a very nice, short visit. Then Rosemary Joined us up Rainy and Washington Pass at over 5,000 feet in elevation and feet of snow on the roads shoulders. Going up Rainy pass, I saw a black bear cross the road just ahead of me. I stopped and gave it plenty of room. I didn't forget me last encounter with Yogi. We thought the east side of the mountains would bring us warm, sunny weather, but no luck. It has been very cold, and raining a lot. We have camped most nights, some at campgrounds and some in the wild, which I like. The last two days have brought us two more passes to climb, Loup Loup Pass and Wauconda Pass, both at over 4,000 feet. Today brought Hail and heavy rain right before we were to leave the town of Republic, but with the highest pass to climb next at over 5,500 feet we decided it's best to wait out the weather here. So we got our first motel of the trip. We did laundry and now in the library. So next, it's time to eat, and not instant oatmeal either. We are having lots of fun, but it's also hard work.

Guest Post by Rosemary

What an awesome journey Bonnie and Mike have embarked on, and what fun that Michael and I could be part of it. Here is our website with a number of pictures from their first leg in WA, from Anacortes to Marblemount (where Michael and I live), then to Colonial Creek Campground, in the park where I work, and lastly up and over Rainy and Washington Passes. Cycle on, Maine will be yours!

Love,
Rosemary & Michael

Images from North Cascades leg

Video 2: At Rosemary's House in Marblemount