Day 8 Kennewick to Pendleton 111km Uphill 2777ft Downhill 2041ft

Another hot day on the bike. Kristy returned both Barb and I to the camp by 6:15am Then there was a quick breakfast of oatmeal and a glass of oj. John Vandersteen kindly offered to do my breakfast dishes so that I could pack my lunch and then we were off shortly after 7am. Christine N from Sarnia has joined our group today.

The first 38 miles where relatively easy.

We did have a nasty side winds, and then when we turned the corner we had the wind in our faces. Just before turning the corner we took a break. John climbed thru some brush and came back with a huge onion. He sliced a piece off for each of us and encouraged us to eat it. I’m wonderoing if this is some kind of cruel initiation that I have to go thru in order to ride with the group. Apparently it is suppose to keep the misquotes away. I think it will also keep your friends away! Now for John, I believe it made him a tad delusional. Pete had pointed out the lake just beyond the hill, and John was certain that it wasn’t water. We all said that it was Lake Wallula. He only admitted that he was wrong when we where riding along side the lake. It will be a while before he lives that one down. We left the state of Washington and entered Oregon. Trooper J.L. Klundt welcomed us. Actually he pulled over to the side of the road and allowed us to take some photos with him and his cruiser. What a trooper! Barb is getting a rash from the sun so we were trying to get her into the camp or the town of Pendleton asap. We managed both the climbs with not too many problems. The first one was worst than then the second. I will admit to you that the devotional books make the climbs look a lot scarier than they really are.

The scenery has taken a turn to the colour yellow. Heads of wheat wave in the wind. Farmers have hay ready to be baled in the fields. We even noticed ‘dust devils’.

When we arrived in the town of Pendleton we stopped in at the local ‘Christian bookstore’, (can’t believe they sell refreshments and food). I order chili and fries while a few of the others quenched their thirst. Then it was off to the school. You couldn’t miss the school if you wanted to, it’s bright yellow. I’ve decided not to go into town later today because it is a rather nasty climb up to the school. It should be sweet going down tomorrow morning.

Oh, I could mention on other thing. The other evening when Andy DV was setting up his tent he exclaimed, “hey, I’ve got grass in my tent’. I replied, ‘that’s illegal’ and Barb kept up the one liners with, “didn’t your Momma teach you to share’. By this point Andy and was rolling his eyes. So today when we met the Trooper Klundt, we mentioned to him that Andy should be arrested because he had grass in his tent. The officer took it all in good humor . So don’t worry, Andy is coming home and you won’t have to pay any fines.

My average speed today was 24km Top speed was 56.1km Time on the bike 4:45